New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-26
TWO YEARS OF WAR.

sively-Msj. Anderson withdrew bis little force
from its exposed position in Fort Moultrle to
the stronger and more delensible Fort Sumter,
thereby recognizing the fact that Secession was
War, and that the State By which he was en-
veloped had become the deadly enemy OF the
American Republic. Practically, therefore, we
may say that the existence Of state OF war
growing out of the Shareholders Rebellion was
first recognized on the 26th Of December, 1860.
Since then, we have had two years of bloody,
furious, devastating war-a war along frontier
of moro than two thousand miles, and along
an Atlantic and Gulf seacoast of even greater
extent-a war begun by mobbing, Iynching,
and numbering those who, being citizens OF or
casually resident in the disafiected States, dld
not choose TO bawl for disunion-a wGr
checkered by alternate successes and reyerses-
q war resulting in or marked, on the whole, by
q very considerable advantage to the National
arms, which have for months held DOMINION
over the chief city Of the Confederacy, which
hold also the capital of Tennessee, q re0f
Rebel State. with those also Of Kentucky
Missouri, and Maryland, which are claimed as
integral portions thereof. Meantime, no Rebel
flag waves over square yard Of the Free
States; most Of the seaports of the Confeder-
acy are either captured or sealed; we arc
about to complete the opening of the Msss-
sippi to the Gulf, cutting the Rebellion in
twain: and we hope ere long to announce the
recovery to the Union Of great portion OF the
soil of Mississippi and all The more Western
Slave States.
Yet these advantages have been very dearly
purchased by the liiebood Of many thousands
of true and gallant men, and By the rolling up
Of a fearful Pubic Debt. We were forced 10
FIGHT; we could not, under the circumstances
actually presented, have submitted to peace
able Secession without exposing ourselves to
the reproach OF pusillanimity, and thus incur
ring tue pers aud sacrifices Of War BY too
great eagerness to evade them. There was no
escape from the position in which the frantic
dayolees Of sla7ery Extension had Placed Us
but through tie Red Sea of battle and carnage.
Through all its alterations Of victory and
defeat, the National cause has gained ground.
The South is cured OF its delusion that the
Northern States are inhabited BY mercenary
towards, eager TO cheat, but reluctant to fight.
/ War is certainly abhorrent 10 'us-we believe
that ChristendOm ought ere this to have out
grown it-but when driven 10 it by such out
RACES as the treacherOus surrender Of the Fed
eral army and munitions il Texas, by the
bombardment Of Fort Sumter, by the coward
" massacre Of our Volunteers in the streets of
Baltimore, the North will fight. Had she
foreseen and counted the cost, the South would
lever hive challenged US TO this contest. She
did not understand us, because she would not;
ara che has paid, is paying, for her williul mis-
conception.
We have gained ground in the progress Of
the strugge-the North is to-day FAR less ex-
hausted than the SOuth--Our resources are
greater and our credit far bctter-ye. there
has been no moment of these two Lideous
years wherein our people would not have gladly
welcomed an overture looking 70 Peace. They
could not consent 70 divide and destroy their
country, much less to so divide It rs 10 render
further division ineviiable--they could not
abase themselves by new concessions aud guar
antics to Sayery--but they would have been
right glad at any moment to stop fighting, let
by-gones be by-goner, and return with mutual
regrets and pro.estatiors to the Union as it
was"
But the Slave Po@er would never consent
10 this II had staked its all upon Secession
ard on Independent Nationality. lIaying drawn
he sword and thrown away the scabbarl, it
vas resolved on victory or denth. Loathing Of
Democracy Of the genuine article and Of
shat spangled counterfeit with which it had so
long conspired 10 dupe and rule the country
impellei il TO fight on 70 long es it could mus
ter a regiment Or man battery. And this i; ,
VII 90 TO the end. Remembrance and blarney
are alike lost upon it. 1t will conquer or fall
TO rise DO more.
At first, our Statesmen and Generals were
generally and about equally ayerse TO crossing
swords with tie Unions real and deadly foe.
This was an error, but very natural one.
Not to meGdie ,oiM SiGoeyy IN ne States ~hieh
scs fl 10 cherish il, has for years been funda-
mental article in the creed Of nearly every
party. The reference was OF course TO Slavery
IN ioyal States-to Slavery rs upheld by loyal
men. The spectacle Of fighting Rebel who
has abjured all allegiance to the United
States, has repudiated the Federal Constitution
and adopted in its stead one that suits him
better, coming into Union camp or fort, aud
there claiming the surrender Of his fugitive