New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-09-05
doubt that their cavalry are now there, but the re-
uorts ms TO their force are mere conjecture Ne
THE Duty OF the Coysrar,eat.

sources OF gZ,OOV,VVV Vi PcoP'0 Nv ~
those people have been unanimous ana enth iSt'
in the offer of everything requisite to the aecomPsh
ment of the end; if men Were wanted tie men were
forthcoming. not by or fies or hunlrecs, ou'
b., ,Lorssnds and tens OF thousands; if money was
needed the money was poured forth ike the waters
# pactous in golden stream; States, counties, and
towns have eagerly stepped forward to share the
burdens Of the Federal power; anu even tie women
and children have We'd with each othor in zeal TO re.
eyc the disiressea for which the Government would
have been otherwise compelled to provide. Never
in the history of the world has there been exhibited
such another example Of generosity, Of devotion, OF
fe vor of forbearance, and of determination, az the
American people have exhibited in the prosecution
aud support Of this war.
What las been the resultl Orr armies Of the
Wet the noble yictole Of Fort Doueleon and Sliloh
are scattered 10 that 10 man knows thelr where
.loni, while the foe they were sent 10 dispeise IS
Lundred miles in their rear threatening the cities OF
Tennessee and Kcnlucky, aud even advancing
toward one Of the principal commercial cities OF he
Free St4ies. There Is 10 leadership, no unity Of
command, apparently plan or concert OF action IN
the entire region we have undertaken to hold aud
defend. At the saIne time, our army OF the East
numbering 100000 troops, fully armed and equipped
and admirably disciplined after investing the capital
Of tie enemy, has been driven back to is original
position on the Potomac, ceciInaied in numbers and
unprcpaled to make a single vigorous Movement 10
advance. Tie mon Of j, have fought oay after day
aud week af.cr week with a degree of hardwood
and vaor that would 90 honor to the veteran troops
" any nation.
They have borne exposure, fatigue, disease and
someiiues famine with AN endurance that scarcely
iDds parallel. Their officers, sucA IS S'sel, Burn
side, lieiltzelmao, Hooker, the lamented kearney
and stcyeus. and scores of others OF inferior rank
Lave SHOWN the mos; coDsummaie skill OF tue mil
fary srt. Battles have been fough; and won, which,
Tor ,plendor If bravery, will illu-trae orr annals
through all the years TO come. Our children and
chi.dsens Children will recall with pride the heroic
energy displayed by the yolun,eers for freedom n
the bloody Jays o. rebellion. But in spte ot all
this wonderful di-play of courage and patience
nothing permanent bat experience, nothing decisive
nothing ultimate has been achieved. The attack has
been turned against us; We are not now even where
We were q year ago, and Toe best news We hope to
70. by the Telegraph to-day is, it was then, that
al. ID quiet Oh the Potomac.
Now, il il useless 10 shut eyer TO tue fact thai,
thu ia iilure-di-gace.ul huuliIsling, and awful
The Undated dispatches and letters which for week
and more have tod Us how S,onewall Jackson was
surrounded aud Aow be could never escape from the
strategic zap INTO which, iiSe foolish mouse, he bad
entered were laise. Tie stories sill flashed over
Tie country of the necessity Of Ls retreat through
7 uorou,hfarc Gap are equally untrue. Jackson and
!. are prosspg on. armies in the neigbborhood Of
Waliu ton and hnd li.ic occasion lof retreat. In
il- very best aspect Of our care, OILY he ssi
io stand ON the defensive. Our armies threaten
nothing aud nobody they have been hauled of TO re-
par damages. as the seamen say; and for some
weos tb,y cannot DO shot either IN mass or detail
rnol any Of the str1r gtots o. the Rebels. In a
ord we have siLualy aud oisa-trous.y failed; our
can has been put back, aud but for the probah lie
exhaustion # tie COME i-ra'es We should have a
heavier iask before Us than we lad ut The beginning
We have nothing 10 ray here Of the subordinate
causcs or instruments Of this result We snail engage
I 10 controversy az TO the meats Of particular cab
Iuct ogleeI- or particular generals; We regard them
all as tie mere agents Of tie President On whomthe
Constitution, popular opinion, and his own ayowalS
impose the responsibility. lie isfhe Colnmauder
CAe.; he can appoint or dlspace what officers he
pieasos; b. can determine upon what policy lie
lleascs; ho knows from hs porition tAe secret as
well a. public history Of eyens; and be cannot shilt
the burden. II bis subordinaies miscarry
tie remedy il ia Lis own hands, and he
nav choose others; ii bis ministers give him
nan
unwite counsels lie map call 10 better heads ii hs
generals lose battles instead Of winning them, he
cm raise other generals, even from tue ranks.
There Is no Aca of sng4cty or ability IN the nation,
uni there j. no reason for retaining IN his service
II single day any incompetent or improper person,
be BE- Secretary OF Safe or OF War, NJ or-Geueral
or Bfisadier. Colonel or Captain. Success IL the
sole l,st OF merit IN times Of war; and wien success
nus not followed q policy campaign lac ID bound
by the rolemnost Obligations OF duty rs well rs by
the plaiucs dictates OF common prudence, to Try au-
otnor policy aud another campaign, with other agents
to do the work
Holding Tie President, then, 20 this ist accounts
bty we rag dit the present condition of things is
supremeiy due to TIE policy which tie Adnlinistra-
uon tas hitherto pursued. Ii has, from the be-
ginning, laed 10 estimate tho nature the magnitude
and the oesperate mali nity OF the Rebellion. In lid
propnratops III lts conduct and iIs spirit, il has
luggcd behind The wlsIes OF tue people. 1t has
been dnned along 10y the current rather than con-
troiled it, haa made war on peace principles, and
guided the army by old political traditions rather
thun military law. Rebels. tho moSt malicious and
dctper,to tie word ever saw, were not to be con-
quered but conoilatcd; Border States, which prayed
Good Lord to-day aud Good Devil tomorrow. were
not to De forced 10 DO their duty, but coaxed OF
Dnhed to ii; and, s,rangest OF all, the one primary
radical, efficient cause OF tie Rebellion ts main ma
rclid support. IT. nnrarng genius or demon, with
out which the revolt would have no motive or i'm.