The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-12-06
JOSEPH HOLT ON THE WAR.
WAsnINGroN, October 25, 1862


Hon. HIRAA BARxEY-Dear Sir: Yor
favor of the 231 instant has been received
An invitation similar to that which you $
kindly urge upon me have been oblige
within q few days to decline. in consequence
of engagements here which occupy ever
moment of my time, and l must now max
the same answer TO yourself.
There will doubtless be present with yo
on the occasion referred to, those cspabl
by their eloquence of affecting all the goo
that popular addresses can now accomplish
| must be frank, however, and say that +
me it seems that what is at this momen
needed is not words. however glowing, bu
heroic deeds. The tongue of an Achsnge
could scarcely comfort and animate th,
popular spirit in the presence of the inactior
of our armies. After an unparalleled ex
penditure Of treasure. and the marshalline
Of such armies as the world has never seen
and after sacrifices which are clothing the
land in mourning, at the expiration oi
eighteen months from the commencement,
IF the rebellion we find it more defiant and
determined, and more successful in its in
vasions and spoiiaions, than at any momen,
since the struggle began. This is from no
ack Of devotion on the part Of the people,
who have poured out their blood and tlea
sure like water, nor yet from any lack OF
courage on the part of our brave volunteers.
Our soldiers have been everywhere painting
for sight of the enemy, while the great
heart of the country, i'll its solemn aud
earnest solicitude, is like groundswel Of
the ocean, pressing on our forces towards
the battle field A saddened belief is rap
idly spreading that, unless the present con-
diiion of things is speedily changed. our
cause will be lost. An immediate. bold and
aggressive movement upon the enemy
following up every blow struck aod gather
ing the fruits of every victory 9ained-is
what is required for our deliverance. To
the accomplishment of this single object
the thoughts, the efforts and prayers Of the
whole country should be directed. II those
who are in front will not 20 forward, the
public safety will demand that they be as
signed positions in the rear. What are the
sensibilitles, what the reputation, or what
the cherished schemes OF any general 10 ttc
field, as compared with the life OF such
country as oursl If, with the cloudless
skies and bracing airs and fine roads OF the
autumn, our vast and completely appointed
army cannot do its WORK, when will il be
able to do 50? II Lee, Jackson and Long
street can move with promptitude aud dash
ing celebrity in the cause Of treason and
barbaric vandalism. why cannot our chief
txins move as promptly and as fss: in the
cause Of honor aud loyalty? How much
lon ger will the nation enture that all it's sac
ri6ces be lrui,less? It's conviction that it
possesses. twice told, the power to subiue
this rebellion is not more complete than,
in my jud gu cut, will be its determination
tha. neither the tollies nor the crimes of men
shall render that power unavailing.
Ii Is the torpor OF our armies-this hope
deferred for the hundredth time which
has unfarled that party banner whose shad
ow is now resting on so many of The loyal
states. 1t is not disloyal,y which has
prompted the depIorabe movement, but
weariness aud Encouragement consequent
upon the losses, bumiliations and delays we
have sadered yet ii is the most alarming
sign of the times. aud can only be arrested
by decided military successes. 1t is the
law of the very existence Of such political
organizations, to seek strength by assaults
upon the administratio in whose hands,
for veal or woe. is the direction OF those
movements upoa which nessarily depend
the preservation of the Union. These as
saults will grow in vigor aud bitterness as
they progress, and while thus Indirectly
will make continual, albeit uncons cious, ap-
proaches towards an affiiation with it, Let
those who are called upon to vote a party
ticket in the midst Of the tragic events now
upon us, ponder well, before doing SO.
the disastrous consequences Of such pol
icy-a policy from W hose b tleful tendencies
10 purity of motive can possibly detract.
Let them hesitate long before they sow The
dc nj
may be upon the lips of their children's
children. Let them not forget that by thus
presenting divided front they degrade our
cause before the world. they paralyze our
own strength and add imrneasurabIy to the
hopes, the confidence and the power of the
enemy. Already the Confederate press is
pointing the deluded people of the South
to these rising distractions among ourselves,
in a tone not merely of hopefulness but of
exuliation.
If any man, as motive for such
course. .supPoses that he has ground for com
plant against the President, let him take
heed that his ill-directed hostility Dies not
put in jeopardy the Republic itself for
whose preservation from overthrow the
President is necessarily and loyalty laboring
What has controversy with the President
Of the United States to do with the ques-
lion OF loyalty TO our country in the mids'
Of such struggle as this! If he errs--as
the best o! men are liable to do-he is soon
10 pass away with sli his deeds; but our
government and country should, and If we
Are true to them they will, endure for count
less ages to come. The President. with all
he dignity and responsibilities belonging
10 his position, is but pilot on the national
ship for single watch of the night Who
will be SO insane as TO aid, however iudi-
directly. in scuslIng the ship. merely bee auss
ne has quarrel With the pilo. from whose
, ands the helm is soon 10 be wresteds Who
. willing that savage shout, as Of victory,
hall 60 up from that army Of ferocious
rebels whose hands are doabiy dyed 10 the
blood of or people? Who is willing tha,
J thrill Of joy shall run throughout the
entire South, aud that bonbres and illu-
ninations shall be kindled in the city of
over the triumph Of the oppo-
'ition in the great Empire STATED If such
here be. let him vote party. ticket TIE ,
occasion demands the Developments of the