The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-01-18


Popular tumults ere common enough In his
tory, ana ere even common In exact proportion
to the excitsbility aad ignorance Of the people
In whose history thsvoecar. Paris has hardly
been for hundred years without Ii @r6volu-
ton" since the tenth century. But those grand
popular movements or uprisings, that not even
the most ll-disposed chronioler could designate
rs tumults-those great assertions Of Ne vitality
and spirit Of people that the nation feels
greater and prouder and better for-are exceed
ingly rare. In the course Of the present war
we have had In this country several Of these.
We had the FIRST when our nationality was as
sailed by the shots fred at Fort Sumter shots,
that, like the Arrows Of Alcestes, took fire Is
they few, and Lit up ct the North blaze Of
national enthusiasm whose like the world never
saw till then. Several others have broken out
when the government called for men; but the
last of these spontaneous expressions Of the
people seems to us to be the greatest of all.
Enthusiasm was natural to US at the COM
meDcement. We were proud and brave peo-
pie; We had faith In our governmental system;
we were ready and determined to sustain il,
OsssAAo
and earnestness that had hitherto characterized
our pursuits of other objects. But few knew the
hardships Of war; fewer still dreamed Of the
magnitude OF the struggle upon which we were
about TO- enter, and none contemplated the
cost. Such considerations, therefore, did not
dampen our natural ardor at that time, and the
people came up from the cities and from our
numberless villages-from the church, from the
schools, from the COURTS from the mines, the
factories and the farm houses-and offered their
services to tho country. Now, however, we
have been at war over two years, and the peo-
pie know what war is; yet when the coun-
try calls again for men we see the very men
who know best what the hardships of war are
as ready to answer the call as they were at
first Complete armies, upon the very eve of
the expiration Of the period for which they
took arms, re-enlist for another term Of service;
and this is at the simple request Of the govern
ment and all in perfect good faith and honor.
All the men who thus re-enlist know perfectly
we'll that in few months more they could go
to their homes and families honorably, for they
have before this seen regiment after regiment
60 home so; but they do not want to 60 home
and leave this struggle They are determined
to see it out and they enter again nobiy. and
freely. Here is spectacle of devotion to the
country cause not only without a parallel in
any history. but beyond what even the Utopian
dreamers would have imagined.
Contrast this readiness of Northern men to
sustain the country with the present spirit Of
the Southern people. Disguised with the re-
suits Of their mad attempt with their leaders,
and even with their cause, the men of the whole
South are anxious only as TO what terms they
can make, and the men in the Southern armies
desire only to get away Deserters come into
our lines by thousands. and would come in still
greater numbers if they had tue chance.
Southern armies are now filed by conscrip-
ton that takes every man who can stand upon
his feet And that is their condition; while
hero every few days re-enlistcd regiment
comes home, and the men 60 to their families
so that there is complete disintegration OF the
body-and upon the expiration OF its leave the
regiment comes together again and returns to
camp perfect unit. Suppose rcbel regiment
thus sent home what would become of it. Its
men would be joined to the two hundred
thousand straggiers from the Southern army,
and its name would be heard no more in the
rebel camps.
No circumstance that has occurred Is calcu-
lated to have greater effect upon the Southern
people than this readiness OF our soldiers to re-
enlist. Southern leaders had counted upon the
expiration Of the time OF our three years men,
and upon the difficulties Of q draft TO distract
our cause; and thus disappointed, the gloom Of
despair will settle upon even the most san
guine and bring us nearer to the end.
A CHALLENGE FROM SECRETARY WEILEs.-
Secretary Welles has issued the following
challenge, through his Assistant Secretary, and
II was read before the Chamber Of Commerce
on Saturday LAST
NAVY DErARrxrsr. wAsmSoroE, Jan. Is, 1864.
Csc. W. hUsr, ESQ.,, New York.
Mr. DEAR SIR-The. charges against the Navy DEPART
for building slow steamers best answered by
6ecreary 70 make to run one Of our
against the fastest sdewheo steamer In the country,
and some Ss cuos9 Ss
York q this time Tho Eutaw, one OF the only class OF
sdewhesl steamers constructed By the Department and
DO arranged Her tonnage oI4 and hcr draught eight
Ret six inches and sbo win against the tonnage
and draught In any weather. her competitor Is much
larger the 70 take place In smooth water Very
spectfuly, CIV FOX.
Mr.. Grinnell made such an indignant
speech upon this challenge that the Cham
Der OF Commerce did not accept it, The
Secretary wants to run his steamer Eutaw
against the Adriatic, Illinois, Fulton, Eagle, or
any steamer Of the Cunard line. We propose
that the Secretary shall select three steamers
like the Eutaw and match them against the
rebel steamers Rappahsnuock, Alabama and
Florida. II our steamers overtake those Of the
rebels the government may pocket the stakes.