Year: 1862

How Shall we Sustain the Government!


In the attempt to give an answer TO this
question, there are certain facts to be stated
preliminarily. the first Of which is that in the
Government as it is now constituted, abides
the hope Of the American people. This Gov
ernment. with Mr. Lincoln its constitutional
President, at the head, is the only instrument
which the American people possess for main
tanning American nationality againS the efforts
/ of treason and rebellion. There is no one who
is wild enough to propose a revelation. There
/ is no one who is bold enough TO attempt to
compass the objects Of the loyal States thro
any other agency, or by any other means, than
by the present Administration. All authori-
tative movements must originate in it. and go
forth from it. II must raise the money sum-
mon and arm the soldiers, manage our relations
with other nations, institute and pursue poll
cy adapted to secure the ends desired and
stand responsible to the present and future
generations, to history and 10 God, for the
manner in which it discharges its momentous
trust.


+ So much everybody will admit and nobody.
we presume. will be so indecent as TO suppose
that in crisis like the present this Govern
ment is under the slightest obligation to man
age its affairs in the interest of any political
party The Democrat and the Republican
fight side by side on the battle field, and AMI
mated only by patriotic impulses, do not stop
to inquire concerning one ano:hers politics.
Many of our prominent military men are those
who have no sympathy with the political prin-
pies of Mr. Lincoln and those who elected him,
but they are bound to him and to his Admin
istra,ion by the ties of loyalty. Mr.. Lincoln
finds himself the chief OF a great nation. not
more than half of whom sympathze with him
politically, and vet all of whom must sustain
him, or he must fail in the herculean task he
Is called upon to perform. He is TO be, he
must be, the President of the nation, of the
whole American people, and the instrument of
their aggregated opinion and will He can
90 no faster than the people can go, because
he would run away from the popular support.
1t is his policy, and his only safe policy, to
keep the people united, and let events enlighten
them at the same time that they indicate to
him the path for him to pursue.


We find ourselves now arrived at crisis in
the rebellion, and the question comes, d" how
shall we sustain the Government" We see
that we can do nothing except through the
Government, and that the Government can
pursue no policy which will ALLEVIATE it from
the popular confidence and support There
are two kinds of support which we can give
Goverument-material and moral Material
aid is very simple matter. The Government
calls for men and we must furnish them. The
cause Of the Government calls for the sacrifice
Of money and we must sacrifice it. We have
no fault 10 find with the American people for
any lack Of generosity in material supplies
When, early in the struggle, it was the policy
of the Government to borrow money, capital
dubbed in harmony 10 supply it. When half
q million of men were called for, half million
and more sprang to arms. Clothing, hospital
stores, comforts have been contributed to an
immense amount. No Government was ever
supported better By its people in any struggle.
The Government now calls for men, and capt.
tai springs at once to furnish them and fit
them out. The men, too, will come, and the
new levy will be completed at an early day.


The second variety of support-the moral
is a matter on which we have something speci-
al to say. The Government has had, from the
first, not only the material but the moral sup
port Of the loyal people of America but there
have been from the first uneasy spirits who
have not been content with the march of
events and the steady progress of the nation
toward the conclusion for which they labor.
These men have occupied all positions, from
that of Governor of State to that Of Cover
nor's scullion and back door tattler-from
that of Senator in Congress to that Of his par
rot penny-a-liner Because things have not
been done as they wished to have them done
because some things have been done unwisely;
because some serious mistakes have been made,
nave nOthihS ~ IL oC ~ lAO 'uuO
of q howl or groan. Not one word of en-
couragement to the anxious men around them
ever passes their lips. They never open their
mouths except in blame Of those who are in
responsible positions, or in words of sadness
or bitterness. To hear them talk one would
suppose that the nation had always gone to
/ ruin that there was no popular confidence in
/ the Government aud its Generals, and that
there was a settled purpose Oh the part of the


Administration to sell out the country to the
rebels.


These men call themselves 'anti-slavery men
and the only true anti-slavery men in the na-
/ ton. No matter how thoroughly anti-slavery
man may have been throughout all his life,
/ if be do not happen to sympathize with them