The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-01-30
Have wo made no Progressp

We have now had armed rebellion and
treason for the space Of about two years,
and war, to put down that rebellion and
treason, has been conducted by tho Govern
ment for some twenty months. The inquiry
naturally arises, what has been the result OF
the vast and mighty efforts of the Govern
mcnt to enforce throughout the country,
obedience to the Constitution and Laws OF
the land.
We know it is becoming fashionable on
the part Of Northern traitors, secessionists
and sympathizers with treason and secession,
to disparage the solid and enduring successes
that have attended the Union armies, and to
deny that any real progress has been made.
And, sometimes. too, real friends OF the
Union, become almost dishcartened and des-
pair of success. Against all this belittling
the achievements and deeds Of heroic valor
of our troops, and oil this unmanly despair
and want Of confidence in the final and glo-
rious success Of the cause Of tho Union, we
enter our protest.
We think we can say, without the shadow
of chance for contradiction, that, unless
the Government had met the armies OF trea-
son. rebellion and anarchy y with the armies
of law, order and Government, and forced
back tho black tide, that threatened to en-
gulph our whole social and political organi-
nation. the States .of Missouri. Kentucky,
Tenpessse. and Maryland, would all have
been forced into tho Southern Confederacy;
and with Maryland would have gone the
Capital Of the the Nation.
The loss to the Union Of the three States
first named, would have involved consequent
ces to the country pever to be repaired. and
added territories to the rebel shareholders
coniederacy, of unbounded wealth and i'm
mense Importance, by reason of their geo.
graphical position. But, as disastrous US
their loss would have been, we think the loss
of Maryland alone, carrying with 1t the
National Capital, would have been rife with
calamities of more dreful character. For
would it DO imputing too much Of treason
and iniquity to the leaders Of the rebellion,
to suppose that If they could but have OBJ
tanned possession of Washington and held
ii, that they would have seized upon the
Government of the United States and claim
cd to exercise its functions? We think not.
In undisputed possession OF the Capital. with
n President inaugurated. a Cabinet construct
cd, and Congress manufactured for the oc-
casion, the rebels, with their accustomed i'm
pudencc, would then have proclaimed to the
world, that they were the de Jaeto Govern
msnt Of the United States, and claimed to be
recognized as such by the nations of the
earth.
The result Of the war has been to save US
from oil this. The States mentioned are
preserved in the Union already. And the
Lincoln Administration could have preserved
them in no other way than by meeting armed
treason with the sword.
Again, had we not indicated our rights
by promptly meeting the rebellion, we should
not, at this time, be in possession Of a single
seaport on the extensive and dangerous coast
Of the Southern States. Every harbor would
have been in the hands Of the enemy. and
our vast number Of vessels. sailing on that
coast, would have been without single |
asylum from the dangers of the sea;-a state
OF things which would have been exceeding
" disastrous to an extensive commercial in
terest Of the loyal States. But thanks to
our gallant navy. ever mindful of the Ma
tion's commercial interests, we are now in
possession Of many oi the best and most con-
ycnient harbors on the coast OF the slave
States.
Il is mistaken ide,. that wc have gained
no advantage in tho prosecution Of tho war.
Our enemies give US credit for being some
what successful, as tho following confession
from the Richmond Examiner OF January
Goth, will show:
IL is not altogether an empty boast on the
part OF the Yankees, that they hold all they |
have ever held, and that another year or two |
OF such progress rs they have already made |
will fnd them masters Of the Southern Con-
federacy. They who think Independence is |
10 DO achieved by brilliant but inconseauen.
tial victories. would do well to look with the |
natural eye at the magnitude Of Yankee pos
sessions Ia our country. Maryland, Ken
lucky and Missouri arc claimed as constitu.
ent parts Of tho Confederation; they arc as
much in the power OF Lincoln as Maine and
Minnesota. The pledge, once deemed foolish
by the South, that he would "hoid, occupy
and pos.ess' all the forts belonging to the
United States Government, has been redeem
Cd almost to the letter by Lincoln. Forts
Pickens and Sumter We still retain, but,
with these exceptions, all the stropgholds on