Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-10-27
Hon Geo. Bancroft on the War.
mThe Only Chance for a Speedy End
of this War Is It's instant ana FtS"
Orous Prosecution

The eminent historian hE. Statesman,
Hon. George Bancroft, in "A letter written
in response TO an application to permit the
use of his name as a candidate for Congress
in the Eighth District of New York, urges
some considerations OF the most important
character in connection with the prosecu-
ton of the war and the division of the SEN
,iment of the country By political parties.
He says:
The next Congress will have before it the
most important subjects that ever engaged
the attention of representative body since
the Convention that framed our ConstiIu
ton: and yet we seem to await the day of
election with u fearful lcvity or want OF
cOnsIdcratenes5 rs though the old methods
OF preparation, which may pro"e sufficient
in Il season Of uRclouded prosperity, would
serve Tor this hour when our system ilse!.
is threatened with overthrow. 1t is heart
breaking, after the lavish outpour'ng.nf the
h.ood of those dearest to u, TO contemplate
the chances of failure from divisions and
wavcring in the North. Yet after we have
sent out from this city alone troops enough
10 constitute Formidable army, we are
advised 10 manifest at The polls our con-
sent to u DISRUPTION of the country. We
send men from every household to The war
they show in the battle field he most heroic
courage, and get we are asked To vote that
the war has no object, thnt we ii -,hJ ouly 10
retreat with shame it we are beaten, aud
to submit with shame it we ura victorious.
Tie oniy possible chuace for Il specify eHd
to tbs lrar Is lis HsiaWt and clgor0Rs prose
ecufioR. Hesitation brings ,haos and pro.
longs the strife indtGuitiy. There must bc
one soul in the President, the army, aud
!
uudrr the distractions OF conflicting and
uncertain opinions and the short -sighUed
desire to gain peace by submission may
change it into a seven years war, or thir-
~ years war, or war for generations.
Quick, united action can alone bring it to
an early eud.
The voice of the State of New York, as
pronounced in the elections, viii ring
through the civilized worLl. Shall we nos
do our part to make that voice clear for the
Union Are we TO devote all cur reSuur-
Ces TO carry on the war and thea 20 to tho
polls 10 express the opinion that The w..r
which certainly WAS forced upon rs aud
could not have been avoided, WAS uune-
ccsSAry aud mistake? Are the ci;.acus
of New York to be so inconsistent as to
strain every nerve to gain the mastery in
the field aud then to signify at Tie polls
I
the 0lignrchy of the South began the war
by wanloniy insulling our flag, this people
rose up with calm and rcsolutc earnest
nest which was surpassed only by the sub
| lime patience aud moderation with which
they bore defeat aud mismanhgemcmt, and
unccrtuin guidance. Shall we now pro
claim that this zeal was icusion?
The Tory party OF England, al. the old
| hereditary enemies to In" perfect develop
ment of our free institutions, have been
from the beginning eagerly hoping to see
our beautiful flag rem! in twain forever, "ad
have been unremittiug il their advice 10 u
to let half OF the Uuion 90. Shall Wc
adopt them for our coUuseiI2rs? Il is one
/ of the saddest things, in ibis time vi gnnnc
al sorrow, that an effort is made 20 persuade
our fellow citizens Of foreign birth to give
| their votes in the inIerest og the very party
oi The English aristocrtcy which, from gen.
Grafton to generation oppressed th@u al
/ home.
Our btukers with noble patriotism. placed
their wealth at the service OF the Govern
mcnt. Are they now 10 b. told that their
| loans were offered without q purpose, lui
without any need? That the Government
! should have sought peace At any price. even
nj tEc sacrifice of our national character
! by covering before the conflict which ali
the possible deprechti0ns OF pHsi!!auitntty
! could not have avoided? Will they C0useut
TO see the Government so PnrniyHel and its
policy so uncertain, rs 10 leopard the res
toration of public credit. and to Invite Ihn
lnterposition Of foreign powers?
Are oar merchants prepared to weau
| themselves from the free use OF the CAesi-
| peake and the Mississippi? VIII they, ni-
ter having won back these gr-a; highways,
give them up to a Coufadcracy which IS
the child of rebellion and which from imAC.
rent causes will, ia case Of its separation,
| be necessarily hostile to Us True, our iu-
tercsts are bOuud up with the South But
is the SURF ndec of the Capcs Of the Ches-
apeake, and of the TOrtugas, nud Of the
| Mississippi, 10 restore prodhhla com.
mercc! vii. tho relinquishmenJ forever
| OF vast tracts of ccuutry-thc Italics Of the
! United States, unsurpassed for beauty, fer
tiIily, and hcaithfulness-pr the best
mode of promoting the exchanges oi do
nestle products? viii the bar OF custom
houses, stretched across the channels of
our mighty rivers, help internal navigation?
! To let the revOltcd States 20 from longing
| fOr their trade,is TO die through fear of death:
to renOuuce the cid inlercUnrSs,- entirely
and forever because to-day it IS inter :
rupted.
Our fellow citizens Of foreign birth have
demonstrated the power of freedom 10 blend
them with us in Que nationality and broth
erhood, and they have shown their conduct
in the general distress, how they have faith
that they received into the hasom of Il
nation, aud form a part of one great, real,
living people. Shall We send word TO those
of them wbo,arc in camp that there IS 40
American people-thal the UGiun IS a
sham? Our city rightly declared its sym
DHthy with the gallant COrC8run when he
returned from his long captivity. What
gave the chief lustrc 10 his services and his
sorrows except this. that he had fought and
suffered for country AID a people: Aud
shall we now mar the honOrs awarded him
by deciding that the Union is to be- given
up, that the American people has ceased to
he-lhnL LLe llng which he mnhnra is 10 be