Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-09-26
The Duration and Character of the War.

Washington correspondent Of the Baltimore Sun
lately put forth the following spcculatons on the durs.
ton and character Of the war:
The duration Of the present domestic strife is matter
of speculation interesting 10 both parties aud to the
whole world. The leading men on both sides have de-
clared freely their views Of the matter The Confedc-
rates propose fight until their independence is
taolished and as much longer necessary. The Ma
tona leaders have, the other baud declared that the
war will continue till the shall be removed and
these causes lie in the assumption, by States, OF right
TO secsce from the Union.
It has been remarked that civil wars Of short do
ration II has not held good in America, where the
great extent of territory and sgonis of and Of
MOL policy have rendered domestic strife perpetual
wherever il has arsen as 10 Mexico Besides II will not
be long before the war in this country will necessarily as
me the character Of international war, i0stead Of civil
There is properly civil in State where the ct
z,1s are all OF one mind There no civil in South
Ouolina nor in Vermont In Missouri civil war rages,
aod TO some extent il is threstened In other border
Safes If the contest be proraced the border States
will lake one side tie other, and avoid the peculiar
AID horrible calamity Of strife between neghbor and
neighbor
In the impending international war; some portions Of
the country will suffer tha5 Others, by reason ~
their strategic position /. was strategy that made Sax.
ony the theatre of many battles in the between
northwestern and southwestern Europe. So Virginia,
from lie position, will necessarily be the battlefield Of
this war 30 far as it will be carried on between the
Northern Atlantic and the Southern Atlantic States. In
Ike manner Missouri became at once the battle field for
the free Northwestern States aganst the slave States on
the Mississippi and Gulf Texas is likely to be another
great Id for the coming contest for 1t be invaded
from California and as,aied by Federal land ard naval
forces along its coast Preparations for formidable ex
pedions against Texas spoken Of bsing in pro-
gress
In the war now begun, the Federal Government will
depend much upon its naval strength and capacities the
advantages of which will retain and improve in antic
patton of future between the same parties. But,
In calculating the duration Of the war; tho chance for
foreign Intervention must be considered one power
interiors; on ono side another may take the opposite
side Possibly, war thus carried on between so many
parties might result in thirty years war. like that
which devastated Germany in the 18th century, and which
ended in peace after years Of negotiation that
was quite as disastrous as the war.
In ne the hope held out that this war will be short
one because civil in some European countries have
been short, is uttely delusve.
We have no speculation Of our own to submit Ofore
thing We are assured the will be resisted as long as
it wagsd eveo though it BE- TO quote the remark Of
Virginia Lsgslator "ll the resurrection gun Ia fred
1. rests with the North to say when it shal terminate,
agd should II become question of mere endurance, the
S,uh can bear as long and as much ss The North She
has struck for independence AID will have il or perish