Year: 1861

THE alacrity with which some Americans
of suspected loyalty have caught the idea OF
foreign war, has not been responded to by
the country. The prospect OF such calamity
finds favor only with those who cherish treason
in their hea ts The prevailing public opinion
aceords with the spirit of the letter OF General
Scott, and is contented, while the questions of
difference are in allegiance, to assume that they
will be settled as between two great nations
which are desirous to remain at peace with
each other 1t may prove OF incalcuIab!e
public benefit that the question has risen in
the precise form it has assumed, when our
government, by conceding something not in
consistent with its honor, may secure the rec
0gnition Of the policy concerning the rights
of neutral@ssses for which it has long con
tendedF and which, if accomplished, will
"enancpate the commerce OF the world.


But it is not required to go abroad tor reasons
ample to show wherein it would be good policy
to disappoint the mischiev0us counselors who
would rejoice in a conflict with the mother
country. They understand that if the
strength of the government is not dissipated
by foreign complications, the iron will soon
enough enter the heart OF the rebel
lion, and the reign of good order, public
safety, and enduring peace return. The vam-
pires who fatten upon blood the monsters who
thrive upon the calamites of their kind, know
well enough how much they would lose and
all the rest would gain if the country were to
settle its foreign quarrels, as between chris
tian nations, on the high ground of duty,
which is the best diplomacy, and were to trrn
all lis vast preparations Tor war against the in
fernal and deadly treason that is watching for
its life. Why should these pub c enemies be
gratifed Now, too, for many months, the
country has been under going costly disci-
pline with the view TO seli-prescrvation only
costly, not so much on account OF the treasure
it demands or the time it exhausts of the
precious and heroic blood it has freely
called for. AS yet no great battles have been
fought by our innumerable army no state
has been subdued, with the exception Cf Mary
land, and that one through the fidelity of her
governor and the help of her people no rebels
have been brought 10 realizing sense OF tne
consequences of their guilt save the few hun
dred who are quartered in forts,


s'On the beached verge of the salt flood,


Which once day with his embossed troth


The turbulent snrge doth coYer,n


and possibly few hundred more in the de-
partment OF the west. Our generals have not
yet achieved their place in the assured con-
fidence of the world which follows brilliant
success in strategy or triumphs in the field.
They have issued some remarkable proclalna
tions and made some memorable speeches
but they have not fought the fight. General
McCleans address to his troops after his
march through western Virginia, and General
Fremont's proclamation at the west, and one
or two others will take their places in the per
manent literature of the war but all the rest
will be lost in rebellion records and promis-
cuous historical collections. The country
waits for the proof of the accomplished gen
eralship which it believes will be developed
when the time for decisive action arrives.
That time, if we escape new and unwelcome
complications, can not be lar distant. II the
strength, energy and skill which has been
now SO many months maturing, is left free to
be precpitated upon the rebellous army and
its strongholds, the fastening seasons will
return to a country purified by its great trials,
and prepared for a fresh start in the world.