Year: 1862


The Initial Moutment Of Rerolution in American
POlitics-The Country looking to the Demo
cratic Parfy-THat Party alone can Saue the
Union and the Constitution-Gen. Bienker still
in Command-Honors TO Lieut. Worden-
Mouemenfs Of Gen. Burnside.


WASHINGTON March 81


The recent meetings of the Democratic mem
bers of Congress are initial movements of what
will eventually be complete revolution in the
aspect of national politics. Every one here is
now convinced that the mask which the Abo-
tionists have worn until recently has been thrown
off at last. In spite of all the pledges made by
the radical Republicans when they were begging
for votes in 1860, il is now seen that they intend
ed, even then, to abolish the fugitive slave law.
to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia and
to abolish slavery in the Southern States as soon
as they had the power to do so. They think they
have the power to do so now, and they are trying
to do it. They are determined, furthermore, that
the Union shall never be restored as long as
slavery exists in the Southern States In other
words, they set themselves directly in array
against the Constitution, and would gladly sweep
that away this moment if they had the power


1t was time, therefore, that the Democratic
party should come to the rescue of the Consttu
ton and the Union, both of which are in immi-
nent peril No other party in the country has
rallied so unanimously to the defense of the coun-





diers now in arms under the stars and stripes and
all the best Generals and other officers are Demo
Gratis, with Mcclellan at their head. But the
Democratic party will never stand idly by and
see one provision after another in the Consttu-
tion stricken down, and the war for the Union
converted into a mad crusade against slavery and
Shareholders. The Democratic masses at home,
whose sons and brothers are fighting for the
Union, and who are depriving themselves of all
tlo.-x n -
sary taxation for the support of the Government,
will never consent that fanatical majority in
Congress shall tex them still more in order to
buy up hundreds of thousands of slaves 10 be
thrown among them as paupers, or TO compete
with white labor. 1t was time, then, that this
movement of the Democratic members in Con
gress was made. Their plans of action are not
yet developed, and of course not vet made pub
lie. But they will be such as will be hailed with
joy by the Democratic party all over the coun-
try, and indeed by conservative men of all
parties. When they are developed and made
public, they will constitute platform on which
the conservative men of all parties will stand, and
on which they will roll back the tide of fanati-
cism that is now seeking to bury the Country in
the black waves of sectional intolerance 1t will
gladden. the hearts of the readers of the Times to
know that even in this Congress, so given up to
radical aboitionism, there are no less than forty





new movement, and who give to it their undivi-
ded energies. Such men as Richardson, of llli-
nois; Voorhees,, of Indiana; Wicklife, of Ken
lucky; Pendleton and Cox ofOho; and Corning,
of New York, are the head of the movement, and
their names are a guarantee of all that / have
said of it.


| am glad to be able to correct the statement
made in former letter, to the effect that tie
gallant General Blenker had been dismissed from
his command. The fact is, he has not been and
probably will not be, removed. His eminent fit
ness for command. the great service which he
rendered at the memorable battle of Manassas,
have had more weight with his selfconstituted
judges than the Vaccinations of his enemies,
and he is still in the command of his division.
May he remain there until he receives that pro-
motion which he has justly earned.


The heroes OF the hour just now are Lieuten
ant Worden of the Monitor and General Burn
side. The former, by his management of the
Monitor in the fearful contest with the Merrimac.
at once gallant and judcious, has won high
place in public esteem 1t is felt and acknowl-
edged that no hoLors in the line of his profession
would be a reward too great for his eminent SER
vices. But as yet the Navy Department gives
no sign of a proper appreciation of his merits.
He should be made Captain at once, but the
probability is he will remain a Lieutenant, (as
many other Lieutenants in command of vessels
have remaned) until he is gray. Promotion and
rank in the navy are very queerly managed.


General Burnside is example of what a
General possessing military genius can accom-
plish Never was commander so beset with diff
culties. Yet he has gone on from one victory to
another with Napoleonic rapdity. Roanoke ISL
and, Elizabeth City, Winton and Newbem, all
important points, have successfully fallen before