The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-06-21

conduct should undergo candid but crit.
! ical examination and not only as to
matters of honesty and economy, but
as to the wisdom of their acts. A
people may be ruined by the blunders
of their agents, as well as by their profit
gacy and to secure public prosperity,
vigilance is necessary. 1t is plain that
the interests of the great body Of our
fellow-citizens are the same, and 1t
should be the object Of political investi-
CATION to ascertain in what those inter
! ests consist.
believe in the integrity and patriot
ism OF the great bodyof the people, and
did not so believe, would not be here
to-day. In spirit of impartiality let
us briefly consider the Administration
Of the Federal Government since 1861.
II it has been constitutional; wise and
honest, it is a good reason why those in
power should receive the sanction OF
the people. If on the other hand, it
has been unwise, unconstitutional and
corrupt, all good citizens will unite in
saying there should be change. To
he Just in dealing with the acts Of pub
lie men, whether civilians or soldiers, is
good patriotic duty, for in good part
they make country's history, but scru-
tiny into their conduct is duty not less
sacred.
TIE FATAL MISTAKE.
Nv friends, would the South have in
auguratel secession and war, had South
ern statesmen been satisfied that they
couli not obtain the aid of the Southern
officers who were in the service Of the
United States to organize and command
their armies. 1t is not proba bic. Un-
happily, no sooner did Mr.. Lincoln be-
come President, than civil war was re-
garded as inevitable and Southern Off
GERS commenced TO resign their commits
sions The Inauguration OF the new
President took place on the 4th Of
March, and the resignation Of Colonel
Samuel Cooper, Adjutant General Of the
States Army was accepted three days
aiterwards-five weeks before Fort
Sumter was fired upon. The accept
anCe Of those designations was taken as
notice that Southern officers could re-
sian and 90 South whenever they de-
sired to DO so. This fact emboldened
such of the Southern leaders as desired
q conflict, and the destruction and sur
render of Sumpter was the result.
What would You have done my repub-
lican friends il after the surrender OF
Sumter, Southern officers had rendered
their designations for the ayOwed pur-
pose of taking up arms against the
United States-would you have accept
ed them? | think not. Would YOU not
have arrested and held them as prison
ers Of war? Had that course been put
sued, Confederate armies could not
have been organized, and even had they
been, without great generals to lead
them, the conflict would have been
short and decisive. The opposite course
was taken. Between the capture Of
Sumter and the second Of June follow
ing, the resignation OF more than $50
officers had been accepted, and the Re-
publican Administrator furnished JET
ferson Davis with great Captains like
Robert E. Lee, Albert Sidney Johnson,
Joseph z. Johnson, James NJ. Long
street, and scores of others Of less skill
and distinction. Prior to leaving our
service they held the highest rank in
in our army, and each Of those chiefs
was experienced in war; This fatal
blunder cost half million lives, and
thousands of millions of dollars, and
such my countrymen will be the juds,
ment OF history. Uncontradicted !
have twice charged this fact on the floor
of the House, and as | held in my hand
there, so do hold in my hand now the
official evidence of what | charge-the
Register Of the army Of the United
States for 1861. And once for all !
desire to say that | will in a spirit Of
kindness answer all questions which
nav be asked me concerning the sub
iects | discuss. | do not charge the
Administration !with treacEery in &C
cepting those designations, but DO say
that a. the least, it was not only unwise
TO do so, hu, s;upenduous blunder.
WORSE TEAM A BLUNDER WHY THE
FEDERAL DEBT WAS MADE.
You NAV at first feel surprised, iel-
low citizens, when you hear me say
that the creation of the mammoth feier-
al debt which is consuming orr country,
was not matter OF necessity but OF
art. And | will deserve your censure,
which ! would greatly regret; unless
| give YOU good reasons for the opinion
| have expressed.
Tpon no subject have men more diff
fered than upon that OF Government.
Despotisms are based upon the idea
that men must be governed by fear,
inspired bv force, as in Russia, Turkey
and China. In other countries, the
idea exists that a noneyed oligarchy
makes the best government; that
government should take care OF the
rich, and the rich take care of the poor,
This is the kind Of government which
exists in England, where one person
out OF every eight is pauper, and
where all the lands are owned by fewer
PERSONS than live in the county OF Bel
mont. The third form OF Government
is based on the idea that God intended
that men should govern themselves,
and not be governed like brute7; and
the vital principles of such Govern
ment are reason and public virtue. The
Constitution Of the United States was
Il l.