Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-12-06
LATE NORTHERN INTELLIGENCE,

ItOu SSPiSo ~
Baltimore .Sun," aud National Iutelligencer,"
of the 2ssh of November, We make up the fol.
lowing summary:
rgs YANKEE PRESS ON PRESIDENT DAYS.
MESSAGE.
from tho National Intellgoncer, Nov. 2s.1
GEN. DAVIS MESSAGE.
Our readers will remember that we abstained
firm, any formal criticisms on the message re.
Gently communicated to his Congress BY the
President Of the Confederate States" The
merits of that document turning entirely upon
the accuracy of the statements it makes in
matters of alleged fact, and every intelligent
reader IN the loyal States being able to measure
its claims in this respect, as a State paper, we
preferred to avoid polemics where they seemed
to us unnecessary.
from the New York Commercial Advcstssr.l
The document itself scarcely merits grave
criticism or serious notice. 1t is q. mass of
gencralitieS, with not more than one or two
points that are specific and tangible. Had the
author Of it had any of the substantial logic Of
favorable facts to build upon, q very different
message would have eulauated' from his pen,
for his Intellectual ability no one will deny
Had be really felt that the retrospect of the
past few weeks" is "one to fill the hearts Of
the (Southern) people with gratitude" he
would have exhibited the facts Of that record
with all the minuteness and perfectness Of a
daguerreotype. But he generalizes only about
the abundant yields of the crops and the calling
Into existence of new branches of manufac-
lures, carefully concealing the facts that much
Of those crops remains uugathered, that none
of it can be exported, and that the new manu-.
features that have been established are few,
and those only to supply the exigencies of the
yrer.
lsrom The New York Evening Postl
1t begins with a g'oriication of the rebel
successes in the war, referring to battles such
as Belmont as victories, which were at best
but drawn battles, and boasting that latter
seven months Of war. the enemy q. G.. the
Unionists,3 have failed 20 extend their occu.
pancv of our (the res,a') soil" This was writ
ten on the 18th N~o7em5er, zen days after the
capture OF Beaufort, which has set ali tine in-
habi,anis Ct the Southern coasts in 4 trcmor
OF irign, s:.d despair; three months after the
occupaacY Of the Hatteras banks after the
ARMIES of Price and McCulloch had been driven
from the Missouri river to the border Of Ar
kansas by General Fremont; long after the
brilliant triumphs Of Mcclellan in Western
Virginia even while Floyd was scampering
like cpe possessed from the pursuing arms Of
Benham !; and even while General DIX was re.
ducipg 10 the peaceful possession Of tie Union
the whole Eastern Shore of Virginia, including
two of the largest and most populous coun-
ties.
HIS next assertion is that Kentucky was
overrun By secession armies. because the Fed
e~ralists had invaded her soil contrary to the
wishes of her people, although everybody
knows that our forces went thitheT on the eX.
press invitation OF her Legislature, and alter
an overwhelming popular vote in favor OF the
Union. Nor are his assertions rs TO the out.
| RACES which cur troops have committed on de.
~fenceless women and children any more true.
In the advance of our army upon Centrevil!e
| some houses were burnt, but the deed was IN.
stantly rebuked by the General in command.
| In the frontier skirmishes of Missouri, also, it
is more than possible that wrongs may hsve
been committed, which are almost ;neYitsble
10 tina: kind Of Gesr:tory war. But thst we
have bombarded defenceless villages without
giving warning, that arson and rapine have
followed in our footsteps, that We have inflicted
~enton injuries on non-combatants, that "e
have converted our soldiers into incendieries
and robbers. that We arc disposed to make war
in o cruel and relentless spirit, or that VIC have
sought to stir up a seryiie war, are all malig-
usnt calumnies, which none but o desperate
could put forth to mask some Interior purpose.
If our government has erred at all in its con-
duct Of the war, it has been on the side OF
lenity. Witness it's uawili;ngness to condemn
the arrested privateers; witness its apparent in
difference to the spies and rebels lurking about
Washington and the great cities witness the
return Of fugitive slaves by our Generals; and
witness the reluctance Of the Cabinet to make
use of the tremendous weapon Of offence which
slavery puts into our hands.
Prom the Albany Ata.1
The message Of President Davis to the Con-
federate Congress is marked by a tone Of as
sumption at which we need not be surprised.
It would not do for the chief Of the rebellion to
confess thu: his armies were d:sheartened, his
exchequer empty, or his credit impaired. His
boast Of his successes in the past, and over his
resources for the future, are intended not only
to encourage his followers at home, but to in
fuencs public opinion abroad. The exagge.
rated imputations upon the Federals are c.lcu-
lated to inaane hatred already established,
and ere exclusively intended for home con-
sumption. They will not be needed abroad.
The assumption that absolute independence
is the uitimatum of the South may be construed
as meaning that the leaders of the rebellion
will be content with nothing less We shall
appeal from the dictum Of leaders WHIT have
staked their all on success to the people of the
South, who may still seek their interest as
we'll as their duty in the restoration Of the
Uoion.
Mr.. Davis's outcry against the seizure Of his
Envoys is natural; but the world will give
little heed to it so far as he or his representa-
tiyes are concerned. 1t is the foreign power
involved in the seizure alone that has anything
to say. 70 that power he evidently looks for
sympathy and help. The potency of king
cotton ut home, es veil as abroad, is evidently
bis last reliance. But in his argument upon
this subjec: be involves himself in a labyrinth
of contradictions. President Lincoln has pre-.
scented the Southern Confederacy with q pro
tective tariff in the shape Of q close blockade.
Mr.. Davis insists that the blockade IS lDehec-
tive, but ST the same time boasts thst under
the operation of this system Of exclusion the
Confederacy is developing new industrial ca.
pacity, and " becoming more and more inde'
pendent Of the rest of the world"
So the partisans of free trade, the enemies
of all tariffs, the nulli6ers and secessionists,
who took up arms against a system of Gus.
toms. discrimination, are Boosting of the fruits
of a p~rohlibitory system, aud claiming pro
s~pectiye Independence Of the rest of the
world" Apart from this inconsistency does
not Hr. Davis zee how bis argument affects
the power Of king cotton By the same pro:
cess By which be is growing independent OF
the res. of the world, the world may rise to
Independence Of him.
Considering Mr. Dsris's reputation and hin
position, and the magnitude Of the events to