The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-12-21

There has been much impugning of
motives, and much heated controversy as
to the proper meanes and best mode OF
advancing the Union cause, but on the
distinct issue of Union or 40 Union the
politicians lave shown their instinciiye
knowledge that there is no diversity
among the people. 10 afording to the
people the fair opportunity of showing
one to another, aud to the world this firm.
ness and unaninity Of purpose, the elec
iion bas been Of vast value TO she nation.
al cause.
NATIONAL RESOURCES.
The election has exhibited another fact not
less valuable TO be knowu-the fact that we
do not approach exhaustion in the most i'm
portant branch of national resources-that Of
living men, While it is melancholy TO reflect
that the war has made SO many graves anG
carried mourning 10 so many hearths, it is
SONS relief 10 know that, compared with the
surviving, the fallen have been so few. While
corps, and divisions and brigades, and regi
ments have been formed, and fought and
dwindled, and gone out of existence, a great
majority Of the men who composed them are
still living. The same 10 true of the naval
service. The election returns prove this So
many voters could not else be found. The
States regularly holding election, both now
and four years ago. to wit: California, COu-
nectcut. Illinois, Indiana. Iowa, Kentucky,
Maine MARYLAND, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey. New York.
! Ohio Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
| Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, cast
1882 oil votes now, against 3,S10222 cast
then, showing al aggregate now OF ,9o2, OH
! To this is TO be added 23. 762 cast now in the
new States that did not vote in 1860, thus
swelling the aggregate to 40l5 G73, and the
net increase dnrlng the three years and Il
half of war to ! 10 55I. table is appended
snow ng particulars To this again should be
added the number Of soldiers iD the field from
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey
/ Delaware, Indiana, Illinois, and California
who, by the laws OF those States, could not
vote away from their homes, and which mum
Der cannot be less than $4,000. Nor yet is
this all. the number in the organized Ter
ritores is a trihe now 10 what it WAS toul
years ago, while thou, andS white and black
JON us rs the national arms press back the
l"surgent lines.
SO much is shown aflirmatively and mega
lively by tie election. 1t is not material lC
inquire how the increase has been produced
or TO show that it would have been greater
but for the war, which is probably true. The
important fact remains demonstrated that wt
have more men now than we had when the
war began, tha: We are not exhausted, nor il
the process of exhaustion, that we are gaining
strength, and may, If need be, maintain til,
contest indefinitely. This, us to'mcn Mate
rial resources are now more complete an(
abundant than ever.
THE MAINTENANCE OF THE UNIoS--coyDlTIoX
OF PEACE.
The national resources then are unexhaust
; ed, and, as we believe, inexhauStble. Th
) public purpose to establish and maintain ie
nl'i1ndl authority is unchanged, aud, rs VI
. believe unchangible The manner OF con
, tinaing the effort remains 10 choose. o.
careful consideration OF all the evidence ac
cessible, it seems u me that no attempt a
e negotiation with the inSurgent leader coult
: result in any good. lie would accept moth
T iug short OF Il severance Of the Union, pre-
ciSey what we will not and Cannot give
HIS declarations to this effect ar eypici
and ott-repeated. lie does not atteunpt t.
+ deceive Us. lie affords Us no excuse to de
n ceiye ourselves lie cannot voluntarily re
l.. accept the Union. We cannot yuluntariI
:, yield 1t. Between him ana us the issue j
; distinct, simple and infleXibe. 1t is an iSSu
which can only be tried by war and de"ide
by victory. five yield we are beaten.
}. the Southern people fail him he is hevten-
Either way it woud be the victory and de
i feat following war. What is true, however
Of him who heads the insurgent cause, is no
y necessarily true of those who follow. Al
o though he cannot re-accept The Union, the
h can. Some Of them, We know, already dc
4 sire peace aud reunion. The number of sue
may Increase. They can at any moment hay
: peace. simply By laying down their arms an
u submitting TO the national authority unde
c the Cons s,iluton. After so much the Gov
!. eminent could not If it would, maintain WA
against them. The loval people would no
!, sustain or allow it. lfQuesticns should re
malr, we would adjust them by the peacefu
means Of legislation conferences, courts, an
j. votes operating only in constitutional an
s lawful channels. Some certain and othe
f possible questions are and would be beyon
the Executive power to adjust rs for instance
the admission Of members into Congress, an
: whatever might require the appropriation G
I money. The Executive power itself would b
: greatly diminished oy tae cessation of actui
4 war. Pardons and remission of forfeiture,
however, would still he within the EXecutiv
control. In what spirit and temper this con
IrOl would be- exercised can be Judged of b
{ the past. A year ago a general pardon an
S amnesty, upon specified terms, were oifere,
TO all except certain designated classes, ant
it was at the same time made known that tn
excepted classes were still within contempla
! LEI, OF c,,ncial clamappv nprioo no
! many aVailed themselves Of the general pro
{ vision, and many more would. only that tn
signs of bad faith in some led to such pre-
, cautouary measures as rendered the practi
cal process less easy and certain. During tn
same time. also, special pardons have bee1
eran'ed TO individuals of the excepted classes
and 70 voluntarI application has been denied
Thus, practically, the door has been for FIJI