, 1862-09-06

[F7cm the N. Z. Times, late McCleltan's organ
TEe5e is cne feature Of the current adVices
from Washington which STRIKES the country
nrp1easan1Iy; We mean the reiterated as
6utances that our army Is Sats-that our posi-
| tion is strong, and that Washington is out of
| danger. This is all very well as preliminary
| to something else. But The public is not free
| from suspicion that it means more than th At.
It seuncs too much like the old story. IT
baa Ten the burden OF our boasts for the
| p+st year and 8 half. Our army has been
s.fe too lcng. The people expect it nov to
incur some dange7,-to take r.sks,-~ln the
hope OF achieving some positive success.
TLry want no renewal OF last years perform
ances in front Of Washington. The hints
that Nj Clellan is 10 occupy bis old quarters
in the ntigheorhood OF AlexandrlA-that
ear,hworsa are to be thrown up and that not
the slightest uneasiuess ID NOW felt in Official
like ominous premoIitions of new delays aud
OF hopes still further to be deferred
They bring up unpleasant reminiseen-
CTS of long winter in front OF Afan-
Yo1ltown-of the pro,racted and disastrous
occupation Of the swamps Of The ChicSshom:-
ny-of wasted chancts aud opportunities
thrown away, through an exaggerated essi-
, mate Of the rebel strength, and culpable dis
trust Of our own. It is always easy to be
! rise after the event. We can see noW half Il
dczen occasions which, If seized with prompt
! and dsshing courage, would have given us
: clown,ng and decisive victory. Tune is wasted
In d. ploring the weakness that alo Ted them
TO clip But We should only repeat our folly
if We were to neglect the practical lessons
t which they ipcu}care.
, Everybody knows now that if Mcdowell
bsd fought the batt1e Of Ball Run one day
sooner than he did, he would have won it:
4 Every body knows that if Mcclellan had
1,usAtd upo,a 1orktoac7a soon he reached the
g Iani.s suia, he sconld hdze taken it.. that Il he
had follow. d the rebels with bis whole force
n after W1lliamsbnreh, he could haas routed
:. tAtr. that he could hate taken Richmond affe'
y Far Oaks, and that be could have routed the
d ercmy at Gaines Mil, # he Aai ttrowa hi
fs.sh zyoops upon them, instead Of WITH
. drawing to the Ja1nes River. !: L
er repeated failures. But it is of use to tax.
5 notice that they are all due to one defect
re lack Of courage and se!Ceon onfdsHee-lack Of re
lisnee upon our Own troops and m undue Is
be tin ate Of the proves and strength Of tn
e. enemy. And 1t is important that we shouic
~ not continue to commit this mistake. Il ha
i'd ccst US enough already. But for this Lack 0
ey pluck, which in niue times out Of ten is tn
:, highest prudence. the Wat would have bee
er $500, ,0oo, COO, the respect and confidence. G
bte Europe, and wors. OF all, the prosperity
aid Of poaerful Union party, temporarn
cy ove1borne, In the Southern States. It y
m ago, we should have had by this time th
'es popular vote Of half the rebel States for T.
We tuin to the Union. When We shall have
on now-who can tell:
Is We must not make these mistakes herea
he ter. We must discard the hesitatiug, di
4Se trustful tiuidity out Of which they h2,
to sprung. We have an army In the field worth
Ter Of our confidence, and ne must pnt com
lty dtnce In 1t. We must not shrlnk from hui
rm ing it upon tbs enemy, lest it should be d
lth I feated :-such an apprehension goes far
au wards securing its own fulfillment, Fl
eao rebels owe ill the successes they have achie
oks ed to their audacity. They have never he
hy tated to attaek,-and they have done 1t
lse every case as II they expected to win; a
nd. this very confidence, By giving them iacret
w ed strength, and by half parai5zing US, h
ar gone far towards securing them the v1ctol
1ld We have BEEN imposed upon By their bo
des ness. They have always impressed Us ri
the an exaggerated ilea of fheir s[fength. by
dashing Vi2or with which they have used
war against us. Il is time ne caught somethl
pas oi their spirit