The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-10-29

a prominent New Englander; but in the
absence of all proofs, will not voucb for
! the truth of the report. 1t will be scon
that the revelations it contains are Of an
exceedingly exciting character 80" 81 -l's 8
-'at ea ''rs" [copY.l cas-
J. u. .E 4D WASHINGTON, October 8.
! Ny DEAR OLD FRIEND: | have been
trying for ever month to answer your let
ter of August l8 3; yet in vain. Happily
for me, you know what are my relations to
the government and how fully occupied
nv time must be III crisis like tho press
ent. Yet you do not know all. Imagine
me four times as busy as was when you
were here last year, and you will form
] some faint idea of the press of business
that is now upon me. notwithstanding all
this, / cannot refrain from writing you,
both to settle that matter about which
you wrote, and, it can spare the time, to
respond to your kind inquiry for my views
upon the questions Of the day. Aud first
As to the private matter.
| \ = 4
You ask for my views upon the presiden
tal election and the policy of the. admin
istratio There is little doubt of the re-
election of Mr.. Lincoln. Even should he
lack the requisite number OF votes--which
I consider very improbable-you know
what other agencies can be employed to
secure his retention in Office. 1 am sure
| We will have the best of it in the army be-
cause of the natural instinct of the officers
to consult the wishes Of the powers that
be in order that they may obtain promotion
and preferment. All this is as plain as
daylight. ~
As regards the policy of the administra>
ton during the next four years, hardly
believe that the leaders of the Union par>
| ty, and certainly not the masses of the
people, have the slightest idea of what Is
before US. 1t may crate harshly upon yop. j
ears, but it is, nevertheless, my firm CO H.
viction that to prosecute this war ss il
should be prosecuted, nay, as it inev'tab',
will be, it must be Dosed for The complete er.
termination Of the adult population, of tn,
states in rebellion. Does this star tie You
Look with me at the history of the war
even now more eventful than wars in Eu
rope of thrice its duration. At the begin
uing of the conflict the administration was
obviously restricted to tue choice between
two different policies, Wis: CD CANCELLATION
and ~ ABSOLUTE suBJUGATIoN and ExrER
MINATIoS. Any half way policy was sure
to result unhappily. The Democrats, with
their ardent love Of slavery, and their for
mer political affiliations with the slaveoc
racy, undoubtedly did adopt the proper
policy for their purposes. Had the war
been prosecuted, as they urged, simply tc
restore the Union and save slavery with it
there is no doubt but that we would now
be at peace, and the South would be rein.
stated in its old place of power in the fed,
eral Union. But this, you know, would
not suit the members of our party. VIZ
could have had all that before the war be
can If We had chosen to assent to the prop
ositions adopted by the Peace Convention
do not know as history will Justify our
| course, bat 1t is clear that had we assented
TO the COMPROMISE proposed by that con-
ventlon. we would have had no political fu>
ture. We arc but human, and self preser.
vation is as much law of politics as OF
nature. We are certainly responsible for
| the war, and, for one, am not afraid to
meet the results which Seem certain to be
accomplished by Yet, my dear friend, |
am almost appalled, when try to forecast
the future, and realize in advance the trials
which we, as nation, will have to undergo
before We can enter the promised land CT
freedom. This generation will not see
that land but while we tramp through the
wilderness in which We now are, the next
generation will enter into the hotter land
and in more perfect Union will reap the
benefits of our tolls and sufferin),s. -..a.
Consider for moment the Ell ect of the
war upon the southern people not upon
their property, but upon themselves. Per
haps you will better Comprehend my mean
ing Ii | were to arrange in tabul ar form the
proportion of Union sentiment in 1861 and
the probable proportion there at the pre-,
ent time. The table, compiled from such
Information az comes to nv memory "A I
write, would stand thus -
IT.. 1851 - - 1854