The national Republican., 1862-10-27
TnE SITUATION.

TnE SITUATION.
The article in the Star Of Friday evening
advising against any movement Of the Poto-
tomac army for thirty days, was followed up
by the Inteligenesr of Saturday morning in
an article daprecating any immediate battle
between the forces Of Generals Mcclellan and
Lee, as hazardous and Of doubtful issue. The
two articles taken together leave no ground
for question that the army managers have re.
solved upon inaction, in this quarter, until
next spring. The Star and Iuteligene-r have
been the mouth pieces Of II. 10 nothing clique
in the army, since the war broke out, and, in.
deed, the Intclligeneer solemnly protested
against invading Virginia at all. The arti.
cles Of Friday and Saturday, in these two
papers, were manifestly concerted. They were
articles inspired aud dictated by the army
clique. He who runs may read. The only
question which remains is, whether the polti.
cal authorities here will acquiesce in this fore
gone conclusion Of the military authorities.
The principal view Of the Intepigeneer is
that battle between Generals Lee and Nc
Clellsn, without further preparation and rein
forcing By the latter, is dangerous. II cites
the doubtful result Of the struggle at Antie-
tan, refers to the skill and desperation Of the
enemy, and concludes that, to put the fate Of
the war upon a great pitched battle in the Vi,
cinity OF Winchester is to put it upon the
hazard of the die.
If it is really true, that the rebel army Of
Zen. Lee is too formidable to be attacked
the war on the Potomac is at dead lock, and
the situation becomes serious indeed.
What have those now to say for themselves
who haze insisted that the subjugation Of the
rebellion was n holiday task and that to ask
or receive the aid Of the enslaved race at the
South. was needless and even shameful
dIsparagement Of the assumed overwhelming
strength Of the tree States? How vainglor
Gus do all these boastings appear, 10 the light
OF the event which is upon US, and with ,
rebel army within fifty miles Of our nationa
capital. so bristling with strength, that to at
tack it is denounced as rash and reckless
Where are the men, who have told us tina
the South could be starved in twelvemouth
What answer will they make to the countr,
which they have deluied now that it is seen b.
everybody, that the South has grown stropge
every day since the war began and has in fac
demonstrated a capacity to maintain war il
definitely, without exhaustion, by its sy.
Is the impudsnce of political charlatans
Are those whose predictions have all bee
falsi6ed, still to chatter their impertinences i
the ears OF betrayed and almost ruined ma
ton?
If we are in such condition upon the Lin
Of the Potomac, as the Star and intelligence
represent US TO be, unable 10 attack the enc
my upon his EXTREMIST northern froptie,
without fearful risk Of rushing upon ou
own destruction, the time has come TO assai
him where he is vulnerable, in the cotto,
States and by liberatipg the boudsmen, b,
whose labors bic armies are fed. If the rep
resentatlons Of the Star apd InteHigeneer ar
correct, the time has come .-r perfect unio,
OF loyal sentiment in favor Of that otheI
method OF ending this war, which is laid dowr
70 the Presidents proclamation Of Septembe,
-. II we cannot attack the enemy's armies
70 front, We must disperse tbem by incitin:
revolution IN their rear. No other alterne
tive remains, unless we are content to give ur
the CLlon altogether, aud 10 retire, beater
ard di.comfited, from the conflict. To thi.
complexion It must come at last.
II the President, who is undoubtedly him
self impatient for decisive movements in ,hi,
quarter, finds himself unable to overcome tn,
resisting inertia Of his generals, aud il, as
consequence, the policy Of merely defensiv,
!ihe On the Potomac through the coming win
ter proves TO be the one which will prevail
it only becomes the more imperatively neces
sary, that blows should be struck elsewhere
which will end the war. 1t is in this view
that we turn with hope to the reports iron
the West, that Gen. Grant, supported by
Rear-Admiral Porter with his guuboats OF
the Mississippi, and by the cooperation o
Gen. Curtis on the west side Of that river, il
meditatng u movement southward, wbict
vii! squelch the rebellion in the lower vale,
OF the Mississippi, and open its navigation t,
the Gulf Ii this movement is made upon tb,
principles Of the legislation of Congress ant
OF the Presidents proclamation, and if th,
slaves of rebels are liberated as our armies ad
vance, Gen, Lee will not remain long at Win
chester. He is there 10 defend slavery, nm,
when he finds that crumbling into ruin benin,
him, he will haSe nothing lcf, to defend.
MIsREPREsESIATloNs-Tu PUBLIC DgBT-
Representations have recently been made
doubtless to irf1ence the approaching elec
tions-that the public debt is now two thou