Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-12-08

have organized loyal StateI Governments
with free Constitutions, and are earnest
ly struggling TO maintain and administer
them. The movement in the same direc-
ton more extensive, though less definite,
in Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee,
should not be overlooked. But Maryland
presents the example ofcomplete success.
Maryland is secure TO liberty and Union
for all time to come. The genius of re-
bellion will no more claim Maryland
Like another foul spirit, being driven out,
it may seek to tear her, but it will woo
her no more. At the last session of Con-
gress, q proposed amendment of the Con.
stitut'on abolishing slavery throughout
the United. States passed the Senate, but
failed for lack of the requisite tW0~thirdS
vote in the House of Representatives -
Although the present is the same Con-
gress, and nearly the same members,
without questioning the wisdom OF patri>
otism of those who stood in opposition,
venture to recommend the reconsideraS
tion and passage of the measure at the
present session OF course the abstract
| question is not changed but an inter.
vening election shows almost certainly
that the next Congress will pass the
measure, if this does not, hence there
Is only question of time as to when
the proposed amendment will go to
the States for their action, and as
it is to SO 60, at all events, may
We not agree that the sooner the better,
Il is not claimed that the election has i'm.
posed a duty on members to change their
views or their votes any further than as
an additional element to be considered,
their Judgment may be effected by 1t. 1t
is the voice of the people now for the first
time heard upon the question.
In great national crisis like ours, una
nimity of action among those seeking o
common end is very desirable, almost in |
dispensable, and yet no approach to such
unanimity is attainable, unless some de-
ference shall be paid to the will of the
majority, simply because it is the will Of
the majority.
In this case the common end is the |
maintenance of the Union and among
the means to secure that end, such will,
through the election, is most clearly de-
clared in favor of such constitutional
amendment. The most reliable indica'
ton of public purpose in this country is
delivered through our popular elections.
Judging by the recent canvass and its re-
suit, the purpose of the people within the
loyal states to maintain the integrity of
the Union, was never more firm, nor
more nearly unanimous than now. The
extraordinary calmness and good order
with which the millions of voters met,
and mingled at the polls, gave strong assu-
rance of this.
Not only all those who supported the
Union ticket, so called, but a great major.
ity of the opposing party also may be fair.
ly claimed to entertain and to be actuated
by the same purpose. 1t is an unanswer-
able argument to this effect that no can.
didate for any Office, however high or low,
hBB &c f. ssSk E9tss sS @ she aESE
There has been much impugning of mo.
tives, and much heated controversy as to
the proper means and hest mode Of ad.
gancihe the Union cause; but on the dis
tinet issue of Union or no Union, the
politicians' have shown their .iustinctive
knowledge thatthere is no diversity among
the people. In affording to the people the
fair opportunity of showing, one to anoth.
er, and to the world, this firmness, and
unanimity of purpose. the election has
been of vast value to the National cause.
The election has exhibited another fact
rot less valuable to be known, the fact
that we do not approach exhaustion in
the most important branch of National
resources, that of living men. While it is
melancholy to reflect that the war has fill.
ed SO many graves and carried mourning
to SO many hearts, it is some relief to
known that compared with the surviving,
the fallen have been so few-while corps
and divisions, and brigades and regiments
have formed and fought and dwindled
and gone out of existence, a great ma
iority of the men who composed them
are still living. The same is true of
the naval service. The election re:
turns prove this. So many voters could
not else be found. The States regularly
holding elections both now and four years
ago, to.wit: California, Connecticut, Del
aware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mis-.
souri,, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New
York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsyl lvania, Rhode
Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wiscon-
sin cast 3,982,O11 votes now, against
q, $40, 222 cast then, showing an aggregate
now Of 3,9S2,O1I. To this is to be added
33, 1872 cast now in the new States that did
not vote in 1860, thus swelling the aggre-
gate to 4,O16,778, and the net increase
during the three years and q half
of war, to 145,55 A table Is ap'
pended showing particulars. To this
diers in the field from Massachusetts,,
Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, In
diana, Illinois and California, who, by the
laws of these States, cannot vote away
from their homes, and which number can
not be less than ninety thousand. Nor
vet is this all. The number in the organ
Lied territories is triAe now to what it
was four years ago, while thousands,
white and black-join us, as the national
arms press back the insurgent lines.
| 10 much 4 shown ahirmAtiVeIy and negatively BY
the election, Il ia not material to inquire how the
increaSe has been produ led, to show that would
have been greater but Tor the war which probably
true, The Important fact remains demonstrated
thCt We have more now than We had when the
wnr began; that We not exhausted nor I'm the
process Of exhaustion. That We are gaining