The Portland daily press., 1862-12-06

Tiiy, lc Iidc UctI utltdtcu anu uTIftu DdCk.-
He has gained numerous victories; but the
war, thus far, has gone against him. He has
not maintained himself in a single State, the
possession of which has been fairly contested.
In Missouri, in Kentucky, in Tennessee, and
in Virginia even he has not maintained euen
the defensire with success. In each of these
States he has made repeated attempts to drive
back the invading army of the North, and has,
in each case, signally failed. His late attempts,
both in the West and in the East to carry the
war into the Free States, proved utterly un-
successful. | think it may be set down as set
tied that thus far in the border States. the war
has gone against the South. The strength,
and position, and resources of the two armies
to-day, viewed together with their entire
course, decidedly preponderate in favor of the
North.
Then look at the actual aggressions which
have been made upon the territory and strong
again. Norfolk, Portsmouth. and Suffolk,
with the Navy Yard in active operation one
year since, and the James river, the entrance
into which was commanded by these places,
are now all in our possession. The Sounds
and entire sea coast of North Carolina may be
regarded as in our hands, together with no in
considerable portion of the State ITSELF A
most important foothold has been obtained
in South Carolina at Hilton Head and Beau
fort. The coast of Florida Is in our posses
sion, and portions of the State are about to be
colonized BY northern asTiouliddsts. Penss-s
cola and its navy yard, one year ago strong
hold of rebellion, has been secured. New Or
leans is also ours. Galveston, with the entire
coast of Texas is now in our hands, or within
easy reach. Only short portion of the Miss
issippi waters remain under the control of the
Confederacy. Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mis-
souri, have twice been delivered from the pres
ence Of hostile armies. Thus in nearly every
State of the Confederacy the Federal govern
ment has obtained prominent and important
place, which may be made base Of yet fur
ther aggressive operations. These conquests
extend around the entire coast of the Confed-
eracy, and through its western center. Indeed
there remain but four important places to be
secured, in order completely to destroy their
entire commerce, and to put an end to their
naval operations.
Nor is this all; the occupation of those pla-
ces already won by the limited naval force at
our command last winter, has filed the enemy
with fear and trepidation for the places yet in
their possession. They make no secret of their
sollcitude. They see and feel that our enlarged
fleet and army can easily finish the work which
has been so auspiciously commenced. And
this fear is the precursor of the coming reality.
The successes of our naval operations last
season were of incalculable Importance, and
have not been duly appreciated. They weak
ened the commerce of the Confederates amaZ-
ingly, withered the confidence which they had
inspired among foreigners concerning their ul-
innate success, and increased the effectiveness
of the blockade so as to silence all foreign COM
plant And while these successes have had
such depressing influence upon the opposition
both at home and abroad, they have inspired
confidence In our army and navy which, if not
abused, will prove of great value. Besides all
this, it is most significant and encouraging that
no place once taken has ever been retaxen by
the foe. His losses have been dead losses.
And these have surely been sufficient to show
that he cannot sustain, even war of defense.
Every attempt TO regain the ground from
which he has been driven has signalIy failed.
His campaigns in Tennessee and Kentucky and
in Virginia have demonstrated his Inability TO
recover HIMSELF or to regain his power in those
States, while his single invasion of free ter
ritory, and hasty retreat, must have destroyed
all his hope in that direction.
This last fact deserves a fuller recognition
The Scathern army marched into Maryland
up to the borders of Pennsylvania, when as
strong as it can hope ever to be again, when
flushed with victory, when animated with the
hope of plunder, and with the not unnatural
purpose OF Furnishing us for the desolation
which had followed the invasion of Southern
territory by committing similar depredations
languishing condition, disheartened, demoral-
lied, many of its best commanders dead, and
Others inefficient, or even worse than that; yet
nothing was accomplished by this bold at
tempt, of substantial advantage to the Confed-
eracy, while for us it is a demonstration that
their successes will be confined to their own
familiar fields. There has been evidently
limit set for the proud waves of this rebellion,
which it cannot pass.
A ,unr axriat hoo -
to be devoutly grateful to God? May we not
have been guilty of unduly appreeiating them
Because we have not crushed the vital part ofthe
monster and extinguished his life, may we not
have been discontented and murmured, while
We ought to have felt that God has done for
us great things for which we should praise
Him? May we not be like the ungrateful
petulant child, who, because he cannot have
all he asks at the instant, refuses to accept the
gifts which a judicious and kind parent be-
slows upon him? Alas that we know not
when God is blessing us! 1t was one of Gods
lamentations over Israel, "But they knew not
that healed them" We insist on looking at
single events when we ought to survey the
combined events of the entire period The
agent of a vast enterprise cannot stop TO look
after every little thing. He must rely upon
the main operation for ultimate success. So
long as the grand event approaches we should
4. This enumeration of blessings would be
incomplete were / to fail to mention the NOR
al results already secured or likely to be Sc
cured by this contest. The events of the past
two years have revealed the weaknesses and
the corruptions, and deficiencies of our ma
tional and social character, and our necessities
in this direction. We begin to see that we
have been too exclusively devoted to the pur-
suits Of wealth and personal aggrandizement,
and have criminally neglected the work of
government. 1t has long been one of our ma
tional sins not to hold our public servants re-
sponsible for their good character and the
faithful discharge of their high trusts. The
emoluments of Office have not been duly bal
anced by its responsibilities rigidly enforced.
Base and unfit men have held posts of honor,
only to dishonor them. The crimes of public
men have not been suitably rebuked and pun
ished. By such means the tone of public NOR
ais has been lowered, good men have been
disgusted with politics and neglected their po-
lltical duties, and-a worse result still-Re-
publican government had begun to sink in the
estimation Of many.
The present trials are leading good and
great men in all parties and professions, to
search out these radical defects and diseases in
the body polite. Already they have begun