The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-09-19


The exciting events now passing over us
IRE pregnant With lessons Of instruction and
warning fer the future. if happily, they
should not prove tig with actual disasters
beyond those ths, have ssrvady hesaisen our
arms As here is no roum Tor humanity re-
pining at the past. so there is no occasion
Tor d-sIFf-se dcv as 10 the farnre. II Only the
Government and the people shall nightly
adal, IS lie INST Ives TO the military tasks OF
the loar
Let ,i,ye be truce 10 the political dis
eussious respecting the status OF the en-
shaved cia>s now more than alaos, ever be-
fore placed be, ond tie reach of tina, ''phi- +
which. by the diversions it has :
made and tie distractions il has thrown in
the way during the progress Of the war, has
done SO much TO create heariburnings and
lealouses among the pariisaus OF different
commanders, not to speak OF the injurious
effect which tbe untimely debate has direct
" impressed on tho temper of the great
mass of the loyal people and ofthe troops n
actual service.
Let there be an end also OF the vaingiori-
Gus and fatal decep,ions which Lave been
practised upon themselves by the igncrant
guides of public opinion, who. to justify
brave commanders, have studiously and ha-
bitually disparaged the numerical force and
material appointments of the enemy.
We suppose that. in presence ofthe events
which have just occurred, there are few who
will have the hardihood to deny the proba-
biity that Gen. Pope was called to encouu-
ter superior numbers, and this though his
powerful column was swollen by large ac-
cessions from the veteran troops of Gen.
Mcclellan, Yet this latter coma. ander,
with au army inferior in numbers TO that
censured for not advancing againrt the same
force behind its entrenchments At Rich
mond.
We may hope. too, that there will, for
the present at least, be period pu: to the
partisanship which seeks to institute invidi.
Gus mpai isons between Generals equally
devoted To the cause OF the Republic, il not
equal in ability or in the titles which they
have established upon the confidence Of the
public. Least Of ali should political dis
ordinations be made 10 the disadvantage
oil Generals whose erits should be tested
by their con iormity to military principles
and not by their adhesion to the dogmas Of
any political party.
The people should learn also in this hour
of trial TO be just to the Government as we'll
as true TO themselves. 1t is a profound AZ
iom OF politics that every people, speaking
ia the general, has the Government which
it deserves, Tor such is the reflex action Of
the rulers and the ruled that the former are
almost invariably a necessary exponent OF
the latter. Especially is this the case under
institutions like ouIs. Ii the Government
has committed grave errors in tho conduct
OF the war, 1t has been much the fault o!
the people as of those charged with the civ
il administration OF affairs. We know il is
the duty Of the Government to disregard
popular clamors and ignorant prompiings.
bu, what democratic Government has ever
been superior to such disturbing influences
public opinion has become such q potential
element in every policy. what despotic Gov
a been h always sSis % pSrsn IN its
policy untrammeled by the importunate
wishes of The multitude !?
On this point New Ensiana consempo-
rary, the Springfield (Massachuse,ts) Re-
publican, remarks as follows:
"Bu. regrets rs to the past vain. 1t 10 i'm
possible to say who the nest blame for
takes. The Government and the people alike have
under aei the military strength of the rebellion those
VINO nave oeen most troubled abont policy have IN
derated it most of all, and only Generals in the
hed have had any proper molten of the forces they
were compelled to We have had battles enough
In all conscience; have had ms2n fcent series of
victories, and nobody no is familiar with tho bst-
ties OF Williams burg of Fair Oaks and the days
toward the James will listen patiently 10 the
senseless repoach that the army Of the Potomac is
not fighting army"
Aud another intelligent contemporary, to
which We ere accustomed to look for opinions
founded ON something stronger than vulgar
preJudice-we allude to the Albany Evening
Journal comments on this same subject as
follows:
The people have on the whole behaved admir- sb,v
1t is doubtediy true that they have been somewhat
ahead OF the Government But their vision has also
been haite They have blundered md stumbled and
wandered upon wrong paths The blame for our mis-
taxes rests IN some measures upon their shoulders
as well a. upon these of the Government. They were
the proves OF the North. They rersistentiy Ter
rated the strength OF the enemy they cold not or
would not, grsrp the rea! magnitude OF the llion
III "as doubtless a grave mistsk to march upon
Richmond year ago. And yetthe Governments " q.
iorcec 10 ii the clam the people. Had il con
SUE us ~. Judgment. insteai of suceumbns
puoiie opinion, the frightu! disaster of Bull RIM
"ould pave been averted, and the rebellion doubtless
ere !his have been crushed. IL crninalIy weak
10 Yield but yield 1T DID, and the pie must sh,uld
er their full share Of the osiium the blame:
it was serious error stop eniistnenfs last fall
SUI the Te"Pe generally not only approved but urged
H. were told that he expenses OF maintaining 50
vast an army would make nation bankrupt in ,ix
mon'h. We were told thrt such ~ my could new
or be made practically available; that il would be
too large for any General in the world indie We
were told that thirty tho usand \. much a.
any oae COMMANDER could make of a one time
that II he increased his forces he would only have An
uninanases bic mob that IN multiplying his men be
multiplied the chances Of disaster. We referred
10 the "siti OF Europe for proof that Of
the great victories Of modern times we're gained bv
comparatively small armies. We told that wha.
"e wanted was not so muca overwhelming numbers
as COED discipline
~ refer To this because it has been the fash
Ion OF aie TO err rge the exclusive blame Of Stopping
en!istmects upon the Government. Men Who ten
months az poorfoohed The idea of wanting an az
ny Of ever three hunired THOUSAND are now voiubie
IN their abuse OF the authorities at Washington be-
cause they did not call a million into the field.
The Government has committed serious mistakes,
1tshoud be held responsible the full limit of is
legitimate short comings. But j. should be CON.
PEELED to father the sins Of the people we'll Nor
it hardly in the latter twit IL Of having
yielded 10 heir inperious demands.
1t is 10 be hoped that the Government