Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1862-03-14
The Conduct of the War.
RY JOIN :. c. ABBOTT!
" Asu1NGToN. Frh. u. le6.

WASHINGTON. Fe5. p, 1867.
To the Eiitor of the Erening Post:
There are two parties in Washington
and throughout the country, taking some
what opposite views respecting the mode
Of conducting this war The one party
is anxious still to eonciliate the South, and
not to strike blows 80 heavy as to exas-
perate them beyond all hope Of reconcile
iation They think that if we make 4
very great show Of strength, so as to con-
vince them of the hopeiessness of their
achieving their object by force Of arms,
and if We can satisfy them that we are
still their friends, and have no disposition
either directly or indirectly, to interfere
with their slaves, bat on the contrary are
rather disposed to aid them in holding
the slaves in bondage, We may thus regain
the conf lcnce of the South, and lure them
back again into the Union. Persuasion
alone will not do this. There must bc
tremendous military display and some sig
nal victories, to convince the seceders OF
the power Of the national government.-
And then, when the prodigal is starving
among the swine, we must meet him With
the best robe and fatted calf Men Of
undoubtcl patriotism and of high intcli-
eancc take this view. 1t is unquestiona-
bly,, in the main, the view taken by Gem
cral Mcclellan, while he is still disposed
to push the war with vigor for the accom-
plishm-nt of this end
THE sERlous CHARACTER OF THE REBELLION.
There is another party, in Washington
and all over the country, who take dlf-
terent view. They regard the rebellion
in far more serious light. To them 1t
is an atrocous and desperate crime, which
has been the slow growth Of years. The
leaders of the rebellion, men of the high.
est position in rank wealth and abilities,
have stakcd upon the issue of the conflict
their earthly all. With almost maniacal
energy they have summoned every re-
source at their disposal to demolish tho
constitution of the United States. Upon
the ruins of our free institutions they
would reconstruct another government, III
the hands Of a slaveholding oligarchy.--
This government, like the aristocratlc re-
public OF the Venetian Doges, would de-
vclop great power, and gradually extend
its sway over all the middle and eastern
states. leaving New EngIand outside, help
leas in lis weakness, and Of necessity
tributary to the tremendous power Of the
new government, which could at any time
inundate New England with her armies.
They say that it is marvel that this
plan had not succeeded. Many in0uen-
tial men in the North wore in sympathy
with IT, Many leading papers were ready
10 advocate it. Nothing but the stimuli
taneous and almost miraculous uprising OF
the masses at the North, after the fall Of
Sumter, checked its career.
4 prominent member of Mr.. Buehan@
ans cabinet sail to me last evening that
day after day he attended the cabinet
meetings, almost in anguish, alike APPALLED,
by the carerness aud exutation Of tho
South in the successful progress of their
plans, aud by the apparent apathy Of the
North which seemed both blind and
deaf.
These men affirm that even now the re-
belI;on is a far more fearful reality than
many imagine; that the leaders are men
of great administrative power, impclled
, by the energies Of despair that million.
OF money are yet to be expended in de-
fence oil our country, and thousands Of
! lives to bo sacrificed. They say that this
foe is too powerful to be dallied with. and
: must be assiiled with all, all the force.
, at our command. think that these arr
: the views entertained BY Secretary Stan
J ton.
c Had these views been cherished b,
!. those who had command OF our armies q
: the commencement of this strife, in thei
/ view, it can hardly bg doubted that d