The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-12-09

and yet TO dstach well appointed large army
to move on such a. expedition. The result q
not yet fully known. Conjecture IN regard TO
II Is not here indulged.
PaooREss OF LrIxRrY.
Important movements have also occurred
during the year. to'the eject Of moulding %.
ciety for durability In the Union. Although
short ofcomplsts success. u 70 much In the
right direction, that 10, 900 citizens each, Of
the States Of Arkansas and Louisiana have
organized loyal State governments with free
constitutions, aud are earnestly struggling to
sustain them. The movements In the same di.
rection were extensive. though less definite, 10
Missouri and Kentucky, and Tennessee shonld
not be overlooked. But Maryland presents the
example Of complete success. Maryland Is sc
| cure to Liberty and Union for oil the future.
| The genius Of rebellion will no more claim
Maryland. Like another foulspirit being driv:
| en- outfit may seek to tear her, but II Will
wound no more.
AMENDMENT TO fns CONSTITUTION.
Al the last session Of Congress proposed
amendment Of the Constitution sbolishng sls.
very throughout the United States, passed. the
Senate. but failed for lack Of the requisite two
thirds vote In the House Of Representatives:
Although the present 10 the Same Congress, and
nearly the Same members, and without Ques-
tioning the wisdom or patriotism Of those who
stood In opposition, venture to recommend
the reconsideration and passage Of the measure
at the present. session. or course the abstract
question Is not changed, but On intervening
election shows almost certainly that the next
Congress will pass the measure. Hence there
10 only the question uf time, rs To when the pro.
pose amendment will go to the States for their
action, and as II Is to 30 20, Mt all events, may
We not agree that the sooner the better. 1t Is
not claimed that the election has imposed du-
ty on members to change their views or their
votes, any further than rs an additional ele-
me It To he CONSIDERED. Their judgment may be
aff ,ited by II II Is the v0ce VI the people,
nov for the first time hearl upon the question.
In great national crisis like ours. unsnimty
VI action among those seeking common end u
very desirable. and almost indispensable, and
set not to approach to such unanimity Is allow.
able, unless s,me difference shall be pail to the
will Of the majority simply becaussit Is the will
OF the majority. In this case our common end
u the maintenance Of the Union, AMI among
the means 10 secure that end, such will through
the election Is most clearly declared In favor OF
such constitutional amendment. The most re.
liable indication Of public purpose In this coun-
try, Is derived through our popular e,fctions.
Judging by the recent canvass and Its results.
the purpose Of the people within the loyalStates
to maintain the integrity OF the Union was new.
er more strong. nor more nearly unanimous
than now. The extraordinary calmness and
good order with which the millions Of voters
met and mingled NJ the polls, gave strong rs.
surance of this Not only those who support
Ell the Union ticket, 50 called, but majority
Of the opposing party, may he fairly Claimed
to entertain and be actuated BY the same pur-
pose.
It Is an unanswered argument to the effect
that no candidate for Office whatever, high or
low, has ventured TO seek votes on tho ayowal
that he was for giving up the Union. There
has been much impugning of motives. and
much heated controversy rs To the best mode
OF advancing the Union cause; but in the dis
tinct issue of Union or no Cuiou. the p0liti-
clans have shown their instructive knowledge,
that there Is no diversity among the people
In aifOrling TO the people the fair opportunity
OF showing one TO another aud to the world
their frinness and unnnimity Of purpose, the
election has been OF vast value to the national
cause.
DEVELOPMENTS or rnE ELrcrIoy.
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 ut national resource-that Of having
men. While Il Is melancholy to reflect, that
the war has filled 80 many graves and carried
mourning to SO many hearts, II Is some relief to
know that, compared with the survivors, the
fallen have been 10 few while corps and diyis-
ions, and brigales, and regiments have formed
and fought aud wranglsi and gone out Of exis.
tence, 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. s, many votes could not else be
found. The States which regularly held cleo
tons. both now and four years ago, to wit.
California. Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, In
LLAMA, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts,, Michigan. New York, New Jer
sey. New Hampshire, Ohio. Oregon, Pennsyl-
vania. Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia
and Wisconsin cast 3. aS2. OFT votes now, against
3 ,070,2 1872 cast then showing an aggregate now
Of ,0S2,0i to which Is to he added 80. 7S2 cast
now In the new States of Kansas and Savaia,
VIII oh States did not vofr In 10 10, thus swelling
the aggregate to 4,ol5.773. and the net increase
during three years and half Of warof la, 7al.
A table Il appended showing part Gu as. To-
this should he aided the number OF all So ! r,
In the field from Massachusetts, Rhode Is'sn'l.
New Jersey, Delaware, Indiana, Illinois. and
California, who by the laws o: these States
could not vote away from choir hom"s. anil
which number canno; he l. % than 100000.
Nor set Is this all. The mum In u or.
anized territories 10 triple now Ia what II Was
four years ago. while Thousands OF whites and
blacks join US In the national army to press
affirma'ively and negatively by the election.
Il is not material to inquire how the increase
has been pr ,lnced, ar To show that II would
have been greater hut for the war, which IL
probably true. Tho important fact remains
demonstrated that We have more men now than
we had when the war begun; that We arc not
exhausted nnr In process at exhaustiOn; that
We are gaining strength. and may, u need be,
maintain the contest indefinitely. That As 10
,,no tartat a. nd % n "a pf,v rnNr
complete anil abundant than ever. The nation. |
al resources. then, ARE unexhausted, and, ~
We believe, unexhaus,ibe. The public purpose
TO re establish and maintain the na'ional au. |
thority Is unchanged, and Ia, We believe, IN
changeable. The manner of continuing the ef- |
fort remains 10 be chosen.
now PEACE CAN NJ GAINED.
On careful consideration Of all thu evidence |
accessible, II seems 10 me that no attempt Mt ne
cotis,ion with the insurgcnt leader could result |
In any good. He would accept nothing short |
VI the severance Of the union-preeissly what
we cannot and will not give. His declarations
to this effect are explicit and Off repeated he
does not attempt TO deceive US: Heappends no
tsrily accept the Union, We cannot voluntarily |
yield Il. Between him and us the issue IL dis.
tinct, simple and infeIibie. tits an issue which
can only be- tried by war and decided by victo.
re-. n We yield. We arc beaten ; IL the South.
ern people fail him, 10 IL beaten. Either way,
Il would he the victory and defeat following
war. What Is true. however. Of him who heads
the insurgent cause, Is not necessarily true Of
those who follow although he cannot re-accept
the Union, they can some OF them NO know
already, desire peace and reunion. Tho mum
Der of such may increase. They oan at any
moment have peace simply by laying down their
arms and submitting to the national authority
under the Constitution. Alter % much, the
Government could not II II would maintain war