Washington telegraph., 1864-07-13
THE MAELsTRoM.-We once spent an idl

spired with wild, ungovernable and sentient
rage, as they whirled round and round, grinding
wrecks OF trees to pieces on the rocks and surg
| ing up in waves, as if some great Titanic mon-
ster. chained to the bottom, were struggling to
escape. 1t is an awe-inspiring picture of nature
at discord more impressive than the falls them
selves.
| And we may now, in like idleness, having no
| politics OF our own to disturb our composure,
aud being satisfied with the progress of our mill
tary affairs, invite our readers with us tC gaze
down from our secure eminence into the black
| and turbid whirlpool of Federal politics. where
all the bad elements of human nature are ter
rble discord, ana grinding to pieces all the
| wrecks and fragments of their once happy gov
ernment. Happy will it be for them, if the mon
ster chained beneath-the terrible demon Of DO
mestic revolution do not struggle free III truth
| and blast them with its desoiation.
| For there is conservative patriotism in their
land to rivot his chains, and subject him to
| passive submission under the mad whrl and rush
| of political changes.
We behold the contest of ambition, greed and
| hatred; principle is lost. The most Infamous
| tergiversations common. The most Internal
means are sought to accomplish their ends
Here and there few noble natures, who have
not lost all sense of right and truth, are seer
struggling with the clements, but they appear
| ike Virgirs sailors after the shipwreck:
-" Rari nantes in gurgite vasto"
Swimming scattered in the vast wbir.ng rage of
| the sea.
Foiled in the unholy work Of slbiugating US
BY constitutional means, and despsiring of that,
the party in power seeks, by trampling the con
stitution under foot, to perpetuate its reign 1t
seeks to draw all the energies and resources of
the country into one vast force under it's mill
tary control. for the double purpose of accom-
plishing our destruction, and suppressing ali
opposition al home. Upon this Lincoln has
staked all, and he will stand the hazard of the
die His cohorts and myrmidons have mus
tered under his banner and the contest is made.
The ultra elements Of the North, vieng vi i
him, and going far before him in unaloyed
hatred Of the South are uu willing yet to be thus
yokad to his car. They cannot brook that he
whom they have made their instrument should
be their master, and whilst they cry out still for
war, the desolaton of the South, and the ami
hilation of Southern people, they muster their
cohorts also to snatch the power from the hands
of Lincoln, in order TO be themselves the chosen
agents for the perpetration OF the deeds of hell
They are ike Satan, and can brook no superior
As the contest advances they will curse Lincoln
louder than ever they sang paans 70 him, when
to conci!iate their favor he honified the world
by proclainng servile insurreetion as his chosen
mode of exterminaiing christian people. Ere
mont is their leader, and Fremont hiss done what
has never before been openly done in a republi-
can government, where patriotism has been ever
made a cloak for selfish ambition He has ac-
| cepted the nomination upon grounds of personal
hatred to Lincoln, whilst disclaiming all prin-
ciple in the matter, and expressly agreeing TO
support any other man personally acceptable
whom the administration party might choose 20
nominate Avowedly it is a contest of passion
Such contests are fierce, and unrcstrained by any
high or noble element. They lead to bloodshed
This much as we gaze appears thrown up to
the surface, but in the tnrbid depths much vet
remains working and heaving, Of which we ge.
bat dim outlines, portentous of evil. Where
are the millions of old democrats, who once
maintained their power BY aid of the South bat
Like the base Judean, threw pearl away
Richer than all his tribel"
They are there-active defant disturbing.
threatening, but what will be the current of
their action7 That cannot know, but we
may discern their motire. It is, and will be.
hatred to Lincoln. Principle humanity, justice.
patriotism, nowhere appear in I'll their aims and
tendencies.
They b:de their Tine and agiia:e opposition.
They iuctuate like the waves Of the sra-an
element terrible IN its power, but takins all
shapes, which ever elude the eye. No one can
know regarding them what a day may bring
forth. Enough TO know they are strong, and
confident in their strength. Strong physically,
as well as in popularity, or else Yallandigham
would never have dared to return. lie may be
supposed tired of martyrdom, and would not
risk a renewal Of it, but for The assurance that
Lincoln could not arrest him If he would.
This much with regard 20 them may be family
inferred. They have no fixed design of recog-
nizmg the Southern Confederacy as a mater of
principle. As party they do not respond to
the noble ptterances of the few bold and choice
spirits who have spoken for recognition as a
matter of right. Their views are confined to
| the acquisition Of power. Their thoughts are
directed to the struggle at home. The grand
end and aim Of all their hopes add efforts viii
be to burl the administration from power, and
share the spoils. Whether the Confederacy
sink swim, this first and foremost is to be ac-
| compEshed Per fas aut nefss," it must be
done. Else why the posIponemsnt Of their con
ven;ion for two long months7 If they have
principles why not assert them nowl The right
is interchangeable. Unprincipled policy is gov
erDed by the changes of the times.
Perhaps The grand object Of the d,feat Of Lin
colin, being made the paramount they wait for
the development Of III" means Should the
present campaigns fail, (and it will be known by
then,) the country will be ripe for recognition,
| and they may nominate candidate upon that
! platform, and overwhel1n both Fremont and
Lincoln. Should the campaigns succeed, and
the fortunes OF the Confederacy be darkened
then the war cry may ba.ra;sad oora;, ord ,,,;.