North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-08-13

We are for ever outnumbered. To-day we
are told that we have more men than we can
| use; tomorrow, the Governors are reused
by importunate kilograms to send the whole
State militia to save the capital as soon as
the men begin to pour in, back comes anoth-
er message, that they are not wanted; and
yet, at that very time, one army lies before
Richmond, outnumbered nearly two to one !;
another guided by the genius of that true
military soul AN army inferior to jack
son's-unfed, shoeless, ragged, and, after
four months of beseeching, still without ad-
equate transportation; another, hanging in
suspense before Fredericksburg, to weak to
60 forward. too strong to lie useless At
this crisis, with our armies broken up and
fritteren away, and our Government making
Brigadier Generals by the score; of men
without skill, and superseding the Generals
who had shown resources and energy, be-
cause they feared their political future, at
this time came the thunder stroke upon Nc
Clellan. An avalanche fell upon his right
wing. Rolled up and driven back for seven
days, that heroic army, invincibIe in retreat,
fought with grandeur ofcourage, and only
by such an exhibition of heroic spirit in Off
GERS and pluck IN men as was never known
on this continent was it saved from utter de-
strnction. Did the Government frankly say
to this nation. We are defeated To this
hour it has not trusted the people. 1t held
honl fhn f1r Al
honestly told, when outside information COM
PEELED it to say something. 1t u.s. even to
this hour, permitting McClellan's disaster to
be represented as piece of skilfully- planned
strategy After the labor of two months, the
horrible sickness of thousands of men poison
ed iii the swarnps of the Chickahominy, the
loss of probably more than ten thousand as
noble fellows as ever lifted hand to defend !
their country, Mcclellan, who was four miles
from Richmond; finds himself twenty-five
miles from the city, wagons burned, ammuini-
tons trains blown up, parks of artillery cap.
tured, no intrenehments, ard with an army
so small that it is not apprehended that he
can reach Richmond. The public are infat-
uated. The papers that regaled us two
weeks ago with visions of a Fourth of.JuIy
in Richmond are now asking us to rejoice
and acclaim-not at yictory-but that we
have Just saved the army Mcclellan is
safe land Richmond too!
The Government, upon this disaster, pro-
cures the Governors of the States to ask Il
to call for 100000 more men. Why did not
the President take the responsibility, plainly
confess our disaster, say that we were with
in handbreath Of ruin, throw himself on
the people No. The people pay taxes,
give their sons and brothers, but that is all.
We are sick and weary of this conduct We
have sacred cause, noble army, good Off
GERS, and heroic common people. But wa
are like to be ruined by an Administration
that Will not tell the truth that spends pre-
clous time in playing at Presdent-making
that is cutting and shuffling the cards for the
next great political campaign.
Unless good men awake ;-unless the ac-
cursed silence is broken that has fallen on
the peope-unless the Government is h.
sternly to its responsibility to the peopl -
we shall daily through the summer, n
Bdgadier-Generals until autumn, build ks
intrenchments, but fight no battles till the,
are forced upon us, and then we shall be
called upon to celebrate our defeats or re-
treats as mastery strategies.
We have country. We have cause.
We have people Let all good men pray
that God would give us governments.
New York independents