Washington telegraph., 1864-12-07

| deSponuSncy ne iidHtlc anu onf~lh hae'sis a.
muscular exsrtions Of the masiac are succeeded
By periods of extreme lassitude and physical
depression. All undue tension Of mind or
muscle must have it's corresponding relaxation,
The same holds true Of national efforts most
especially those of s military character. This
borrowing, az it were, of the future resources
Of, tbs country, must be repaid by correspond
ing periods of weakness. IF the desired oh
jeet be not accomplished with the extraordinary
effort it becomes more distant and less hopeful
from the very waste Of fruitess energy.
II is evident that Just such a desperate and
fraatie expenditure Of strength las been put
forth by Lincoln's administration during the
past summer and fall. The political life of the
Republican party depended upon it. 1t was
fally committed to the policy OF subiugaFon.
Everything which made this appear more dis
tsnt was destructive to It's hopes of success in
the coming election. Hence the necessity of
drawing upon the resources of the country to-
til. utmost capacity. The debt WAS enormous
" increased. The future financial capabilities
Of the government anticipated. The armies
were filed to ths highest possible humber
Grant made the most frantic efforts, repeated
time and again. to capture Richmonl-made
:hen at such sacrifice of life and mezns rs sane
Iacn never would have incurred but under the
pressure of most terrible necessity The ef-
forts Of Sherman upon Atlanta were prompted
by the same considerations. The people must
have been deluded by sonae prospect of the
=
the South. or despairing of that, they would
have adopted the policy of reconstruction, and
waited Mcclellan into the chair upon the fckle
tide of popular favor, always swaycd, as it is.
by the expediency of the hour
Politically, Lincoln's object was accomplished.
few deluSivc successes resulting from these
almost superhuman efforts, Just upon the eve of
the election, banished all peace feeling, or pre-
tence Of such, from the minds of people who.
in the mass being mean, rapacious, arrogant
ana revengoful, never forgave us eur secession,
and Who, all of them, rather thar admit us
on terms Of equality, would much prefer to sac
US Aumiliated and degraded to an equality with
eur slavcs-our lands eonfscated, eur proud
est citizens driven into exile, and their place
supplied by greedy adventures amongst them
selves. This good thing eomming' loemsd
a little more clearly ia prospect with the cap
tura of Atlanta snd the partial success Of Sher-
idsn in the Valley, and tie great mass Of the
pack, fat:cred by the prospect, and anxious 10
be in st the death, came baying with the fercest
of the othsr bloodhounds, responding deeP-
mouihod to the abolition halloo.
But this success was political only. After
ihe excitement will have passed, they viii all
comprehend that it brings them no nearer the
wishad-for goal Sherman finds Atlantis un-
tenablei altogether useless acquisition. Grant
has not taken Richmond, nor evidently cannot.
Sheridan cannot hold the Valley even, much
less reach Lynehhurg and operate on Richmond.
Forrest is again occupying West Tennessee,
and Beauregard, wrh IIood, threatens the oc-
=upaton Of all the country again, from Nash
villa to Chattanooga. 1t works badly, this plan
Of sGbiugation The blindcst amongst them
will soon see that They are net fond Of Sd
crifce. bus greedy ouly OF spoil, aud the grati-
fcation of the lower feelings of hatred and en-
Wy. There will be with the recreant peace men
a miserable disappointment and certain rsac-
tiou. They are not governed by prin,iPl and
will abandon Lincoln with thefirst cloud which
orershaJows lis prospects Of success.
IL this view Of the case itmay almost be eon-
sidered fortunate for US, that Atlants was lost,
and Early defeated. 1t 10 plain that Mcclellan
never intended in any event to acknowledge
our iudedepem6ance. He wouI4 have raised
party in OR midst, and brought about the dis
banding Of our armies whilst amusing us with
negotiations. I-e would thon, after lingering
efforts at rccons lrucfion, hays renewed Ill wa
with a party at his back flushed with triumph,
and against d divided South The war might
have lasted twenty years, dragging its slow
length along under constitutional forms until
both sections, utterly exhausted, and with
new population grsWn up unused to peaceful
Industrial pursuits, might have fallen prey to
The rapacity OF foreign powers.
as it is. Liaeoin, having accomplished IN hiaI
own reelection tho main object Of his recent!
extraordinary efforts, may be naturally expected
to relax awhile fer lest and recuperstion. II
is not In hHnlau nature to keep up 50 extreme 4
tension Of desperate effort. 1t is the history u
It-lA4D4A1f titetl g. tAt-eL4--9 tstt4A1A A4S~S ++S
readily, than opinions near ofkin. AS the pr9
gress of events illustrates more clearly that suIt
jugation is hopeless, which is the more prob;f
Die rs sash dospsrsse efforts are net apt to be;
renewed, it IS much more probable that Lin
eola's party, pledged against reconstruction
and slavery in the government, will adept the
alternative Of recognition, than that tic party
of Mcclellan would have done 50, pledged TO
the re~oustr,tction Of she cd Unisn.
These things depsnd nuah upon ourselves.
Our very silgleuess OF purpose forced uPon Us
by the hopeiessness Of rccOnsuUction, comes
in most excellent time. whist the South is still
confident and s,ll-reliant and when the poiiti-
cal success Of Lincoln may induce . temporary
cessation Of EFFORT on the part Of the enemy.
Now is the time to take at It's flood the Tile in
our affairs, leading us to fortune. The very
desperation OF any endurabls result short Of IL
GENES upon US TO spur every energy
OF our nature just at the auspieious lnomeHt
when the on my feels that his immediate OBJ
jeet is already accomplished, and may b. about
to seiz; breathing space to prepare for new e.
forts at his llasuse
We believe the election Of I-iasola to ba net
Il.