Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-12-01
ANOTHER VOICE FROM THE ARMY
HEADQUARTERs ARMY OF THE PoToMAC,


November "a, 1864,
10 The Editors Of tho National IntslHgenccrs
II gratifying TO every patriot, and especially TO every
soldier to see the happy in which the public
ceve the suggestions made by Major Fisher in the letter
published in your columns the 18th instant under the
title Of " The Path Of Duty" With him we believe that
if such expression given by the party it will have the
most favorable effect in bringing about speedy peace 1t
will convince the people Of the South that they have no
alternative left but to return to their allegiance to the
Government The nation at large have refused to open
their doors to Them and they know that the
best terms to bs expected be obtained to-day they
will not be slow in accepting them This will be the les
taught by the Democracy they either by general
Convention through the several Stale Committees or in
any by which expression be obtained, pledge
the sentiment Of their leader that the Union must be
preserved at all hazards"
Wewere sorry nd that the editor fthe World
York city aad ungenerouy perverted what we knew to
have been the honest and frank sentiments expressed in the
Path Of Duty letter The secret of his Interpretation
apparent in his opening sentence The anomaly of the
suggestion made seemed to him to view the PROPOSE
ton with suspicion He imagined he saw Greek lurking
beneath the bushes. Let him that every Demo
crat have heard express opinion even those most
earnest in seeking the election of former loved COM
mander agree with the writer of The Path of Duty
truly does he state that the present crisis of the nation
demands something than Negative patriotism"
The editor Of the World allows his suspicious to
shadow his Judgment when he infers that Major Fisher
the Democratic party to strike it's coors and surrender
at discretion to give the President elect carte blanche
to do whatever he peases without danger of public
" to give the vigilance" and wholesome criti
csm necessary to check corruption No one will pre-
tend to deny that it is the duty of every American citizen
irrespective Of party to watch with jealous eye each act
of their public servants There u.s. perhaps Christian
duty that should be held sacred than this Each day
of existence nation demonstrates clearly that
the prico Of liberty s eternal vigilance But is it proba-
BILE that We "a Democrats will be less watchfu of our
national character and privileges after patrotcay pedg
Ing ourselves TO stand firmly by the constituted auhori
ties 10 their just endeavOrs to crush rebellion all
with accord admit TO be tbs most wicked and causeess
the world has ever seen2
III right and most assursdy was, that and thou
sands of other Democrats should enter the armies of
country in this great crisis there should be hesancy
upon the part of party to state not asked to lend
itself to any particular policy party dogma but it can
aud no doubt should hold itself in that respect
To yield ts identity sacrifice those principles which for
many yenrs entwined with the very history of the
country would be public calamity Knowing the princi
pies and vews of the writer of the letter referred to-
read his suggestions without any Tears arising on account
of the honor organization of the party if should accept
the proposition For the party to do this would be simply
to be true to its instincts 1t not wont to stand
aoof and calmly look the nation struggling for its
stencs When in history did it not make the Of
the nation its own At no time did it heartily do
than at the outbreak of this rebellion We boast to-day
of her action in 1861 when her best not merely just
fed the Government in employing the military power Of
the nation to meet and suppress armed Instruction
themselves grasped the sword in the Of the country
aud retributve Justice. Has treason assumed more at
tractive form since the of sixty one, when
boldly denounced 1t both through the press and from the
stand Has the Union become less DEAR and we less
in earnest in its than three years ago7 To
suppose for moment would be to libel the patriotism
Of the Democratic I have not doubt but that
thousands upon thousands Of those who voted for General
Mcclellan for the Presidency have said in their hearts
Amen to the resolve suggested They cannot fail to
the great moral effect such would have in bring
ing about the peace sincerely desire This
has already TO recommend il the example Of him who was
selected to represent the late political contest and
hesitate to endorse by uneguvocs expression the
good old Uniouovng and true Democratic language and
sentiment which tells TO the world that the Union will be
preserved at all hazards z" II. p. CLINTON