Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-12-26
THE SITUATION.

TIptil verv recently the present war presented
but few landmarks to guide even the most skill
fv nroenosticator to a conclusion reasonably
,,ohsble. as to its duration and even now, net
witbstanding our repeated triumphs in the held.
and the egregious blunders, diplomatic and other
wise. of our enemy, the period of a Termination
Of the contest is uncertain as ever, although the
results newborn nation-is as certain rs II II
was already written in the pages Of history Wha'
was. hewever. at the outset, considered by many
as a mere experiment, it has been demonstrated
can be accomplished, and the world has been re-
minded of the fact that a people determined to be
free have never yet been conquered, andthatsot tar
astbe Confederate States aresconoerned, the exam
pies ofhistory viii not be interrupted by a failure
on their part, to succeed IN their designs.
The war has now lasted longer, much longer
than the enemy predicted. Armies, unparalleled
in magnitude, have been created moves, point
cal and military, have been made; battles have
been fought and won nations, independent oi
the c~outending parties, have become connected
with the imbroglio. Those who prophesied al
the ontset have admitted that their conclusions
were premature and those who have carefully
observed the progress of events-who have
studied the signs in the political zodiac from
the dawn of the revolution to the present time
and who should be able to arrive at a solution,
are sadly p~erplexed whenever the question IS
asked, How long viii this war LAST" While
at the same time, whenever the i~ntenogatory is
made, What viii be the result the answer
is: the recognition of the Confederate States
freedom from the thraldom Abolition misTnie
would throw around US, and a high station
among tie nations Of the earth.
We have no doubt but that the war has
reached its eliminating point, and is no longer
surrounded with that uncertainty of result
which was at the outset so serious a mystery.
Il was commenced TO sever a Union in which all
had prospered, commercially, but where the
whole power had been used to subveIt the rights
Of the recusants, politically, A f~anatical party,
from whom nothing could be hoped, had become
dominant a conserva' i've party, willing to grant
rights which they were powerless TO secure, en-
listed under the war cry, " Preserve the Union"
Eighteen millions of people sTrsyed themselves
sgainst eight millions. Having in their posses
sion the government, a powerful navy, a regular
army of 20,O00 men, the national treasury with
its enormous credit, ami enjoying a diplomatic
relation with ell the governments of the world,
the task they allotted themselves was considered
by them easy of accomplishment; and at the
ga-,n g., go. -. e. y. aI-s4 49, -a--nf 4ha
true men of the South, faithful and determined as
was the spirit that animated them, feared the
result
But we have said the war has, as we believe,
reached its elevation. Stern winter has sent the
troops Of both armies, almost entirely, to seek
9Gsrters fs the season. We have had eight
mouths ef strife, snd to the South the night is no
longer one Of darkness. The rebellion" which
was to be crushed by $4,000 men in ninety days,
has continued eight months, and the 5000 men
have been multiplied into coo, 600. Moves,
political and warlike, have been enacted-bat-
ties have been fought and won; and now we
repeat, our political horizon is no longer obscured.
Starting without an organized government, no
navy, no army, no credit, and no association
with the rest of the world, our political triumphs
are in the successful establishment Of all these.
On the field we have been as eminently succ SIS
ful, while the enemy has been Inundated. The
wisdom Of our rulers, and the bravery Of our
soldiers, has accomplished all this in the face OF
the serious obstacles presented by the advantages
held by tho snemy; and to-day our people can
Congratulate themselves that their ultimate sue
cess, so far as their political purposes are concern
ed, is inevitable foregone conclusion.
While our own eOuDsels are united, and all
the machinery Of our government acting har-
m~oniOusly as a perfect whole, the enemy pre-
sents a spectacle of division most gratifying
U~ninAuenced by the spirit of patriotism that
moves the Sog.k, we find them distracted and
divided; as well as defeated. The civil power
crushed out by the military-the Congress of
the nation a mob-the members Of the Cabinet
Of the President at war with each other
their generals eashiered for cOwardice or imbe-
GGty-tbeir treasury empty and credit gone
their men d~ispirited by successive defeats, and
their navy falling to render the blockade such
a one as the nations Of Europe recognize as
~efectual. While our people are as one man,
united in the purpose to succeed in maintaining
the position they have assumed, we find party
spirit as rife in the North as ever. Distinct
political organizations, as bitterly hostile to each
other as the political contests Of the country
have ever Witnessed, have marked all their late
elections. To the perils Of a war with a chival-
rous people, they have added an internal strife,
from which they can hope for no deliverance,
until the dominant party is forced to yield to the
conservative spirit Of the North. and the deter
minatiOn of the South The pet policy of the
majority, looking to the &mate abolition of
slavery, as the result of their political triumphs,
is as far from accomplishment as the result
of the use Of bullets as it was by ballots
Such, after eight months, is the condition of
affairs, aud we repeat. the severity Of the strife
upon our people has been felt, The war may
be procrastinated, and our people called upon
fe make still further sacrifices, but the call viii be
eheerfully responded to. We have learned to
" kHo10 Ourse;Uss, " in addition to having ascer-
tanned the prowess Of the enemy. We present a
jubilant South, rejoicing over victories obtained
under ~aiscouraging circumstances, in striking
contrast to the spectacle presented by a North
that entered the field with every prestige in its
favor, but now Inundated and disgraced by
defeats as terrible as they were deserved.
Thus, while the North has degenerated, We
have risen from " Insignificant rebels, until we
occupy the proud position Of a powerful ma
lion, with a secure constitution working without
a flaw, because its provisions are based upon
The experiences Of The past. We have 100000
fighting men in the field to defend that organic
We are recognized as belligerents by Eu-
rope. We have now the nucleus of a navy
with which 70 meet our enemies on the high
seas. The past has eyinced our love of liberty
and Independence, by our successful struggles
70 secure them and now it is no boast of ours.
but an oyerpowering truth that Is being forced
upon the reason Of all. even our enemies. that
instead Of being made slaves in the Union. ,5e
'''H be free and Independent oa Of 1t.
~ We diIeet attention to the communication
gned M" in another column, on the Cotton
Planters Association. 1t presents the subject in
a clear and foIeible manner, and by facts and
figures shows the whole project to be utterly