Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-12-15

Most clearly declared in favor Of such consti
! tutional amendment. The most reliable in
dicatioh Of public purpose il this country i.
derived through our popular elections. Judg.
!, ing 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 more 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 give strong assurance Of
this. Not only all those who supported the
Cnioh ticket, so called, but great majority
of the Opposing party also may bo fairly claimed
to entertain aid to be actsated by the same
purpose.
1t is an unanswerable argument to this
effect that no candidate for any Office what
ever, high or low, has vcntured to seek votes
on the avowal that he was for giving up the
Cnion. Thete has been much imtugnihg of
motives and much heated controversy as to
the proper means and best mode of advancing
the Union cause but on the distinct issue of
Union or no Union, the politicians have shown
their instructive knowledge that there is no
diversity among the people. In aFording the
people the fair opportunity of showing one to
another and to the world this frmness and
unanimity Of purpose the election has been Of
vast value to the National cause:
The election has exhibited another fact, not
less valuable to be known. The fact that we
do not approach exhaustion in the most i'm
portaht branch of national sources-tEat Of
living men. While it is melancholy to re-
fleet that the war hns filed so many graves
and carried mourning TO so many hearts, it is
some relief to know that compared with the
surviving. tho fallen having been SO few.
Willie corps and divisions and brigades and
regiments have FORMED and fought and dwin-
died and gone out Of existence, a great ma
jority of the men who composed them are still
living. The seme is true of the naval SER
vice.
The election returns prove this. So many
voters could not be found. The States regu-
larly holding elections, both now and four
years ago, 20 wit: California, Connecticut,
Delaware, Illinois, Indiana. Iowa, Kentucky,
Maine, Maryland. Massachusetts,, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New York. Ohio, Oregon, Pennsyl-
vania Rhode Island, Vermont, West Vir-
ginia and Wisconsin, cast 3,9S2,011 votes
now, against $3.50, ,222 cast then, showing an
aggregate now of 3,9S2,O11 To this is to
be added 49, 1852 east now, in the new States
of Kansas and Nevada, which Statos did not
vote in 1860, thus swelling the aggregate to
4,015,775, and the net increase during the
three years and a half of the war to 145 ,551.
A table is isappended, showing particulars. 10
this again should be added the number of all
soldiers in the field from Massachusetts,, Rhode
Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Indiana, Gii-
nois and California, who by the laws of those
States could not vote away from their homes
and which number cannot be less than 00,-
900. Nor yet is this all The iiumtcr in
organized Territories is triple now what it was
four ycrrs ago, while thousands-white and
black-join us, as the National arms press
back the insurgent Lines. SO much is shown
afirmativcly and negatively by the election.
1t is not material to inquire how the in
crease has been produced, or to show that it
would have been greater but for the war,
which is probably true. The important fact
remains demonstrated that we have more men
now than VIC had when the war began; that
we are not exhausted, nor in process Of cx-
haustlon that we are gaining strength. and
may, If need be, maintain the contest indef-
nitely. This as to men. Material resources
are now more complete and abundant than
ever.
The National resources tlicn are tinexhaus-
ted, and, as we believe, inexEanstible. The
public purpose to re-establish and maintain
the National authority is Interchangeable. The
manner of continuing tho effort remains to
choose On careful consideration cf all the
evidence accessible, it seems to me that no
attempt at negotiation with the insurgent
leaders could result in any good. He would
accept nothing short observance of the Union.
precisely what we cannot and will not give.
His declarations TO this effect are explicit and
oft-repcatcd. lie does not attempt to deceive
us. lie affords US no excuse to deceive our
selves. lie cannot voluntarily yield. Be-
tween him and US the issue is distinct, 0implc
and infexible. 1t is an issue which can only
be tried by war and decided by victory. If
we yeild-wo are beaten. Either way, it
would be the victory and defeat following war.
What is true, however, of him who hsads the
insurgent cause, is not necessarily true Of
those who follow. They can at any moment
have peace simply by laying down their arms
and submitting to the National srth5rity un-
der tie Constitution After SO much tn,
Government could not, il it would, maintain
war ugains1 them. although he cani,ot re-
accept Tire Unioa, they can. Some Of them,
we know, already desire peace and Union.
The number Of such may increase. Loyal
people would not sustain or allow it, If
questions should remain, we wocid adjust
then, y Che peaceful means of legis,ar ion,