, 1863-06-25
Qt)icago @ribnlre.
WAR.

THURSDAY, JUNE IS, 1868.
CONSUMPTION w*M EGR TEE WHOLE
If there he one thing more certain AMI
absolute Than another in history, it is tn
fact that human events are controlled b,
an irresistible divine Power, which under
lies all distractions and hindrances to tn
liberty and progress Of mankind, an,
shapes them to its high purposes. Their
can be no denying either the wisdom o
the authority Of this invisible Divine Gov
eminent, which, although it las no writer
constitution, is the supreme law Of civil
r:zadon, and is everywhere manifesting itsel
In the intellectual and moral activities o
the race, and the general advancement O.
social happiness and refinement. 1t isuse
less, and worse than useless to fight against
= it, as the rebels will find in the long run
Its destiny, and those who fight with 1t
and for it, no matter how formidable tht
opposition arrayed against them, are surf
to be Sin at the death" and "come Of
more than conquerors,"=
But in the meanwhile, we as the Execu
tive Ministers Of the idea Of Liberty, have
to whip the rebel armies, and compel them
to an unconditional submission to the laws
How is this to be dope2 How is it best
and quickest to be donef For this is the
great practical question before Us. We
have hitherto, found it well nigh impracti-
cable-not for want Of courage or the i'm
p1cmentsio iot war-nor altogether from want
Of fn1l1ita1y skill in our commanders Yet
there is the ugly fact staring us in the face,
after two years hard fighting, and lavish
expenditure Of men and money, we have
not yet whipped them from the field. We
have not done nearly 80 much indeed, com
paratively speaking, with our resources rs
they hare with theirs, The world is in q
wonderment about us-and cannot under.
stand why the rebels hold their OWL in
spite Of the immeasureable superiority Of
the forces and appliances which We have
brought, and can yet bring for years against
them, ifneed be,
. We think the solution Of the mystery
lies in considerable part, in the utter rotten
ness Of cur enlistment system. What is tho
good Of en1isting men for thrce, ,six, and nine
months, OF even for two years Of service?
In the case of the first class Of recruits, it
is literally throwing away labor, and time
and money upon them. They are no Soon
er fitted to deal with arms, and to 70
through the military eyolutions and move
ments, than their time is up, and away
they 60 home to their old occupations.
Others have to take their places, and 20
through precisely the same drill and exer!
else, with precisely the same results. The
two years although their
time Of leaving is more remote, are mus
tered out Of the army just at the very mo-
ment when their services are invaluable; ;
when their places thanks to the halfeyed
policy Of the War Department, which will
have no reserves ready trained at hand to
supply such dedcieneies-cannot be filled
up. So long as these Tins enlistments are
the order Of the service, there will never
be an efficient army. If soldiers on the
eve Of great and important battles, can-
: IN conformity with the terms Of their en-
Estment-quit the service by thousands,
as they did lately before tho battle Of Chan
cellorsyille, how can it be expected that
We can crush IN united, rcsolute enemy,
every man Of whom is conscripted for the
whole WAT, and is an efficient and accom-
p1ished soldier? What We shall yet hare
to dc is this: put aside all other business
but war, every one Of US, and devote our
selves 70 1t until we put IN end to it.
For although, as We earnestly believe,
we arc fighting in the line Of duty, and
according to the programme Of God, We are
not, On that account, exempt from the laws
which regulate ali SUCCESS in this world.
We must put our own shoulders to the
wheel, or Jupiter will be a long while be-
fore he comes out OF his cloud to help us.
The rebels have consc1ipted army. Any
man leaving the field on the eve Of battle
would be shot as coward and traitor.
And it seems monstrous that such thing
should be tolerated in our practise; that
any articles Of agreement should bc drawn
up, which could possibly sanction such
practise; although NC do not blame
the soldier for taking advantage Of
the terms Of his enlistment,
he is entitled to do so-and there are
many cogent and personal reasons to in
fuence his action in this respect. But re-.
nembe,ing that he is not hireling, but
citizen, and part Of the Government,
and TINT the country he is fighting for, is
his oton country, it docs look hard to see
him leave her in her extremity.
Let the law be equal, and the Federal
army conscripted army. We hare, as
We lately pointed out, three millions of
men yet to draw upon to do our fighting,
Let them be conscnpted; every man
needed. Let those who are not Immediately
wanted, be Kept as reserve; so that the |
army in the field may always have full
OF efficient troops-and with
these, advantages in our hands, and the
mighty invisible forces Of destiny working
with US, there will soon be an end to the
war.
c% Tie Charleston (Cves County Lcdger)