Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1861-06-08
Prom the London Times, May TO-.
A War without an Object.

the issue OF these fell incenScd points OF
mighty opposites 2" Since it must be, let
us notice the providcntial uses hidden in this
calamity. Is not this necessary passage in
the history of the nation? Thore are few
great rivers that have not Mt some period of
their course to struggle through the gorgcs of
a mountain chain, in which they seem almost
to disappear for time, only to reappear in
amplcr channels md more abundant streams.
1t used to be said that every milton must go
through the feudal state or show for ages
the effect of an imperfect education like un-
happy Ireland and it has been added TINT
where this discipline was wanting the chivalry
of war might do the work. War, it !lus
bccn said, takes up nations rs the drill SER
gcant takes up the raw recruit, and teaches
them grace, harmonious movement, and mu-
tual consideration. The army, say parents,
is the best school of manners. The sight of
the battlefield has chastened the ambition
even Of Empcrors. You may tell the man
who has been in great battle. He will not
talk of war, of wounds, of dread artillery,
and the swords edge quite so glibly as other
people. Like Dante, /" he has seen Hcll."-
Recolloctions haunt his mind, and spectral
images rivct his gaze. This is not the man
to carry about with him secret arnory of
destruction, and to rush into any quarrel,
simply because he is prepared. May VIC not
perceive in this awful conflict the appointed
means for Christening the quarrelsome spirit
of tho Americans, for elevating sclf-dcfence
into a public principle, and for changing the
bravo into soldier? All America has been
long playing at war. Such game ought to
have touch of seriousness, and seriousness
is not to be obtained without suffering and
cost One thing is ccrtain-America was
never likely to be taught her duty by Eng
land, or any neighbor in the Old World
We have been too anxious to avoid quarrel
with this cnfante terrible, who would be Ger
tain to inflct moro damage on us than tho
quarrel was worth. America is now supply
ing for herself this missing part of her cdu-
cation.
Thus far the war is one out af all precc-
dent, and beyond all calculation. At this
moment it is impossible to say what is it's OBJ
ject, and how it is to be conducted The re.
duction of the seeding States is an almost
uncomfortable idea The territory is i'm
melsc, the country difficult, the climat. un-
healthy, and the population twelve millions.
Even if VIC could suppose Republican army
of $4,000 men, making good its passage
IL
the face Of every difficulty, several such ar
leave the question as they found it. The ef-
fect, and cvcn the possibility Of blockade,
q stoppage of supplies, or an embargo upon
duties, has yet to be seen. AS for the slave
population, there is not the smallest symptom
of their disaffection, or their wish to leave
their masters en- naasse. Here and there il
is likely enough that q sullcn slave, who has
quarrelled with his master, or one who really
is in the hands Of tyrant, or one conscious
of figure and qualities worthy of freedom,
may be ready to seize an opportunity to es-
cape. But the present is an affair, not of
individuals, but of millions. Sowhat chance
is there of any result to be obtained from
tho war, unless the possession of the Capitol
be result worth considering? That, in
fact, is the contest at this moment. It Is a
contest for the dead body of Patrocus for
the Holy Places; for name, for prestige,
not for reality. If VIC suppose the North,
crn States victorious in several battles, they
are left with $4,000 men in possession of a
worthless site in an cncmy's country. While
these $4,000 arc locked up there, and sus-
taincd by immense efforts and at considera-
bic expense, the Southern States may be
steadily pursuing their own course of scccs-
sion, self-government, and consolidation
With the single exception Of the Capital not
a fort, not an arsenal, not yard, not ship,
not a bit of wood or stone will be left the
Federal Government in the seeding States
1t, too, their commerce should be at the
mercy of the Southern privatccrs, that is
game in which the Northerners have the
most to lose, md the balance must be ever
against the richer. The Government now at
Washington, if still there, and, if it bo there,
it still free to act, must have these
considerations before it. Weknow not how
it can escape the conclusion that such war
is contrary to the very rules of war, seeing
that IL has no object. A day may throw
light on the atrugglo, and show that the vast
efforts of tho Northern States arc not to be
lavishcd in vain and all that noble blood
spent like water. We only reason upon
what we see and know, and we arc driven to
tho conclusion that thus far these thirty mill.
ions of our own flesh and blood are fighting
for shadow
The CONFEDERATE WHIrE HOUSE,. The
Richmond Dispatch of Thursday says
President Davis is here. worn with labor,
but norved to the high duties of his responsi.
bio position The spacious mansion of Mr..
Cronshaw, on Leigh and Thirteenth streets,
the ono built by Dr., Brookonbrough, has been
taken for his residence This is to be the
White House of the South. There will be
his gifted lady, not less talented and intellec.
Fual than himself, to dispensc the refined hos.
IL = II. y Hl a L. ! n Il