Year: 1863




The fall of Vicksbnrg and Port Hud-
son and the retreat Of Lee naturally
bring a pause in active military opera
tions, likely to be broken only by the op-
erations against Charleston during the hot
season. This opportunity for rest is most
timely for our armies, which were great
ly worn and exhausted 1t also affords
the opportunity for filling up the ranks
with volunteers and consclipts, and ma
king preparations for an energetic fall
campaign. 1t is true also that the ene-
my have the chance to recover themselves
from their late disheartening reverses,
and to rally for another struggle. But
since it is evident, and has been for long
time, that the rebellion cannot be perma-
ncntly suppressed until the military pow
er of the South is exhausted, this delay
can make no great difference in the end.


And it, as seems now probable, the rebel
leaders find it impossible TO rally their
people to any great extent, but on the
contrary see their present forces melting
away under the demoralizing Influence ofI
defeat and destitution, then delay has all
the effect of action, and the rebellion may
die out without much more fighting


This prospect, however should not en-
courage inaction by the government, for
the discouragement at the South, and the
disposition to abandon, the rebel cause
will increase just in proportion as the in
crease of our armies and the preparations
for a new campaign make it evident that
the rebellion cannot succeed. The fall of
Charleston, which we now expect, will be
convincing argument in support of the


Uuion reaction in the South, by which the
war must be terminated at last, whether
it be sooner or later. tor. ~ ..H gr.
| In this pause in the strife, it is good
time to consider how remarkably the peo.
pie of the North have escaped the usual
sufcrings of the war. Our fathers and
sons have sacrificed themselves by thous-
ands it is true, for the honor and safety
of their country, and our industry begins
to feel the burden of taxes made ncccssa.
ry by the war; But industry and traffic
have continued to thrive; there is plenty
in all the loyal states, and individual in.
stances of suffering that call for help
from the hand of charity were never
more rare Jg,Nor have any of the great
educational and religious interests of the


10y al states suffered by the war. In fact.


many of them have been stimulated and
exalted The contrast in all these re-
spects between the loyal and rebellious


states is most marked and significant. Z
The chief danger from pause in the
active work of the war is the opportunity
, it gives the enemies ofDthe Union in the
North to ply their arts for,the cmbarrass-
mont of the government. u Already they
begin to call for peace, as if the govern.
, ment had the power to make peace while
, single rebel army, resists the constitu.
tion and laws of the Uaited States or as
| if the government could stultify itself by
, recognizing jeff Davis and his crew as a
, government and proceeding to negotiate
, with them. osOn the other extreme the
government is urged to treat the South as
If reunion were impossible and to prepare
{ to continue the war when the last armed
0 rebel has surrendered. THUS the work
Q of demoralizing popular opinion goes on
' in tho cessation Of active hostilities in
8 the field, and extremes meet in the work
: Of embarrassing the free action of the ad-
8 ministration lin the prosecution of the
> war. All these dangers are but Temporal
8 ry, however. The real crisis has passed
-lIhescepter of powor.ispow firmly in the
: hands Of the loyal, and it can never b.