The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-12-13
the election has been of vast value
to the national cause. l,,'S o''Su y
THE NATIt n GAINING s11lRsENGTir 1ls

w eho hdtiOndl cause.
THE NATItN n GAINING SIREN Grm.
The election has exhibited anothe,
fact, not less valuable to be known
the fact that we do notrapproach eex.
haustion in the most important branch
OF the national resources-that of liv-
ing men. While it Is melancholy to
reflect that the war has filled so many
graves and caused mourning to 80
many homes, it is some relief to know
that, compared with the surviving, the
fallen have been so few. While Corps
and divisions and brigades and regi-
ments have formed and doughtl and
bled 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 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, Delaware, Illinois, Indi-
ana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Mary
land, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mimi
esota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont,
West Virginia and wisconsin,, cast
3,9S2,Oll votes now against, 3,s7O,222
cast then, showing an aggregate now
of 3,30s,2llto 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 this ag-
gregate to 4,075,773, and the net Ias-
crease during the three years and
half of war, to ISL. "A table is
appended, showing particulars. 10
this should again be added the number
of all the soldiers in the field from
Massa 'husetts, Rhode Island, New
Jersey, Delaware, Indiana, Illinois and
California, who, by the law OF those
States, could not vote away from their
homes, which number cannot be less
than 100000. Nor Tet is this all.
The number in the organized Terrific
ries is triple now what II was four
years ago, while thousands, white and
black, join us as the n&tioAas arms
press back the insurgent lines. So
much is shown, affirmatiyely and mega
lively, by the election. tbs not,mate-
rial to inquire how the increase has
been produced, or to show that it
would have been greater but for the
war, which is probably true. The i'm
portant fact remains demonstrated that
we have more men now than when the
war began-that we are not exhausted,
nor in process of exhaustion-that we
are gaining strength, and may if need
be, maintain the contest indefinitely.
OF MATERIAL RESOURCES.
This as to men. Our material re-
sources are now more complete and
lbundant than ever, The national re-
sources, then, are uneNhausted, and, as
we believe, inexhaustible. The public
purpose to re-estatlish and maintain
he national authority is unchanged,
nd, as we believe, nnchangeable..
The manner of continuing the effort re-
Mains to choose. On careful conside,,
alton of all the evidence accessible, it
GEMS to me that no attempt at inego..
iation with the insurgent leader could
esult in any good. He would accept
f nothing short of the severance Of
he Union. His declarations to that
fleet are explicit and oft-repeated. He
oes not attempt to deceive us He.
ffords us no excuse to deceive our
,lyes. We cannot voluntarily yielH
. Between him and us the issue is
istinct, simple and inhexible. It is an.
sue which can only be tried by war
nd decided by victory. If We yield
'e are beaten. If the Southern peo-a
e fail him he is beaten. Either way,
would be the victory and defeat fol-.
wing war. -fa 'lrsa2a.1
Ow THE REBELS MAY HAVE PE.AcE.s
What is true, however, of him who
,ads the insurgent cause, is not neces-9
rily true of those who follow. Al
ough he cannot re-accept the Union,
ey can. Some of them, we know
ready desire peace antln-re-union.
hey can Mt any moment have peace
nply by laying down their arms andY
blnitting to the National authority,
der the Constitution. After 500
nch, the Government could not, ifIito
ould, maintain war against them.
lie loyal people would not sustain ORR
ow it. If questions should remain
} would adjust them by the peaceful
cans oflcgislation, conference, courts m
d votes, operating only inr Constitg-,o
nal channels. Some certain apJa
ler possible questions arc and would g
beyond the Executive power toyad-ua
It. For instance, the admission Of
,mbers into Congress-, and whatever,
ght require the appropriation, off,
,ney. The Executive power itself.
uld be greatly diminished by the ccs+
ion of actual war. Pardons and re-
ssions of forfeiture, however, would /.
! be within Executive control. In
at spirit and temper this cortrol Il
uld be exercised, can be fairly judgy
of by the past. A year ago Gener-s az
Pardon and Amnesty, upon speci. -
| terms, were offcresl to all except a'9o
tain designated class, and IL was at2Fs
,samc time known that theicXcept.Lm
classes were still within contempla-a
n Of special clcmency. During the
'r many availed themselves oftheni's
leral provision, and many more is
uld, only that the signs of bad Faith
some led to such precautionary y
asur as rendered the practical
cess less easy and certain. During
same time also, special rardcnsf
'e been granted to individuals ofcX-, :.
ted classes, and no voluntary appli-.
ioi, has hnnn lnnial srhusl .a,s.a1aiL ~