The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-02-03

congregation. The psalter is sung from
beginning to end-not read; and while
the "Gloria Patri is chanted at the end
Of each psalm, the clergy and choristers
in concerts all turn their backs towards
congregation, so as to face the altar.
Another novelty was the singing of two
instead Of a psalm and a hymn,
as is ordinarily the case. But the most
startling innovation Of all, perhaps, was
reserved for the last, when Bishop South
gate, one of the officiating clergy, on re-
the basins containing the oferto-
ry, assembled the steps Of the altar, and
stretching his arms above his head, eleva
ted them just as the priest Of the Church
Of Rome e~levates the host. the congrega-
ton all the while devoutly kneeling, and
the choir chanting again the " Gloria
1t should be added that, while
the aims were collecting, three OF the
clergy left their stalls and took position in
front Of the altaE, with their backs to-
wards the congregation, as before. At
the conclusion of these extraordinary
services, the congregation remained until
the clergy and choristers retired in pro-
cession from the chaneel-some evidently
wondering what all this meant-others,
ike the hero of Byron's dream, "look-
ing unutterable things, and others
again Specializing, soto voce, as to what
Bishop Potter was going to do about it.
-<-
THE MILITARY REPORTS
The reports of Secretary Stanton and
General Grant are more remarkable for
voluminousness than their information.
There is scarcely a fact in each hat has
not been known for months to every read
er Of the newspapers. General Grant re-
cites events which were told, and in many
eases better told, at the time Of their &C.
currence by correspondents of the public
press. The same is true Of the report of
Mr.. Stanton.
It is proper and perhaps necessary that
both Stanton and Grant should make the
movements of the armies the burden of
their reports. The public, however, ex-
pected something more than this bare re-
capitulation. From General Grant one
would like to know something of the
theories which formed the foundation of
the movements of 1864 and 1865. It
would be gratifying to know how many
Of the events of that period were the re-
suit of design and how many of accident.
There are a thousand things upon which
light ought to be shed, and which remain
in provoking darkness. What motive lay
behind Banks ill-adyised expedition up
Red river? Was Sherman's movements
to Meridian and his return the complete
ful6llment Of a plan, or u partial or an
entire failure? Did Sherman or Grant
originate the movement eastward from
Atlanta; and was it design or accident
that brought Sherman to the coast at Sa-
vannah instead of Mobile /? How far were
the results of crossing the Rapidan in
May, and the subsequent fighting, IN har-
mony with the original intentions of the
Lieutenant General?
Questions of this kind will occur by
hundreds to all who have been closely In
terested in the movements of our armies,
The same provoking reticence is witness
ed in the report Of Mr.. Stanton. He
makes no a%llusion to the all-absorbine
question of the exchange of prisoners
He leaves the public completely in The
dark as to his responsibility in the mat
ter. He Informs. us that under Divine
Providence, one of the most e~ffectua.
events in the suppression of the rebellion
was the reelection of Mr.. Lincoln. PEG
pie would much prefer an ayowal ef the
extent of his completely with Wirz and
Winder in the pTison-horrors of the Con.
federaey, than an expression of his opin
Io.. on the last Presidential election
Iho1eountry differs as to the-effect d
that election, and hence lis opinion /:
simply that of a partizan. In the cx
change matter there is no difference O
belief, and hence he could have given biz
opinion in that case with entire propriety
A single item of interest reveals itsel
in the report of Mr.. Stanton. It is will
reference to our military strength. At tn,
time Grant assumed command of all on
armies, the entire Federal force exceeded
100000, of which 663 900 were availa
BILE for active duty. So efficient was tn
recruiting service that when the war end
ed the available Federal force was a
large as when Grant assumed command
This speaks much for a country which
after three years Of exhaustive war, coul'
keep an army of nearly 100000 men il
the field, despite the tremendous losse
in Grants march from the Wi4.dnerncs
to Richmond.
When the war was closed the Fedora
Government had nearly roc, 900 %effectiy,
men in the field. The entire number o
men who composed the rebel armies a
the time of the general surrender was
little less than 10000. In addition t.
these when the war ceased we had nearl,
LOG, 900 rebel prisoners in our possession
so that the entire rebel force at the col
lapse Of the rebellion was a little less thai
I275,000 men. In other words, durin,
the last year of tie war the FederaIs out
numbered the rebels in the proportion o
) over three to, one. Perhaps Mr.. Stanton
| IN this fact, may discover another of th
| means whereby under Divine Provi
ldence," we succeeded IN destroying tn
E armed power of. the rebellion.
The pen, in the hand that knows how t
use it, is one of the most powerful weapon
known. As the tongue of the absent, hol
: charmingl When seif-respect gives it a ne,
, vigor, how pleasing! When virtue guide
: it, how beautifull When honor directs il
how respected When wit sharpens it, hol
/; fatal When scurrility yields it, how cor
temptiblel IT'S the weapon of the mind.
} Horace Greeley says in a card to a WasF
5 ington paper, in reply to a personal matter
! that he desires peace between all men. esns