Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-09-23

|...;, 0ilded walls and gorgeous turni-
L,ure did not contrast more strongly v.tn
tho rod .nenes Of martial life than DE
the glistening putrescene and tnie
lschucr Of Congressional virtue contrary
With the sterlisg loyalty aud noble sel'-
sacrifice OF our country's defenders. !
listened to debates full Of bitterness ana
strife.
l saw in the camp heartfelt homage
to our national Aag--a stern dcnsnce
Of those who dared to touch its sacred
fold with hostile hsods. l heard in tho
Capitol threatS ot inhalation Of it, en-
blazcnry-by striking down the life Of
States. He who would rsnd our nation.
al standard BY dividing our Uaion, 10 =
traitor. He who would put out ono
g.ittering star from its assure field, is .
traitor, too.
tue PRESENT CoNDIrIoN OF QUE COIN
Let US now confront the facts OF our
condition. and they shall be stated in
the Language Of those who brought this
administration into power, and who are
now politically opposed to the members
of this convention. After the expendi.
ture of nearly one thousand millions OF
dollars, and the sacrifice of more than
one hundred thousand northern lives,
in the language Of the E'vening Post ::
What has been the result? Our
armies of TIE West, the noble victors of
Fort Donelson and Shiloh, are scattered
80 that no man knows their where
abouts, while the foe they we're sent to
disperse is a hundred miles in their rear,
threatening the cities OF Tennessee and
Kentucky, and even advancing toward
one OF the principal commercial cities
of the Free States. There is no leader
ship, no unity of command, apparently
no plan or concert af action in the en-
tire region we have undertaken to hold
and defend. At the same time, our army
Of the Fact, numbering 100000 troope,
fully armed and equipped, and admirably
disciplined, after investing the capital
OF the enemy, has been driven back to
its original position GU the Potomac,
decimated in numbers, and unprepared
70 make signle vigorous movement 10
advance"
And it adds:
"Now it is useless to shut your eyes
to the fact that this is failure, dis.
graceful, humi!iating and awful"
The Evening Journal, the accredited
organ of the Secretary of State, now ad-
mits the truths uttered in this hall,
when we assembled here in February,
1861; truths then derided and de-
nounced as absurd and reasonable. 1t
says;
1.-THE war has been a stern school.
master to the people Of the loyal States.
We have learned the folly Of underrat-
ing our enemies. We have learned that
they are equally brave, equally hardy,
equally quick witted, equally endowed
with martial qualities with ourselves.
We have learned they are terribly in
earnest in their efforts to achieve their
ends"
The New York Tribune declares that
"the country is in peril. Viewed from
the stand point Of the publie estimation
Of the situation,' it is in extreme peril.
The rebels seem to be pushing forward
their forces all along the border line
from the Atlantic to the Missouri. They
are threatening the Potomac and the
Ohio. They are striking at Washing
ton, Cincinnati and Louisville. This
simultaneous movement is both alarm
ing and encouraging. 1t is alarming
because through the timidity, despond.
ency, or folly Of the federal government,
it may become temporarily successful,
giving to the foe Judgement in some
portion of the free States which may
require weeks to break. up"
Bnt it is admitted by those who are
opposed to us, that debt aud defeat are
not the heaviest calamities which weigh
US down. A virtuous people and pure
government can bear up against any
amount of outward pressure or physical
calamity, but when rottenness and cor.
ruption pervade the legislative hall OF
executive department, the heart of the
patriot faints and his arm withers. The
organ Of the Secretary Of State admits
"There have been mistakes. There
have been speculations. Weak men
have dis raced, and bad men have be.
trayed the government. Contractors
have fattened on fat jobs. Adventures
have found the war a-source Of private
gain. Moral desperadoes have focked
about. the national capital aud lain in
wait for prey. The scum Of the land
have gathered about the sources of pow.
er defiled them by it's reek and offensive
odor. There has been mismansgemen,
wherever great labor has been perform.
ed, and great responsibilities devolving.
Men-eyen Presidents and Cabinet
officers and Commanding Generate
have erred because they could not grasp
the full significance of the drama, and
because they were compelled to strike
out on untrodden paths."-Evenin9
Journal.
Hear the voice Of q leading republican
orator:
81 declare it upon my responsibility
az Senator of the United States" said
John P. Hale, ''that the Liberties of the
country are in greater danger TO- day
from the corruptions and from the prof.
legacy practiced in the various depart
ments of the government than they are
from the open enemy in the field"
The New York World exclaims in
agony Of remorse:
ut is with dismay and unspeakable
shame that we, who have supported the
administration from the beginning OBJ.
serve its abuse of its power of arrest