Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-04-05

period allotted TO 1t, L, Tor one, do not wish
it to arbitrate the future Of my country If
1t is said that the war was premature, let it
be recollected that peace may be premature
also. We say II, d sound constitutional
party had continued in the control of the
4 Government there would have been no.
secession, no war; but they are upon us like
1 destroying friendskfWho shall rescue the
4 Union in this em6rgency? Who shall adj,
4 Just the terms Of peace which must at some
time succeed to waf ?iiJdi 2g5ltI y llid .
If the present Administration should ad-
| Just the terms 0fpeace according to the
Ideas which now govern its policy, then
would be blightef forever the hopes of all
| those whose hearts are quickened by the
love of free and popular government. 1
believe that with the Democracy in power
successful negotiations for the restoration
of the Union could be had; hut, manifestly,
I under the present Administration no stich
negotiations can lbe had, nor If they were
practicable would they be adopted, for the
4 Administrations Is committed to the Tevolu-
4 tionary scheme of reconstruct and against
the Union. y .Gll5 =, % .'a 1slhHf
4 / know the awful burdens and expense of
I the war, as well as a finite capacity can
l comprehend what is so near the infinite.
But as lesser evil would suffer even its
further accnmulations, during the time of
i abeyance, as the only means whereby the
people, in the exercise of their constitu-
4 tional right, If that right be not forcibly
taken from them, may institute an Admin
istratiOn whose advent will assure the ac-
I complishment of their great desire. The
i Olive-branch of peace, which it has been
well said should accompany the sword of
war, has been ignored in all of this bloody
war of ours. The maxim thousand times
expressed is, i"Nonegotiation until the last
rnNO Ol law lou ii Ia YlxoA
licious sentiment! Why not negotiate on
just and honorable terms to induce the enc
my to lay down his arms? Will you send
millions OF your fellow-citizens to the
slaughter upon mere point of etiquette?
Let people whose moral and political
senses are awakened correct this evil at the
ballot-box. 'N mon ''i1"t .i '..
Inasmuch as I have undertaken to COM
ment somewhat upon the conduct of the
war, feel constrained to allude to another
: matter of great moment which has stricken
the public mind with surprise and regret,
and weakened the confidence of many in
the integrity of the Administrations
, / said heretofore in my remarks that at
the commencement of the war the princi-
pal military talent and accomplishment of
T the country was possessed by men belong
ing to the Democratic party. repeat the
assertion, not for the purpose of boasting.
but because 1t becomes an important corr
; sideration when we seek for an explana-
tion of the astonishing course which has
been pursued by the President in relation
to the command of our armies. Those DEM
ocrats of military capacity were among
the first to proffer their services to the Adj
ministration to aid in putting down the re-
bellion and restoring the supremacy of the
Government and the Union. They did not
suppose that they would be compelled to
don the complexion of the Ethiop to save
their epaulets, nor that their tactics would
be overruled by one having no mii-
tary knowledge whatever, though the
!. Constitution had added to his civil
function the theoretic capacity of Com
mandeT7ip-Ch : foremost among, these
men who hastencd to the standard Of their
country, mapped out the war, planned its
campaigns and laid down the sagacious
strategy which, if supported and not inter-
rupted, would have accomplished the peo-'
pies object, was that distinguished General
whose name is so honorably associated with
the campaigns, battles, and strategy which
resulted in the reconquest and restoration
Of West Virginia; who saved against the
persistent assault of vastly superior forces,
against the violation of faith by the Ad-
ministration, to which he looked in vain for
promised support, that most gallant of all
modern armies, the Army of the Potomac.
than the highest military canacitv fiat ar
nv would nave been lost. Thanks for its
preservation are dine only IN the great ah;i1
itv and watchfi,i Vigilance IF it's ch;ef com
manfier. bv which IFS ranks were not nniv
marsbaled ACCORDING 10 the highest m;l;taryy
science, but also imbued with the discipline
and bravery which made it uncomfortable.
The incidents and results of the seven davs
of battles on the Peninsula nla6ed' tbe mama
of the commander. and the army into which
| he had hreathed his own snirit' bicb on tha
irofiOf fame. before Il was Known or even
suspected by the country that the terrible
emergency had been brought ,,non the Geno
| eraI and his gallant arn,v nv tha ,,egIect
and refusal OF the Administration to s,1nnlv
the promised means to insure the salvation
of, iii. army and the acconnpljshnet,ts IN the
object Of their r,Irsriifl the cantnre If the
/ Ifonfederate ranitaj ~ r T7Tli IT,, ~
The next incident which befell the Gene
raj after the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of his en,;nent
success was his suspensjon from con,mand
what induced this stran ge nieasureS 'it was
not that he had not taken Richmond. for.
as we have seen. the faultI of the failnte
was not his. The country has nassed
tipon that question and is r.coriinr ;ts
Judgment now. THAT Judgment is that
the Administration and the great partv-
power' which controlled Fl re6n;rsd |
Of military Commanders Something more
than a straightforward prosecution of the |