Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1864-12-13

auswersble argument to this effect, that
no candidate for any Office, however high
or low, has veniured to seek votes on the
avowal that he was for giving up the Union
There has been much impugning ol
motives, aud much heated controversy, as
to the proper means spd best mode Of ad-
vancing :he Uuion cause but on the dis
tiuct issue of Union or no Union, tho
politicians have shown their ins,inctive
knowledge that there is no diversity among
the people. In affordiDg to the people
the fair opportunity Of showing one to
another, and to the world, this frmness
and uuanimity of purpose, the election
has been Of vast value to the national
cause.
The election has exhibited another fact,
not less valuable to be known-,he fact
that we do not approach exhaustion in the
most important branch Of national resour-
ces-,hat of living men. While it is
melancholy to reflect that the war has
filled so many graves, and carried mourn
ing to SO many hearths, it is some relief
to know, that, compared to the surviving,
the fallen have been SO few. While corps
and divisions and brigades and regiments
have formed aud fought aud dwindled
and gone out of existence, q great una jori
ty Of the men who composed them are
still living. The same is true Of the naval
service.
The election returns provo this. So
many voters could not else be found. The
States regularly holding elections, both
now and four years ago, to wit: Califor-
MIA, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, lndi-
aua, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts,, Michigan, Minnesota, Mis-
souri,, New Hampshire, New jersey, New
York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, Vermont, Wes, Virginia, and Wis
consin, cast 1882 oil votes now, against
5 3.S70,222 cast then. To this is to be
added SO, 762 cast now in the new States
of Kansas and Nevada, that did not vote
in 1860, thus swelling the aggregate to
4,0l5,773, and the net increase, during
the three years aud q half Of war, to 49,
55l. A table is appended, showing par
ticulars.
To this again should be added the num-
Der Of soldiers in the field from Mnssachu-
setts, New Jersey. Delaware, Indiana,
Illinois, and California, who, by the
laws Of those States, could not vote away
from their homes, and which number can
not be less than 10000.
Nor yet is this all. The number in the
organized territories is triple now to what
it was four years ago, while thousands,
white and black, join US as the national
arms press back the insurgent lines.
So much is shown, afirmatively and
negatively, by the election. 1t is not
material to inquire how the increase has
been produced, or to show that it would
have been greater bus for the var, which
is probably true. The important fact re-
mains demonstrated, that we have more
men now than we bad when the war began;
that We are not exhausted, nor in the
process Of exhaustion that We arc gaining
strength, and may, if need be, maintain
the contest indefinitely. This, as to men.
Material resources are now more complete
and abundant than ever.
The national resources then, are unex-
haussed, and, as we believe, inexhaustible.
The public purpose to rc-establish and
maintain the national authority, is uu-
changed, and, as We believe, unchanged
BILE. The manner Of continuing the con-
fict, remains to choice.
On careful consideration of all the evil
deuce accessible, it seems 70 me that no
attempt at negotiation with the iusurgent
leader could result in any good. He
would accept nothing short of severance
Of the Union precisely what We will not
aud can not give. His declarations to
this effect are explicit and oft.repeated.
He does not attempt to deceive Us. He
affords US no excuse to deceive ourselves.
He can no: voluntarily re.accept the
Union. We can not voluntarily yield it.
Between him and us, the issue is dis.
tinct, simple and iDAcxible. 1t an issue
which can only be tried by war, and deci-
ded by victory. If We yield, We are
beaten. If the Southern people fail him,
he is beaten. Either way, it would be
the victory and defeat following war.
What is true, however, Of him who heads
the insurgent cause, is not necessarily true
of those who follow. Although be can
not re accept the Union, they can.
Some of them, we know, already desire
peace and reunion. The number of such
may increase. They can at any moment
have peace, simply by laying down their
arms and submitting to the national
authority under the Constitution. After
so much, the Government could not, if it
would, maintain war against them. The
loyal people would not sustain or allow it.
If fqucstions should remain, we would adjust
them by the peaceful means Of legislation,
courts and votes operating
only in constitutional and lawful channels.
Some certain and other possible ques
tions are and would be beyond the execu.
tive power to adjust, as, Cor instance, the
admission of members into Congress, and
whatever migh require the appropriation
Of money.
The Executive power itself would be
greatly diminished by the cessation of
actual war. Pardons and remissions of
however, would still be within
he Executive control. In what spirit