Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1864-12-15


The most remarkable feature in the
military operations of the year is Gen.
Sherman's attempted march of three
hundred miles directly through the in
surgent region. 1t tends to show
great increase of our relative strength
that our Gencral-in.Chief should feel
able to confront and hold in check
every active force of the enemy, and
yet to detach well-appointed army
to move on such an expedition. The
result not yet being known, conjec-
ture in regard to it is not here in.
dulgcd. 81
At the last session of Congress a
proposed amendment Of the Constitu-
ton, abolishing slavery throughout
the United States, passed the Senate,
but failed for lack of the requisite
two.thirds vote, in the House of Rep
resentatives. Althogh the present is
the same Congress and nearly the
same members, without questioning
the wisdom or patriotism of those who
stood in opposition, venture to rec
ommend the passage Of the measure
at the present session. $751;.
Judging by the recent canvass and
its results, the purpose of the people
within the loyal States to maintain the
integrity Of the Union was never more
firm nor more nearly unanimous than
now. The extraordinary calmness and
good order with which the millions of
voters met and mingled at the polls
gave strong assurance of this. Not
only all those who supported the I'm
ion ticket, so-callcd, but great ma
jority of the opposing party also may
be fairly claimed to be actuated by the
same purpose. 1t is an unanswcra-
bic argument, that no candidate for
any Office whatever, high or low, has
vcnturcd to seek votes on the avowal
that he was for giving up the Union.
There has been much impugning of
motives and much heated controversy
as to the proper means and best mode
of advancing the Union cause, but in
the distinct issue Of Union or no Un-
ion, the politicians have shown their
instructive knowledge that there is no
diversity among the people. In awar-
ding the people the fair opportunity OF
showing one to another, and to the
world, this firmness and unanimity 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
the fact that we do not approach ex'
haustion in the most important branch
of the national resources, that of liv.
ing men. While it is melancholy to
reflect that the war has filed so many
graves and caused mourning TO so
many homes, it is some relief to know
that, compared with the surviving, the
fallen have been SO few. While corps
and divisions and brigades and regi-
ments have formed and fought and
bled, and gone out of existence, a
great majority Of the men who COM
posed them are still living. The same
is true of the naval service the cleo.
ton returns prove this. So many vo-
tcrs could not else he found. The
number in the organized Territories
is triple now 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, affirmatively and negatively.
by the election. 1t is not material to
inquire how tho increase has been pro.
duced, or to show that 1t would have
been greater but for the war, which is
probably true. The important fact re-
mains demonstrated that We have more
men now than we had when the war
| began-that we are not exhausted,
nor in process of exhanstion-that We
are gaining strength, and may, if need
be, maintain the contest indefinitely.
Our material resources are now
more complete and abundant than ev-
or The national resources, then, are
unexhaustcd, and, as We believe, mex.
haus,ible. The public purpose to re,
establish and maintain the national au'
thority is unchanged, and, as we be.
lieve, Interchangeable, The manner ol
continuing the effort remains to choose
On careful consideration of all the evi
dence accessible. it seems to me that
no attempt at negotiation with the in.
surgent leader could result in any
good. He would accept of nothing
short of the severance of the Union.
His declarations to that effect are ex.
pIicit aud oft.repcated. He does not
attempt to deceive us. He affords us
no excuse to deceive ourselves. We
cannot voluntarily yield it. Between
him and US the issue is distinct, sim.
pie and inhexible. 1t is an issue
which can only be tried by war and
decided 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 follow.
ing war. What is true, however, OF
him who heads the insurgent cause, is
not necessarily true of those who fol
low. Although he cannot 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 ma
tional authority. under the Constitu'
ton. After so much, the Government
could not, If it would, maintain war
against them. The loyal people would
not sustain or allow il. If questions
should remain, we would adjust them
by the peaceful means of Legislation
conference, courts and votes, operating
only in Constitutional and lawful chan
nels. Some certain and other possible
questions are aud would be beyond
the Executive power to adjust. Fol
instance, the admission OF members
into Congress, and whatever might re
quire the appropriation Of money. The
Executive power itself would be great
ly diminished by the cessation Of act.
ual war. Pardons and remissions OF
forfeiturcs. however, would still be
within Executive control. In what
spirit and temper this control would
be exercised, can be fairly judged OF
by the past.
In presenting tho abandonment Of