Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-07-17
SHALL THE GOVERNMENT BE
SUSTAINED?

questions. Is the Union 10 be preserved
or on the other hand, shall we, for any cause,
suffer it to be broken up and destroyed
The Administration, adopting the language
of the ion-hearted and iron.handed jackson,
saw that GIT MUST AND SHALL BE PRE-
srRyEpp Does that declaration find an
echo in the hearts of the people? We be-
leve il does. We are all determined that
the Union shall not be destroyed by ruthless
traitors. So far as this great object is con-
cerned, there is absolute unity between the
loyal masses and the Administration. But
it is necessary to success that there should be
not only unity of purpose, but there must be
unity of action, ON the part of the Admins
tration and of the people. The two must be
not only one in purpose, but there must be
no divided counsels. " A house that is d.
yided against itself cannot stand" 1t must
fall.
In settling policy, what is the duty OF the
President towards the people, and what is
the duty of the people towards the. Presl-
dent /?
The Constitution makes the President
COMMANDMENT Chief of the Army and Navy.
Upon him is thrown the responsibility of
appointing, by and with the advice and con-
sent of the Senate, the subordinate Com
manders. Upon him is constitutlonally
thrown the responsibility of the general
movements of the Army and Navy. Under
his solemn oath of office, he must discharge
these vast duties to the best of his ability.
and " take care that the Republic suffers no
detriment," through his negligence or want
of prudent foresight, These are his duties ;
they are not ours. He cannot even divide
them with US if he would. 1t is RESPONSE
bility which he has assumed, and ne must
stand or fall accordingly as he discharges his
duties, wisely or unwisely.
In the discharge of these responsibilities,
however, it is his high privilege and his duty
to receive and to seek information from the
people-to consult their feelings, views and
wants. He cannot be wise and successful
ruler of great nation who shuts himself up
from the people, and remains in Ignorance
of their wants, and purposes, and opinions
The President should listen to the counsels
of the wise and the good. But when he has
listened to all, and made himself acquainted
with ''the situation" to use comprehensive
military phrase, then he must decide. As
the views of the people are as diversified as
.aelr faces, he cannot please all. nc lnuO,
evoke his own policy from his own enlighten-
ed Judgment Having done that and pro-
claimed it, he has discharged his duty. as
What, then, becomes the duty Of the peo-
pie, especially in a crisis like this2 Most ev-
identity it is to yield hearty support to the
Government! When the President has ap-
pointed his Generals and assigned them to
their various posts Of duty, it is the duty OF
the people to sustain and uphold them. If
they prove to be incompetent it is the duty
of the President to remove them and appoint
others in their places. Upon ham is the re-
sponsbility, and very properly, for he is in
a better position to Judge of their merits and
qualifications than others. What though an
individual does not happen to agree with the
President, Tor instance, in the belief that
Gen. Mcclellan is the best man to command
the army of the Potomac ? What then? Is
it bis duty,-is it patriotic to oppose the Ad-
ministration, and if possible cause the Presi,
dent 10 yield and revise his plans and cam
paicns to suit that individuals views? If so,
he would have nothing to do but to change
his plans constantly, and every time he
changed them he would offend as many as
he would crafty, and fritter away the ma
tons strength. We must ultimately repose
upon his Judgment and his wisdom, or We all
90 to the bottom together. And we ought
to bring our minds to the conclusion that
possibly we may be wrong in differing iron
the President, and that the President is after
albright. He ought to be, able to form.
correct conclusion, rather than we, because
he; has more facts, and a~broaderl knowl
edge upon which to base them. He sees the
inside of the machinery of Government
while we see but. the outside, and that only
alta distance, and upon one side. ~ -.
We must not let all our patriotism run in
tol our opinions. IT.. shoul |. the. rather. be
moulded into action. sszs ssss.
In the present juncture, whilel many are
criticising the Administration, and the Gen
erals in the field, on account of the late re
verse, without rejecting sufficiently, that wal
has its chances, which no human sagaclty can
foresee and provide against, the administra
ton sends out cry to the people for help