Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-05-07
THE VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN,

1t was inferred from the tenor Of the first |
dispatches announcing the evacuation OF York |
town that Gen Mcclellan was ON the point of
brushing his enemy aside, and commencing
holiday march to Richmond. On the strength
of this slender hope some had already begun
to speculate on the probabilities OF peace, and
had devised very fine programmes for bring
ing it to pass. The most elaborate OF them
was given in two extrayagantly loaded col
umns of the New York Times, purportinS 70
be full development of the French ministers
late visit to Richmond, and an outline OF GER
tain projected arrangements and compromises
which were to be the basis of settlement.
Other very sagacious authorities profess to
have information that secretary Seward de-
sires peace, but that the president is disposed
to be so eXactng as to render such a result
doubtful for the present-which is quite like
ly to be correct.
The falacy Of all these speculations-if they
had not been explicitly denied by that scru-
puuus truth.teller, the telegraph in the
apparent fact that nowhere in the rebel land
has the first step president to peace been taken
by any recognized authority. Notwithstand
ing the desperate condition OF their affairs,
we do not perceive that the rebel magnates at
Richmond have abdted any thing of their
guilty insolence towards The government
which spares them. The surrender of New
Orleans was certainly not accompanied with
such an exchange of amenities as would be
come two powers on the eve OF arbitration.
If we rightly interpret the last dispatch OF
Gen. Mcclellan TO the war department he
has himself discovered unexpected obstacles
to an early victory if he has not also found
cause to revise the Judgment expressed in his
first dispatches as to his enemy's successful
retreat. The long series of successes achiev.
ed all over the country have induced many to
under estimate, if not the strength of their OPP
pOnents, at least their undated hatred OF re-
publican institutions, which no misfortune has
yet reduced or shaken.
In Virginia alone two of the largest and
best cultivated armies on either side have been
watching each other since the dark days of
july last. They have occasionally met in
slight skirmishes-slght in proportion to the
vastness of their preparations. 1t is folly to
suppose that while we have been industrious,
they have been idle while our troops have
been improving in discipline and power of en-
durance, theirs have been wasting their
strength and uniting themselves for the in
eyitabe shock whenever it should come. Ii
is equal, if not greater folly to expect that
their army, after all they have boasted-
after all they have DONE, will yield till
they are conquered. They are open to
no argument but suhjugation no appeal
will reach them but superior skill or superior
force. The scene OF expected collision may
yet be changed from Williamsburg TO Rich
mond, as it has already from Manassas to
Yorktown, aud from Yorktown to Williams
burg. But it must come, and till then there
can be no thought of peace. We believe it
would lave been better for the country---better
for the lives of our soldiers, and the good fame
of our generals, if the decisive battle had not
been postponed till the rebels, with the ad-
vantage of their great labor reserve, could
choose their own fighting grounds.
But willie those who bear the responsibility
are in the face of the enemy, gallantly and
bravey lighting whenever the enemy con-
sents to meet them, they are safe from criii-
cisuI, and no one is SO unpatIiotic aud disloyal
as not to hope and pray that the god of bat
ties may watch over them, strengthen their
arms in the hour of conflict, and give them
the victory at last.