The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-08-14
The Immediate Future-Let Us have
Richmond.


last to be prosecuted with vigor and
determination. Possibly these decla-
rations command somewhat less Of
confidence than similar assurances did
some months ago, for they have been
made to do duty too often within the
last year to be quite as good as new.
The people cannot forget that every
new General has advertised to the
world that, with his accession to Office
the era of imbecility had passed away
nor is it surprising that the notice
should command somewhat less of con-
fidence with every fresh instance of its
repetition. Still the country is steadi-
ly, though slowly, bringing itself up to
the task of contiding in the purpose of
the Government to prosecute the war
to speedy and successful end. The
appointment of skilfull and expert.
enced Soldier to command the army,
has done more than any other circum-
stance to lift the cloud of gloom that
was rapidly settling down upon the
public mind; for it gives us reason to
hope that the Government.sees at last
the weak point in its contest with the
rebellion, and that it has the courage
Gus self distrust to apply the remedy.
1t is no lack Of money or men; it is
not from lack of courage or of good
conduct in the field; it is from no fail
ure on the part of the people, that our
past misfortunes have arisen. We have
placed power enough in the hands Of
Of the Government to have crushed
the rebellion long ago. But that pow
err has not been welded with the skill,
the vigor, the concentrated and deter
mined energy which the task required.
The fault has been with the Govern
ment and not with the people, and it is,
therefore, for the Government to apply
the remedy.
We trust that in its fresh assurances
the Government does not deceive itself
or the country, as to the nature and
character of the greater Uigor that is
required and promised in the future
conduct of the war. We hope its view
of the subject is broader than that of
some of those who have been most
clamorous for the change of plan. 1t
may be very well that we should desist
from guarding rebel property : that
our armies should live upon the enemy
as they march along,-that we should
free his slaves whenever We can reach
them, and set them to work whenever
their work is needed. All this is very
well,-but all this is also very little.
1t does not touch the heart of the dis
ease. 1t will contribute nothing sub
stantial to the strength of the armies,
nothing whatever i'm the absence of
other measures of larger compass, to
the contamination of our final triumph.
The greater vigor we need is not the
greater vigor in foraging-is not in
despoiling the fields and folds of our
foe, nor even in setting loose his slaves.
1t is in fighting him that we need in
creased strength. 1t is greater mill
tary vigor-greater skill and energy in
bringing overwhelming forces to bear
upon the enemy, greater knowledge of
his strength, his purpose and plans,-
greater Generalship in the field, that
the country requires and must have, if
the rebellion is to be crushed at all.
Thus far, it is idle to deny, we have
been beaten in just this particular.
With less resources, small armies,
inferior arms and discipline, and a bad
cause, the rebels have contended sue
cessfully with the Government and
they will do so still, unless we are re-
Enforced, not only in the ranks of the
army, but in the character and vigor
of the Generalship which directs its
action.
1t is clear that the rebels stake every
thing upon the defence of Richmond.
They have accumulated there all their
force-and that force is much greater
than we have been led to suppose. 1t
is there that it must be crushed-and
that, too, without delay. The Govern
ment must lose no time in hurting upon
the rebels there whatever force is nec-
essary for their destruction. Every
weeks delay gives them increased
strength, = augments the ravages of
sickness in our own ranks-and dis
pirits the people by postponing the frui-
tion of their hopes. Foreign influences,
moreover, which are constantly at work
in every direction in aid Of the rebel
lion, derive strength from delay and
every month for which its defeas is
postponed, adds largely to the perma-
hence and solidi,y of the Confederate
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