Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-02-11
THE DAILY SPY.


apparently wrecked beyond hope of recovery.
The transfer of the government, for the first
time in its history, was signalized by the ac-
tive revolt Of one part of the opposition, and
the apparently cordial and sincere support of
the other part. The fragment that did not
sympathize with the government, and dared
not take sides with the rebellion, went into
prudent retirement till the first fury Of the
storm was over Tie gasTvttT.iic1fl iiad both
ne and an aroused nation at its back.
II it had struck with both hands then, instead
OF one-if it had said to South Carolina and
the few states which had then reluctantly en-
listed under her banner, you have inaugurated
war, and war It must be-whatever perishes
the nation must live! that summer would not
have ended sooner than the rebellion, and the
administration would have been as firmly es-
tablished in the confidence of the country as
any since the days of Washington.
Two years have nearly passed since that
opportunity was lost-with the rebellion still
fiauntingits black flag over a third part of the
country, and vast political conspiracy crys-
government and render its further prosecution
of the war Intellectual and fruitIess Every
reverse which the army has sustained, every
disaster that has be.allen its cause, either
through contests with superior power or with
the unfriendly elements, has called new con-
spirators into the field, who have literally made
the mistortunes of the country the foot-s stones
by which they hope to reascend into power.
If their scheme is not perfected in all its
parts, they at least have a clear and well-de-
fined purpose suggesting means as it natures
The mob which elected a senator at Harris
burg; the mob which kept the New York as7
sembly for a month disorganized, with the
view of defeating the election of a senator
friendly to the administration; the extrava-
giant demonstrations in Boston over a general
whom the president had twice removed from
the command of the army for incompetency;
the persistent abuse and unfriendly discussion
of the purposes and policy of the government
in the democratic press with rarely an excep-
ton; these are all parts of grand scheme in
tended to paralyze the existing government
and build up revolutionary power that shall
ultimate in a confession of failure and dis
honorable peace.
They threaten no imaginary danger. They
are conspiring for no common calamity.
"'Hold the rebels where they are, till the time
comes round to elect chief magistrate who
can open the door for recantation on the
part of those then in rebellion, and for their
return to the national councils" exclaims the
traitorous Boston Courier-telling the secrets
of the conspiracy before their time. They do
not mean to have more victories now, if they
can so poison the minds of the army as to rem
der them powerless in the day of battle 1t
has not entered into their thought that the
existing government should be allowed to
suppress the rebellion, and start the renewed
Union upon more prosperous career than it
ever yet enjoyed. Hence they discourage
every measure looking to the more vigorous
prosecution OF hostilities, and the speedier
termination of the war. They desire peace
indeed-but peace that will restore the rebel
states to more than their old supremacy under
the consttution-that will give the slavehold
ing oligarchy new hold upon life and power,
against the cvilization-against the moral SEN
timent of mankind
This is the danger. 1t is unfortunate for
the government that it cond not begin the
year with a new bead-rol of triumphs to coun-
teract the danger. 1t is STILL however, strong
enough to meet it if it will. 1t has the power
of possession-and an intelligent, efficient
and resolute executive should desire no more.
1t has the favor and moral support of all or
der-loving and right-thinking patriots on
its side. 1t has an army-discouraged, some
times, by repeated neglects, misfortunes, de-
feats, demoralized in places by pernicious in
fuences unwisely tolerated and never ade-
quately punished-but still strong, and faith
full, and anxious to be led wherever there is
work to be done. 1t has the agency of four
million slaves, whose active sympathy and
support it can have whenever it chooses to
ensure them protection, or treats them with
decency and respect. With all the power
in its hands it would be beyond express
sion guilty, if it suffered the war to drag
through the remaining two years of its admin
istration, and would fairly have earned the
fate which its enemies are confidently con-
spring to render inevitable.
mn