The mountain Democrat., 1864-08-13
Five Hundred ThOusana More.

Five Hundred Thousand More.
President Lincoln has called for five
hundred thousand more troops to put
down the rebellion which Mr.. Seward, up.
wards of three years ago, assured the
country would be "crushed in ninety
days" Men, having families dependent
upon their labor for support, are to be
forced into the army. 1t seems to US that
the people will get sick of this thing after
while. II seems to US that those who
are clamorous for q vigorous prosecution
Of the war ought to demonstrate their
sincerity by volunteering. 1t seems to
US that they ought to jOyfully embrace
the opportunity to practice what they
preach. 1t seems to US that the people
have nothing to expect but disaster, judg
ing from the past by a continuance OF
the war. Over two millions Of men have
been called out--an immense number have
been slaughtered-a debt has been crea
ted which bears opprcssively on labor
taxes have been enormously increased -
cities aRd towns rave been laid in ashes
and s,me Of the Southern States desolated
and the rebellion is unquestionably as
formidable as ever-the prospect of crush
ing it cut anything but encouraging.
Now, who believes that this unfortunate
result Of a three years war is not due to
the folly and prohigacy and imbecilty of
the Administration? If the proper course
had been pursued; if the Union senti-
ment in the South had been encouraged
and strengthened by wise legislation and
conservative policy; if the war had
been prosecuted for the maintenance of
the Constitution and the preservation of
the Union, and not for the emancipation
Of the negroes and the Subjugation Of the
South, the Union people Of the South
would have suppressed the rebellion" at
the ballot box, and We would now be en-.
joying the blessings of peace. But a lit
tie blood letting" was thought to be ne.
cessory, and the freedom of the negro of
more importance than the preservation Of
the Union. RecklesSly the Administra.
tom plunged the country into war to
"strike the shackles from the slaves of
the South" and since that time it has
blundered along from one folly to another,
until we see but little hope of saving any.
thing. Under these circumstances it is
certainly a very modest call which the
Administration makes upon the country.
After shamefully abusing the generous
trust the people were disposed TO accord
to it-after changing utterly the purpose
Of the war, as declared in a resolution Of
Congress approved by the President
after sacrificing a halfmillio Of men and
oil the wealth of the country, without ac.
conplishing anything after crushing the
Union sentiment of the South by its mis-
chevouS war against their domestic insti.
tutIons, 1t has tho coolneSS to ask that
those awful sacrifices shall be repeated. -
The people have a right to demand
change of the policy which has led to no.
thing but disaster and humiliation and it
is evident change Of policy can only be
brought about by change of rulers. -
As long as the present Administration is
continued in power, the same calamitous
policy will be pursued, rendering further
forced calls for troops certain and FIRE
qucnt. To put an end to both, to restore
the Union and preserve our liberties, the
Democracy must triumph at the PreSi.
dental election, and so place at the heal
of our affairs an honest. capable and pa
triotic Chief Magistrate.