Year: 1863

| the largest resources; men Ol cndraCCer auu


authority, and will, of unaagging energy


and intense earnestness. We know not ii
such men are to be found, but it will hard
| ly be gainsaid that such characteristics are


to be found appropriated more nearly
among men out of than with those in the
Cabinet. And where all that is desired
cannot be obtained, it is the rule Of CON-
mon sense to take the best we can get.
The duty of the executive, then, if We
might say so without presumption, is to
strengthen his administration by bringing
into his cabinet reinforcement of those
qualities and attributes that will insure at
all ii es the wisest counsel, and the most
skillful energetic and successful execution.
The good effects of such reform would not
only be seen in the general policy of the
government, bat they would strike down
through all the departments, and permeate
every branch and ramifcation of the public
service.


In the army the great evil to be reformed
is desertion and its kindred crimes of ab-
sence without leave, struggling, malngn
ing, &c By Ihese the army is shorn of one
half of its strength, and, instead of being
irresistible for aggression, is even uncertain
for defence Could all who are now alb
sent, criminally or improperly, be at once
restored to their commands, there is nothing
we have ever dreamed of as possible that
could not be accomplished speedily and in
fallibly-nothing that we have lost that
might not be regained. The enemy have
no army that could stand before us-no
stronghold that could resist us, no treasure
that could escape us, no vital point that
could be protected against US. If with the
force that has always been at the post OF
duty, we have been able to do what We
have done, what might We not have done
if that force had always been doubly as
great, as it would have been if all had been
where tier duty as soldiers and their hon.
or as men demanded. Think Of the oppor-
tunites we have been compelled to lose for
lack of men; the victories that we have have
had to leave incomplete and comparatively
fruitless, the checks and reyerses and fail.
ures we have sustained, all for the same
cause. But for absenteeism, every battle
would have been victory, and every move
ment of our arnies onward. Not an enemy
would have been able TO maintain a foothold
on our soil, and their whole forces called
home to defend their own firesides, would
have been unable to arrest our still advanc-
ing and ever victorious column. Long ere
this they would have been compelled TO sue
for peace. And what might have been may
vet be, if this monster evil can be reformed
if those now in the field remain steadiastly
there, and those absent can be brought back
to their posts Is this impossible? Great
er vigilance and discipline on the part of
officers and higher tone among the men
will go far toward preventing further deser-
tions, while sterner conduct among the
people and stringent legislation by the states
would do much toward driving back to duty
those who are now absent.


We need scarcely say what it is among
the people that needs to be reformed
When this war began there was glorious
emulation as to who should give most
For once all calculation of interest and all
consideration Of self seemed TO yield to a
noble spirit Of public zeal. The cause was
everything. Soft was in the Revolution;
yet, in the third year Of that struggle, the
great Washington was compelled, In bitter.
ness Of soul, to declare "that speculation,
peculation, and the Unsuitable thirst for
riches seem to have got the better of every
other consideration and almost every order
of men," Has not this evil time come
again? Are we not victims to and wit
nesses of the same ill.boding and disgust
ing vice. the prevalence Of which in his
day sickened the heart of the mighty
chieftan? Nor is this all; but in some
quarters we are forced to recognize ug ly in
dications Of waning faith, or cowardly
proofs of willingness to purchase peace
and security by the barter of honor and
independence. These ignobe, maign, and
fatal feelings must be rooted out from the
bosoms of our people. They must return
to the self sacrificing and heroic spirit which
in the beginning controlled and sustained
every heart They must feel that all they
have belongs to the country, and that it is
better to submit to penury, suffering, or
even death, than to yield to the base and
remorseless foe. Liberality and constancy
on the part Of the people are the fountain


that gives life and the foundation that gives


strength to the cause, and to all who in any
capacity are engaged in maintaining it,
They must never fail.