Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-09-05
Thr DUTY of the Government.

The New York Evening Post discusses the
present situation Of affairs, and urges strong
ly that it is time for all who love the Union
to speak their views TO the government with
the utmost trankness. After reviewing the
proceedings of the past year, and stating the
case as it now stands, the Post says =
1--WE have nothing to say here Of the subor-
dinate cause or instruments OF this result we
shall engage in no controversy as to the
merits OF particular cabinet officers or partic-
ular generals; we regard them all as the mere
agents OF the president, on whom tile consti-
tuition, popular opinion and his own avowals
impose the responsibility. He is the COM
mander-in-clief; he can appoint or displace
what officers he pleases; he can determine
upon what policy he pleaseS; he knows from
his position the secret as well as public his
tory Of events: and he cannot shift. the bur-
den If his subOrdinates miscarry, the rene
dy is in his own hands. and he may choose
others; if his ministers give him what the
event proves to have been unwise cOun-
sells. he may call in better heads; II his
generals lose battles, instead of winning them
he can raise the other generals even from the
ranks. There is no lack of sagacity or abil-
lty in the nation, and there is no reason for
retaining in his service single day any i'm
competent or improper person, be he Secreta-
ry Of state or of war, major general or brig
adler, colonel or captain. Success is the sole
test of merit in times OF war, and when sue
cess has not followed policy or campaign.
he is bound by the solemnest obligations of
duty, as well as by the plainest dictates of
common prudence, to try another policy and
another campaign, with other agents to do the
work.
Holding the president, then, to this lust ac-
countabillty, we say that the present condition
of things is supremacy due to the policy which
his administration has hitherto pursued. 1t
has, from the beginning, failed to estimate the
nature, the magnitude and the desperate ma
Lightly of the rebellion. In its preparations,
in its conduct and its spirit, it has Jagged be-
hind the wishes of the people 1t has been
dritted along by the current rather than con-
trolled it, has made war ON peace principles
and guided the army by old political traditions
rather than by military law. Rebels, the most
malicious and desperate the world ever saw,
were not to beconquered butconciliated, border
states, whichprayed Good Lord day and Good
Dewitt morrow were not to be forcedto do their
duty, but coaxed or bribed to it, and, strang-
est Of all, the one primary, radical, efficient
cause of the rebellion, its main material sun
port, its animating genius or demon, without
which the revolt would have no motive or inn
pulse, were not to be touched, except with
lurred gloves and the incest delicacy Slave
ry, the hldeous monster, which is hurting
these masses OF brothers and felow.men, in
wild and sanguinary fury upon each other,
| was to be allowed to lie concealed in its hor
| rlble PIT, grinning all the while with kind of
| hendish eXultation at the insane folly of its
victims.
"N hat the country has wanted, and what if
now demands is war in earnest; war ON war
principles; war against the causes of the mis-
chief: and war, with an idea at the heart of
it, which is the only excuse for any war. The
administration must at once adopt and pro-
claim rigid and inhexibe policy, and select
men, in both the military and civil depart.
mentS, who will execute that policy. If it
would save the Union, which is the supreme
object of every patriot, it must not be afraid
to trust the hearty, open, jealous, determined
friends of the Union, and take counsel of the
neutrality men and border state sympathizers.
Have we not had enough of timidty and hes
ltatlon! Is it not time to try another course?
When the vessel of state is running on break
rs,shall weretuse to change the tack and mad
~ run into ruin? Can we afford to waste anoth-
or army to expend another thousand millions?
Or shall we, like brave and honest men. loo,
our case directly in the face, Acknowledge the
mistakes we have made, and begin on the mo-
inent with redoubled zeal in a new direc-
uonf When old plans have miscarried and
olu oIhcers prove incompetent, the dictate of
"lsuoih Is TO move forward under other plans
ana ny other methods. Fortunately we are
yet StIohg enough to amend the errors of the
P"''j inc people are yet undismayed, our