The Grand Haven news., 1864-12-14

shall be paid TO the will Of the majority.
In this case the .common end is the
maintenapce Of The Union, and among
the means 10 sccu'e that end, such will
through the election, is most clearly de-
clared in favor of such constitutional
amendment. The most reliable iudica.
tion Of public purpose in this country is
derived through our, popular elections.
Judging by the recent canvass, and ia re-
suit, the purpose Of The people within the
integrity Of the Union was never more
firm, nor more nearly unanimous than
now. The extraordinary calmDass and
good order with which the millions Of
voters met and mingled at the polls gave
strong assurance of this. Not only aIl
those who supported the Union ticket,
so called, but great majority of the OPP
posing party, also, may be fairly claimed
to entertain and TO be actuated by tho
same purpose. II is an unanswerable
argument TO this effect, that no candidate
for hny Office whatever, high or low, has
ventured TO seek votes on the avowal
be was for giving up the Union. There
have been much impugning Of motives,
and much heated controversy as to the
proper means and best mode Of advancing
the Union or DO Union, the politicians
have shown their instructive knowledge,
that there is no diversity among the peo-
pie. s.rfs veer r,G
In awarding the people the fair oppor-
tunity of showing one TO another and 10
the world this frnness and unanimity of
purpose, the election has been of vast val
ue TO the national cause. The election
has exhibited another fact, not less yalu-
able to be known, the fact that we do not
approach exhaustion in the most impor-
tant branch Of the national resources
that of living men. While il is melan-
choly to reflect that the war has filed so
many graves, and mourning TO so many
homes, it is some relief TO know that,
compared with the surviving, the fallen
have been SO few. While corps and di-
visions, and brigades and regiments have
formed and fought, and dwindled and
gone out of existence, a great majority of
the men who composed them are still
living. The same is true of the naval
service. The election returns 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, Delaware, ILL
nois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, MARYLAND,
Massachusetts,, Michigan, Minnesota, Mis-
souri,, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New
York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wis
consin, cast 3,0S2,01l votes now, against
s,S70,222 cast then, to which Is TO be
added 33,762 cast now in The new States
Of Kansas and Nevada, which States did
not vote in 1860. Thus swelling the ag-
gregate 10 4,075,77S, net increase du-
ring the three years and half of war Of
145,75l. A table is appended, showing
particulars. To this again should be add
ed the number of all soldiers in the field
from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New
Jersey, Delaware. Indiana, Illinois and
California, who, by the law OF those
States, could not vote away from their
homes, and which number can not be less
than 10000. Nor yet is this all. The
number in organized Territories is treble
now what it was four years ago, while
thousands of whites and blacks are added
as the national armies press back the in
surgent lines. So much is shown affirm
atively and negatively by the election
II is not material to inquire how the In
crease has been produced, or show that it
would have been greater but for the war,
which is probably true. The important
fact remains demonstrated that we have
moro men now than when the war begun;
that we are not exhausted, nor in process
Of exhaustion; that we are gaining
strength, and may, if need be, maintain
the contest indefinitely,
| This as to men. Material resources
are now more complete and abundant
than ever. The national resources, then,
are unexhausted, and, as we believe, in
exhaustible. The public purpose TO re-
establish and maintain the national au-
thority is unchanged, and, ms we believe,
upchapgeable.
| e} Nf , THE FUTURE.
The manner Of continuing the efforts
remains for US TO choose. On careful
consideration Of all the evidence accessi-
bic, il seems to me that no attempt at
negotiation with the insurgents could do
any good. He would accept nothing
short Of the severance Of the Uuion--his
declarations to that effect are explicit and