Year: 1863

. present many questions which anon a pc
: pie intensely interested in its progress VI


give much room for difference and dispute


Every one will have his own notions of VIII
will best promote the public interest. and "


be apt to refuse to give the opinens Of others Il
: consideration to which they are entitled. "
have found such to be the case in the presel
war. Ever since it commenced the publ


mind has been continually agitated both wit
the events OF the war and the questions whic
the war brought forward We have had


good deal to quarrel about among ourselves


matters of general and specific nature hay
been before US for consideration and discus


sion. The party affinities and prejudices {
the past have been freely brought into the cor
test. AT the first outbreak all these SCENE


TO be buried, and patriotism rose above ever
other sentiment. Full of hope and enthus


iasm men of all parties entered into the con
/ test with no motive but tine safety of the count


ry and the suppression of the rebellion. Blu
little was then thought or said about the poll
cy on which the war was to be conducted
| All that was called for was the speedy and ef


fective overthrow of the enemy.


But it was not long before many question;


of an exciting and distracting nature arose


which neither the Administration nor the peo


pie anticipated. The merits aud abilities o.


different Generals the manner in which va


rious campaigns had been conducted, and ma.


ny other questions of local aud general char


acter furnished abundant material for the dis


cussion and strife which ensued. Orr enthus-


iasm cooled down, our hopes were disappointed,
and failure rested heavily upon our minds
Then how easy fer the people TO blame the Ad-


ministration, and the different members of the


Administration to blame each other.


Much of this unfortunate strife IS due to the
capital errors which prevailed at the begin
ming Of the war The magnitude and impOr-
tance Of the contest was not fully appreciated.
The people were too sanguine in their expec-
tations Of speedily conquering the forces Of
the rebels. The Administration was too con-
fdent of success, and was not prepared for the
emergencies that arose.


1t is easy al this time to look back aud tell
what might have been done, and how the war
should have been conducted. Events have
thrown much light on the complications and
mysteries under which we have labored, We
can see now, but we could not see then. We
we're all unprepared for the great struggle, the
terrible issues which it presented were wholly
unexpected, the demands which it made upon
ourselves were either unheard or in a measure
dsregarded. There have been many grand
mistakes and errors, we all admit, at least, we
think so, but this is no time to revive the past
or subject its doings to a severe scrutiny and
Judgment. The realities and exigencies of
the present are enough to engross our atten-
ton.


We wish to speak of the present policy of
the Government in its efforts to carry on the
war and bring il to a successful termination
the much abused course which has been a
dopted in reference to the negroes. We can
not see Just why this should be considered the
policy on which the war is to be conducted, as
if nothing else claimed consideration; and yet
such seems to be the case The opponents of
the Administration have made this the rally
ing point of their attacks. This stands at the
head of the long list of offences with which
they have charged the Administration. 1t is
on account of this that they say the war has
been diverted from the object for which it was
at first carried on. Their attacks have been
loud and bitter The President has been con-
demned without qualification. The worst Of
motives have been attributed to him. 1t has
been said that this new policy violates the
Constitution, infringes upon the rights
of the people. and turns the war into a
crusade against the South and in behalf of the
negro.


1t is very much to be regretted that those
who differ from the Administration on this i'm
portant and delicate question should bring so
little fairness into its discussion. No one
need fear to meet them in the field of honest
argument The course which has been finally
determined upon was adopted after full and
fair consideration of all the objections brought
against it, and of the consequences which
would ensue. 1t is bold but not rash step
The subject was considered in every possible
ight-thoughtfully, carefully, and painfully
The President will never ask to be relieved
from the responsibility of his course. The ''con-
siderate Judgment" of his countrymen is all
that he desires


And now what is this way of carrying on
the war" that has aroused such bitter oppo-
sition aud given the enemy so much cause to
hope that we cannot remain united in the great
task before us +? The negroes are TO be freed
and armed This is the offense against the
Union as it was, and the Constitution as il is"
Bbout which the enemies of the Administration
have had so much to say. This is the exercise
of power which is to bring such untold calami-
ty upon the country. This is the great stroke
at the CELEBRITIES and homes" and interests of
white men. All other offeuses could be for
given, but this one. never.


Why is it that The opponents of this policy
will not give it full free, and impartial con-
sideration? Why will they persist in keeping
out Of view the circumstances under which it
was adopted and the exigencies which caused
its adoption? We would have them look al
the state of the country. In spite Of the length
of the war, already exceeding all expectation,
in spite of all the victories we have won, and
the inroads we have made upon the rebellion,
our work is not done. The rebels are still a.
BILE to keep large and finely appointed army
in the field, and to bid defiance to all our ef-
forts to subdue them. A few victories will
not restore the Union. The material strength
of the rebellion must be completely broken, or
we must give them their independence, and
procure peace on such terms as they may choose
to give US. Our choice between these two
courses has been made, and there is no such
thing as changing it. We are all opposed to
separation, for we well know that can never be
with honor to ourselves or the country. En-
gagged then as we are in so important work,
ought we not to do everything it our power to
cripple the enemy ard add to our own strength.


The peculiar institution" of the South gives
us the opportunity of accomplishing both these
OBJECTS, to an extent but few realize. In a.
contest of 1Cear and teor and endurance the
negroes cannot but be an important element
Of strength to whichever party their services