Year: 1864

mentS oil the government, VIII stanu III the
way of ridding the War Department Of the


incubus which pow vsibly rests on it un-
der its present management making il
shame and reproach to the nation. And
in so saying we intend no particular alu-
sion to Mr.. Stanton, for we do not know
to-day that he is responsible, for these
things Ii may be that he confines him
self strictly to the civil details oil his Office,
and does not meddls in the matters which
somebody under him or above him brings
10 such co Illusion. But we do know that
somebody is responsible for the late gross
malfeasance, which must ever stand in our
military annals az national disgrace so
long as posterity shall revert to the time
when five hundred men laid Washington
under siege for two days with ten or twen-
ty thousand men behind its deienses Such
is the penalty which nation pays for be.
ing ruled in any depa rtment by its igno-
rance rather than its intelligence.


Nor docs the evil end with the disappear.
ance Of the late fright. Who, alter such
an exhibition Of military and admiuistra-
ton so long as it shall remain subject to
its present directors ? What security can
any feel when the watchmen from the walls
of our national capital lift up their vo ces
only to exl ose their own ignorance Of the
! nat,rc and extent of the peril from which
they call the people to save them What
governor Of. what state will be prompt


hereafter to respond 10 the tap of the drum
in Wasl ington if its alarms ara beaten with
! L. ,bn, h.


known about the necessity for disturbing


the, country An immense clamor ha,


been raised without cause during the last


few days. Who is sure that while the


conditions Of our ignorance remain as they


are, the next clamor may not come will


cause, and find the War Department Of


little prepared to meet real danger as i


has proved little prepared to face an inag


mary one? Let ali loyal peo lie lay thes


thing to heart, but above all and first Of


all let the President OF the United States


be assured that for these things his country


men will hold him to strict account, ant


that they will exact full atonement for tn


indignity which the nation has just suffer


ed in the eyes oil the world.


:
, to learu not only the good opinions Of hi
fellow citizens, but also to receive thei
votes at the next election II he lco,td re


ce,ue then. he must be careful TO desc, y


them and il he should in this way Wind
cate his claim to the renewed conf ience c


the country, we are sure that we could sill
e cerey rejoice in his success, not from an

d anymore than in those of any other man
: any other party but because we desir
o the best welfare ofthe republic in this da.
r when she requires the highest statesman
= ship and the most exalted capacity to col
e duct to a wise conclusion the atfairs of tt
!, state. His merits and his prctensio,
!. are now trembling in the balance, held |
n the hands of confdiDg and much endu
!. ing people, who have continued long
C hope against hope under the military mi
}. rule Of which they are only too painful
/. conscious, but 10 the pasient endurance
d which there is limit set, equal by ply
Ie ical necessity and by political prudence,
d The protraction of the war, long draw
Ie out by divided military cou.els, by injud
10 GUS ci'lI po'ic'es, anu ny iuCohPcte
e officers in the field, is seen by every boo
/. to be the precursor either of a disuni'
d peace (reudercd p'yiscal necessity b
is the military moecility which is breakil
j. down the giant strength Of the country
re of change 10 the admnIstr atoms viii
Is shall at lea afford to the people one le


hope of saying the covntry where, if thin
D. remains as they are, there is now nouc.
y Ii the President does not apply &C
i rective, a, once timely and radical, to Il
l. evils OF which the loyal states compla
e, with just reason, they will not hesitate
at apply the only corrective which lies with
h their reach, through the ballot box.
10 We do not so write under any inspir;
I'd tions of passions or partisanship. '
r suppress even the utterance of that indi
of nation which we feel it would be righteo
en- to cherish in view of the recent abuse
ne the confidence reposed by the people
A. their civil rulers. We speak simply as
c. wise men. Let wise men judge wh at
,e, say, and we abide their verdict, in t
tn full assurance that they pronounce US
let have spoken words of truth and sobern
I'd in day when paltering and levity ,whe
ty er in Office or out Of office, are certain
or out of place,