The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1864-12-20
NO. SO.

mon end is very desirable, almost in
dispensaole, and yet no approach to
such tnanimity Is attainable, unless some
Difference 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, ard among
the means to secure that end, such
will, through the election, is most clear
| ly declared in favor OF such q constitu-
tional amendment. The most reliable
indication of public purpose in this coun-
try is deriYed through our popular cleo
tions. Judging by the recent canvass
and its result, the purpose of the people
within the loyal States to maintain the
integrity of the Union was never mere
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 assurance of this. Not only all
those who supported the Union ticket,
SO called, but a great majority of the OPP
posing party also, may be fairly claimed
10 entertain and to be actuated by the
same purpose. 1t is an unanswerable sr-
gument to this effect that no candidate
for any Office whatever, high or low, has
ventured to seek votes on the avowal
that he was for giving up the Union
There has been much impugning of mo-
tives, and much heated controversy as to
the proper means and best mode Of ad-
vancing the Union cause, but on the dis
tinct issue of Union or no Union, the
politicians have shown their instructive
knowledge that there is no diversity
among the people, in awarding the peo-
pie the fair opportunity of showing, one
to another, and to the world, this firm
ness and unamity of purpose. The cleo
ton has been Of vast value to the ma
tional cause.
The election has exhibited another
fact not less valuable to be known: the
fact that we do not approach exhaustion
in the most important branch of the ma
tional resources-that of living men,
While it is melancholy o reflect that the
war has filed SO many graves, and caused
mourning to so many homes, it is some
relief to know that, compared with the
surviving, the fallen have been so few
Whole corps, and divisions, and brigades,
and regiments, have formed and fought,
and dwindled, and gone out of existence.
A great majority of the men who COM
posed them are still living. The same IS
true Of the naval service. ..
+ The election returns prove this. 30
many voters could not else be found IN
the States regularly holding elections
both now and four years ago, to-wlt Cal
ifornia, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Mary
land, Massachusetts,, Michinigan, Mime
sofa, Missouri, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Penn
sylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont. West
Virginia and Wisconsin. cast 3,9S3,0ll
votes now, against 3,870,222 cast then,
showing an aggregate now of 3,399, 9,4ll,
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 aggregate to 4,075,773, and
the net increase during the three years
and half of war to 1851. A table is
appended showing the particulars. To
this again should be added the number
of all voters in the field from Massachu-
setts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Della
ware, Indiana, Illinois, and California,
who, by the laws of those States, could
not vote away from their home, and
which number cannot be less than 90,-
900. Nor yet is this all, while the num-
Der in organized territories is triple now
what it was four years ago, while thou ~
sands of white and black join us as the
national arms press lack the insurgent
lines.
So mcuh is shown afirmatively and
negatively, by the election. 1t is not so
to inquire how the increase has
been produced, as to show that it would
have been greater bat for the war, which
is probably true. The important fact
remains demonstrated, that we have
more men now than when the war began;
that we are not exhausted, or in progress
of exhaustion; that we are gaining
strength, and may, if need be, maintain
the contest indefinitely. Material re-
sources are now more complete and
abundant than ever. The national re-
then, are unexhausted, and, as we
believe inexhaustible.
The public purpose to re-e5tablish and
maintain the national capacity isunchan-
ged, and we..beleve unchangeable. The
of continuing the effort remains
to choose. On careful consideration OF
all the evidence accessible, it seems to mo
that no attempt at negotiation with the
nsurgent leader could result in any good.
He would accept of nothing short OF the
severance of the Union; and his decla-
-ations to that effect are explicit, and of
.epeated use. He does not attempt to
deceive us. He affords US no excuse to
leceive ourselves. We cannot voluntar-
ly Weld it. Between him and us the
ssue is distinct, simple and inhexible.-
t is an issne which can only be tried by
var, and decided by victory. If we
'ield we are beaten; if the Southern
,eople fail him, he is beaten either
gay it would be the victory and defeat
war.
What is true however of him, who
reads the insurgent cause, is not neces-
arily true OF those who follow. Al
hough he can not reaccept the Union,
hey can. Some of them, We know, al
eady desire peace and reunion. The
lumber of such may increase. They
an at any moment have peace, simply
y laying down their arms and submit
ing TO the national authority under the
Constitution. After SO much, the Gov
rnment could not, if it would, maintain
ar against them. The loyal people
'ould not sustain or allow it. If ques-
ons should remain, we would adjust
hem by the peaceful means of legisla.
on, conference, courts and votes, oper-
ting. only in constitutional and lawful
nannels. Some certain, and other pos
BILE, questions, are, and would be, be-
ond the Executive power to adjust.
or instance, the admission of members
ito Congress, and whatever might re-