Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-05
The War.

The War.
Asa general proposition, il is safe to say
that war never pays the pecuniary expenses
to the masses of the people Of the nation that
wages it. There are some who always make
by it but they the uncomfortable leeches
that fasten on the sick nation and fatten on
its blood. We have now had glimmering
of what war is We did not go into it until
we found it absolutely necessary to the pre-
servation Of our liberties and honor Until
the one be secured, and the other vindicated
it must 60 on To stop short of these results
would be to convert a serious drama in the
midst CT its performance into disgusting
farce to make fools of ourselves, and become
the laughing stock of the world, and the
slaves Of a despotism more intolerable and
CALLING than any of which history makes
mention. These are the jewels in the ark of
our political covenant, and whoever touches
them with usurping hand must be resisted
and stricken upon the spot. In the scale
with them fortune and life are nothing. We
are fighting for them now, and must continue
to fight for them to success or annhilation.
On the contrary, our enemy is fighting for
political and commercial supremacy over the
States composing the late Union, and over
the American continent. The stakes are high,
and the preparations correspond with their
magnitude.
The war has progressed nearly six months.
In every important engagement we have been
successful. But our enemy has not been
yanquished. He is powerful and sagacious
He processes to gain new strength from each
successive defeat. The profession mag not be
a paradox, for experience affords mankind
the most salutary lessons. 1t would be par
adox to assume that our foe would not profit
by them. With US the past is well, but what
of the future? This is the true riddle to
solve, and will recur every day and every
hour until the end of the war. Woe be to
US if we give it the wrong solutionI
We must deal in stern war with stern facts.
For our purposes the enemy has the advan-
tage of US. Our infexible purpose is indie
pendence now and forever; our interest is to
achieve it to-day, tomorrow, or at the soon
est possible moment and this is to be done
by teaching the enemy and pressing the les
son irresistibly home to him, that we have the
power to accomplish our purpose. We have
not done that and it is now our duty to i'm
part the lesson. There is but one mode Of
instruction, and that is by transferring the
struggle to his own homes and fresdes.-
President DAVIS struck the right key, when
at Stevenson, Ala, on his way to be inaugu
rated, he said .We will carry the war where
food for fire and sword is plenty" We may
marshal our armies and exchange shots across
our borders for forty years and not reach
conclusion One or the other must conquer
and the sooner the better.
In this view, neither party has made any
decisive demonstration. In Virginia, it is
true, we have driven them back, and in Mis-
souri, we have defeated them but the enemy
is in both those States in force and will so
continue unless driven out. Kentucky is also
a field of contest, and SO far as the develop
ments have gone, we may consider that State
half and half and so treat it. If we give our
enemy credit for common sense and
sagacity, he will be content to main
tain the existing status in Missouri,
Kentucky and Maryland, during the
winter season. In the meantime he will
advance in each of those States, if possible,
and place himself in the most favorable posi-
ton to 90 on next Spring. He will also
avail himself of his navy, which is unques-
tionably large, and susceptible of large in
crease, by the employment of vessels thrown
out of business by the war, to make inroads
upon our coast, which is undefended except
I,n5 foroaS Ha will huru and sack and
pillage our coast, and make inroads and in
cursions inland wherever he can. He has the
power to send a great number of men for
ward by sea for this purpose.
1t is our business to checkmate, or be pre-
pared at least, for all his possible movements.
We have but short time before Winter will
proclaim a truce in the white flag of snow.
Six weeks are as much as we may reasonably
count upon for active operations. We must
meet the coast raids by bold and energetic
movements towards the North by land. If
we do not, we shall fld our selves at the
opening of the spring campaign of next
year, in position, to say the least, of great
embarrassment. For the next six weeks, the
golden time of harvest, therefore, we must |
adopt ''celerity" our motto. In other
words and plainly, the only way to foil the
foe On our Southern frontier, is to go into his |
country, and keep him at work at home.
We particuIarize no movement; we enter |
into no elaboration of details; but foreshadow
a general policy. We utter no complaint |
against any part of the public management;
but we express the will and wish of the peo-
pie of Tennessee, and of the brave and IN !
conuuerable soldiers she has sent to the field, |
for action, energetic, bold and vigorous ac-
ton. We only want the performance to |
come up to the pronunciamento, to carry |
the war to "where food for fire and |
sword Is plenty"