21 General Biirnside, says : "' There can be no such thing as laying down of arms, or cessation of hostilities, until the entire authority of t)iis Government is acknowledged by every citizen of our country."' " Would it not be cowardly for us to say that this rebellion cannot be cruslied, and the authority of the Government sustained? There is in my mind no question of it." General Dix declares his earnest desire to do all in his power " to sustain the Government in its efforts to put di,v,-n the rebellion, —an object to be effected, in my judgment, by a steady and unwavering prosecution of the war." He said, in a recent speech at Sandusky, Ohio: "It has been my conviction from the beginning, that we can have no honorable peace until the insurgent armies are dispersed, and the leaders of the rebellion expelled from the country. I believe that a cessation of hostilities would lead inevitably and directly to a recognition of the insurgent States; and when I say this, I need hardly add that I can have no part in any political movement of wdiich the Chicago platform is the basis. No, fellow-citizens, the only hope of securing an honorable peace—a peace which shall restore the Union and the Constitution —lies in a steady, persistent, and unremitting prosecution of the war; and I believe the judgment of every rightthinking man will soon bring him to this conclusion." General Meade tells us, that this war " can only be terminated by hard fighting, and by determined efforts to overcome the armed enemies of the Government." Other Generals have spoken to the same effect. The soldiers are speaking. These men of valor and of deeds evince no disposition to show the white feather. They do not spend their time in croaking and finding fault. They liave met the foe and they know his temper. They exhort the people at home to be firm, to replenish their wasted ranks, and supply the means, and express the strongest confidence that soon they will give the country peace as the fruit of victory. I have a profound respect for their opinions, and hence offer them to you as guides to duty in this hour of trial. It is to be lamented that we could not postpone the question of mere party politics, until we had first, as a united people, saved the Union, The soldiers can do it, and why
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=