The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-04-03
BY JOHN S. c. ABBOTT.

To the Editors Of the Evening Post:
There are two parties in Washing
ton and throughout the country taking
somewhat opposite views respecting
the mode of conducting this war. The
one party is anxious still to concillate
the South, and not to strike so heavy
as to exasperate them beyond all hope
of reconciliation. They think that II
we make very great show of strength
so as to convince them of the hopeless
ness Of their achieving their object by
force Of arms, and if we can satisfy
them tnat we are still their friends and
and have no disposition either direct
ly or Indirectly to interfere with their
slaves, but on the contrary are rather
disposed to aid them in holding their
slaves in bondage, we may thus re-
gain the confidence of the South, and
lure them back again into the Union.
Persuasion alone viii not do this.
There must be a tremendous military
display and some signal victories, TO
cOvince the seceders of the power OF
General Government. And then, when
the prodigaI is starving among the
swine, we must meet him with the best
robe and the fatted calf Men OF IN
doubted patriotism and Of high intelil-
gence take this view. 1t is unques-
tiOnably, in the main, the view taken
by Gen. Mcclellan, while he is dis
posed still to push the war with vigor
for the accomplishment Of this end
There is another party in W ASKING
ton and all over the country, who take
a different view They regard the re-
bellion in far more serious light. To
them it is an atroeious and desperate
crime, which has been the slow growth
of years The leaders of the rebellion,
men of the highest position III rank,
wealth and abilities, have placed upon
the issue of the conflict their earthly
all. With almost maniacai energy
they have summoned every resource
at their disposal to demolish the con-
stitution Of the United States. Upon
the ruins of our free institutions they
would reconstruct another government
in the hands of sIave-hoIding oligar-
chy. This government, like the arts
tocratic republic vi the Venetian Do
gcs, would develop great power, and
gradually extend is sway over all the
Middle and Eastern States, leaving
New England outside, helpless in It's
weakness and ofnecessity tributary to
the tremendous power of the new gov
eminent, which could at any time in
undate New England with her armies.
They say that it is q marvel that this
plan had not succeeded. Many influ-
entail men in the North were in sym
pathy with it. Many leading papers
were ready to advocate it. Nothing
but the simultaneous and almost mi
raculouS uprising of the masses at the
North, after the fall Of Sumpter, check.
ed its career.
A prominent member of Mr. Blu
cbanan's Cabinet said TO me last even
ing that day after day he attended the
Cabinet meetings, almost in anguish,
alike appalled, by the eagerness and
exultatlon of the South in the success
full progress of their plans, and by the
apparent apathy of the North, which
seemed both blind and deaf.
These men affirm that even now the
rebellion is far more fearful Il ality
than many imagine; that the leaders
are men Of great administrative pow
er, impelled by the eagerness of de-
spair; that millions Of money are yet
to be expended in defense OF our cOun-
try, and thousands Of lives to be sac
riiced. They say that this foe is too
powerful to be dallied with, and mus.
be assaulted with all, all the forces at
our command. / think that these are
the views entertained by secretary
Stanton.
Had these views been cherished by
those who had command of our arm
les at the commencement Of this strife,
in their view, it can hardly be doubt
ed that the strife would now have been
at au end. Had The decree been is
sued: "Our country is in peril, and
eUery man who will rush to it's rescue,
black OF white, bond or free, shall be
hOnOred and reWarde," the dbattle
would have soon been over.
am III possession of information
which allows me to say, without any
fear OF contradiction from any military
officer in Washington, that had the
generals known, as they 7sOlo k5s0ao,
what the real condition OF the rebels at
Manassas last December, there would
have been an immediate advance, and
the rebels would have been driven from
their stronghOlds in utter rout. WHY
did we not know this? The answer to
this question is very instructive.
In all Napoleon'S wars he found no
difficulty in obtainingthe most accurate
Information respecting his foes He
was fighting for The rights 0. the peo~
pie against aristocratlc usurpatlon.-
Even when on the continent, the people
knew, as by instinct, that he was THEN
friend. Cons uentIy thoy were ever
crowding to his camp with intelligence
and ready to act as guides. Now, there
were tens OF thousands of men in the
vicinity of Manassas, many OF whom
were white men, and nearly all partial.
ly whlte, who were men # energy. and
VINO were our friends, eagerly watching
Tor our coming. Familiar with everv
raVlue, and morass, and forest path, no
earthly power could have kept them
from escaping to our camp if, with in
sanity almost unparalleled in the histo-
ry of the world, We had not discour-
aged them from coming.
Win future ages believe, that under
these circumstances, some of our gen
erals issued orders not TO allow these