Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1864-08-31

country ; and now, in the fourth year Of
the war, what better prospect is there of
a successful issue Braver men than our
soldiers never drew the breath Of life
Applause. Under different leadership.
and with cause which in their hearts
they felt was the cause of the country
and when they volunteered three years ago
they did feel it to be so-they might have
been victorious over any set of men less
brave or equally brave with themselves.
What trial by arms that failed in 'Gl is
more likely to be successful now. At the
end of '62 what had been accomplished
Was any State restored Had love for
the Union OF our fathers been beaten into
the hearts Of any man or woman, or child,
in the South? In '63 how was it again /?
We began the campaign under auspicious
circumstances. The army was more
powerful than at any previous time. Sue
cess had crowned our armies at Vickburg,
Port Hudson, Gettysburg. The country
believed that this great rebellion was
finally and completely to be crushed. How
completely you believed this at the time,
l know. When from Niagara, after my
return from that visit South which owe
to the courtesy of Mr.. Lincoln, l an
nounced what knew TO be true, that the
South was IN better condition than to
make good their Inexorable purpose to re-
sist our armies, it was denounced, Of
course, by men who supported the admin
istration, as treason, and regarded as the
consummation Of folly by thousands and
tens Of thousands of men of my own
party, What have you to say after the
experience Of another year? Look at the
result. With an army still more augment
cd by the leyies of 1862 and 1853. and
the winter of 1864; mon who were sup
posed 10 be the most capable placed ut tie
head OF the army, ana what vas cA..el
the scatteration policy WAS abandoned
lct the record Of U.col answer what has
been the result. From tie 4th day Of
May, when from the Rapidan General
Grant advanced in the Wilderness. and
General Sherman advanced, to this hour,
what have we gained After the reckless
effusiun of blood, expenditure Of money
to the amount Of five millions day, has
Richmond been captured, has Petersburg
fallen? The final hope Of succcss-!he
mining process-has been tried in vain.
Even Petersburg, a town not half as large
as Syracuse, still BIDS defiance 10 the
fedora! armies. Yet an immense army
went forth, as highly disciplined as any
that ever trod the earth, under y geperal
supposed 70 be the most capable man in
the federal service, remarkable for his
tenacitY of purpose, and reckless Of the
expenditure of life to secure a gwen ob-
iect Forward he marched; he reached
Richmond lie went beyond Richmond :;
but Richmond itself is General Lees
army to-day it is unbroken, stronger
than it was on the 4th of May last. How
is it with General Sherman! The object
of his march was Atlanta. After three
months of wearisome marching, and terri
bic fighting. and with the loss Of some
eighty thousand men, he has reached AT
lanta only to sit down as General Grant
has been obliged to do in front OF Peters
burg. Not a foot of Mississippi is ours,
EXCEPT a few miles around Vicksburg and
Natchez; none of Louisiana, except about
New Orleans The whole Rid river
country was lost by the failure Of General
Banks expedition. Arkansas, with slight
exception is again in the hands of the
confedcrates. They have regaincd III the
rear more than we have obtained by the
onward march of General Sherman :
army. These are stern facts, that de-
mand that the people should consider
together and ask whether the experiment
of war has not failed. 1t is not only their
interest, but their boundcn duty as citizens,
| as Christian men, TO reckon whether there
be not some other mode OF securing the
great purpose of maintaining our liberties,
of supporting the Constitution and OF re
constructing the Union Of these States.
am for holding on still for these great CD,
iects. I am for attempting by the instru-
mentalities Of peace compromise to ac-
complish that which four years OF terrible
warfare has failed to effect. Applause,
The results of your experiment are before
US: now let US try ours. Have l only
conjecture and theory to offer IN detenst
of that mode which from the beginning a
TODAY I insisted was the only one b,
which our difficulties could be adjusted
Let us see How was this governmen
made in the beginning7 Al the montl
of the cannon, the edge of the sword, tn
point of the bayonet? Did Washingto
and Franklin and that other Sherman
the old revolutionary Sherman-and th
patriots of the times that tried mems souls
meet together in Philadelphia by singl
combat in the old Hall of Independence
!. and sword in hand attempt to make