The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-03-04
pointed out in which our armies have been i'm

pointed out in which our armies have been i'm |
perilled or sacrificed in order to compass some |
partisan end, but We fear that the doings Of
the past will be cclipsed by tho operation Of the
coming summer. The object which Mr.. Lin
coin has proposed to himself is to bring about
his own reelection. Far this end ho has shap
ed all his measures; and as the most important
auxiliary he can secure, he is determined to
obtain the electoral votes Of the States in re-
bellion. His enemies of his own party have
had the honesty to provide that bogus delega-
tions shall not be allowed in the National Con-
vention, which is to nominate the Abolition
Candidate for the Presidency, but, if Mr. Kim
coin car get the nomination, he will have no
tion which his associates will not permit him
| to use against their partys Accordingly, expe-
ditions are operati NC in almost every Southern
State in order to have the requisite decimal
| fraction accept the Amnesty Proclamation and
prepare for the November election. TheseRaids
accomplish no good end; and by giving the en-
envy an opportunity to cut up our forces in de-
tail, they may bring upon us such casualties
that their main armies will in time equal our
own. Should this policy be pursued throughout
the summer and as the political canvas wakes
warm, we must expect that the movements in
the field will be made more and more subordinate
to the needs of partisanship-the sanguine an
ticipations in which so many have INDUCED,
will be sadly disappointed. The nearer we
come to election day, the greater our danger
that the Administration will sacrifice our arm
les to secure continuance in office.
i That our forcbodings are not groundless. may
be seen by the suboined article from Saturdays
Bulletin, which is probably based upon private
information as to the plans of its fayortc can
didate:-Age.
The sad news of a rcpulse of our troops in
Florida can scarcely surprise those who have
coolly calculated the chances of Gen. Seymour's
success. force of few thousand men was
sent into the interior of the State, and when
sixty miles from its base at Jacksonville was
met by a superior force of the enemy and driv-
en- back with heavy loss, to Jacksonville. The
rebels had long notice of the approach of our
troops, and abundant means of conveying an
army by railroad to meet them, OF which, of
course they availed themselves. Thus, we fear,
an enterprise, undertaken unwisely and with
inadequate means, has been brought to NOR
tifying termination. Who is responsible for
this disaster? Was it ordered by Gen. Gilmore
on his own responsibility? Or was it part of n
general plan Of campaign arranged by General
Halleck? Whoever authorized it, it has proved
to be lamentable blunder, and it should be fix
ed upon the right man.
This first failure in our spring campaign leads
us to fear that it may all be badly planned. In
, North Carolina, where our forces are scattered,
engaged in making raids which only irriate hon on:
combatants, and destroy Union feeling while
destroying private property, the enemy has col
lected large force, partly composed of veter.
6 ans of the Army of Virginia. We are again
threatened with disasters there; for Gen. But
tier has not troops enough in his department to
meet the enemy in the field, and there are sew.
eral of our garrisoned posts exposed to- siege or
assautby the sreatlysuperior forces of the rebels
Again let US ask, who is answerable for the
state of affairs in North Carolina!
Viewing tic circumstances in tho eastern
States Of the South, one canfi2t help feeling
nneasness concerning our movements in Georgia
and Alabama. Sherman has made splenuic
and thus far successful advance. Thomas 100,
has begun movement from Chattanooga But
who knows whether Hardee, who nas Just de-
feated Seymour, may not be able to make q
rapid junction by railroad with Johnson, and
defeat Grant, or with Polk in Alabama and de-
feat Sherman? We have all confidence in our
commanders in the field and in their troops.-
But we confess to misgivings as to the general
plan, and to great fears lest our divided forces
may be defeated in detail, the enemy's short
lines of communication and railroad facilities
giving him advantages greater than those we
may possess in numbers.
llCi- n II q