Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-10-13

ATTAMABLE PEACE" @f.
This melancholy announcement was prefaced by
the statement that the rebellion "may be virtually
crushed out within the next ninety days, and that
IL IS TAR more likely TO be soishin Mh term than
evsr dfter,oa2d."
few days later-that is, on the 30th of Janua-
~, l863-Mr. Greeley declared in the New York
Tribune of that date that "if the rebels should be
successful and We defeated in the general results of
the campaign now opeaing-[i. e., the campaign
of Hooker, which did not open till May yl-impar-
tal third parties will say that ought TO consent
to peace ON the best attainalle termsj" the great
Powers will mediate against continuance of
the struggle, fruitless, wasteful butchery, and
urge settlement in the interests Of humanity and
commerce." and the " life or death of the coun-
try is no longer question of years, but Of months"
And in the Tribune Of February Z, 1853, is let
ter addressed by Mr. Greeley to Senator Doolittle,
in which ho writes : ,4L r.
"Oay lot it be generally agreed that will crush out
the rebellion IN tbs impsnding campaign or FRANKLY
GIVE UP THE JOB, and have aud money
enough"
Now, shall the man or the men who held this Ian
guage have the erontery to ask put any further
confidence either in their promises or 10 any Admin
istration which they support? We leave sensible
persons to answer the question Nay, we would
be willing to leave it to Mr.. Greeley himself,
sured that he would not have the presumption to
commend himself or his candidate to any but per-
sons who have very short memories. For in the
month Of May, 1868, after his predictions about
the campaign of Gen. Hsoker had been brought
to confusion the bloody field Of Charlottesville,
do we not find this hapless "monthly prognosti-
Gator" prophesying as follows? Wequote from the
Tribune Of May %, 1868:
"Our faith is strong that the nezt Fourth of july oH be
celebrated throughout restored and peaceful onion We
believe that the rebellion 10 about to be vigorously pressed
all sides to its disastrous and final collapse and that
further draft aoiH be required achieps operroD.
There may or may not be call of uniformed militia for
two three nths to hold Washington Baltimore Louis
VILE, &c. while veterans advance upon the last
stronghods of treason but the the field ,oiA
probably suffice 10 deal deeisiosy ph the rebel armies
The political faulty which could write in such
strain is exceeded only by the political faulty
upon which men like Mr.. Greeley expect to impose
when they ask the people to pay any respect to
their opinions or advice. rs
On the 18th of June, 1858, the Tribune de.
clared "his aoar has dragged on about long
enough" After the 4th of July, 1863, had
passed without bringing Mr.. Greeley's pro-
mised celebration of that national anniversary
" throughout restored and peaceful Union," the
organs of the Administration asked an extension
of time until the ensuing 1st of January, 1854.
To this effect that intense Republican sheet, the
Boston Transcript, wrote as follows, in its number
of August IA, 1858:
The assaults those power have oftentimes been
ruthless and reckless without Offering any prospect had
the assaults been successful of improved Executive
ability Whilst canddly conceding thus much 1t must
he confessed that the general impression Is that the Id
ministaon has been paning promptness in meeting
rebellion. 1t has chance to do away that impress
by alacrty Of movement and the exhibition of unmis
taxable energy The insurrecton is reelng. Swift and
incessant blows may penetrate it, The chief danger
from delay n managing the national in following up
the advantage gained not only speedily but with adequate
force The shoxdb be a,oare ath general
belief auorizsd Jy The enisiing state Of things, is, a he
mag be virtually ended before merit January AND
THAT 1T BE NOT so ENDED THE FAULT WILL BE
WITH THE GOVERNMENT" 4
We do not know the amount Of credulty there
may be in the country, but unless it greatly ex-
ceeds the estimate at which we should place it, we
must take leave to say that it would require in
calculable height Of audacity on the part of Ad-
ministration journals like the Transcript and others
to ask prudent people to take their counsel when
they suggest the propricty Of continuing the pre-
sent Administration in power. What guarantee
can they give that their predictions are not as fall
lacious and their coun'cls as worthless to-day as
they are demonstrated have been in the bitter but
irrevocable past? And what pertinency do such
reflections give to the question asked by Mr. Gree
ley in advance Of Mr.. Lincoln's denomination at
Baltimore, when, in the month of February Of this
year, he wrote
Shall Te.n0mnate Mr. Lincoln and endeavor to re-
produce far may be, 1850 in 1864? My Judgment
indicates different policy, different purpose do not
believe that the which intelligent regard for
the Presidents own happiness aud fame would pre-
scribe -. Were he to announce his peremptory
withdrawal from public life the 4th Of March 1865
the clospg year OF his Presidential term would be one
be candidate for renominaon and reelection and all
this will be sadly different The disasters, the burdens
tie debts The hopes deferred Of The last three years ,oH all
be repioed TO his prejudice and paraded before The public
epe his injury IL will be insisted long as it can be
without too ready oonfutaon that his reelection implies
repetition Of all that unfortunate and discredita6fs in
the recent history Of country soh interminabie oar
and immeasaroJie debt"
"Shall we endeayor to reproduce, SO far as
may be- 1860 in 1864" asked Mr. Greeley, when