The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-07-18

1t is evident from the manner in which the
Northern journals comment on the events of the
war that they have not yet begun TO realize the
character and magnitude of the struggle in which
the Administration is engaged. The most
trivial incidents are greedily seized upon, and are
as eagerly discussed as ifthey were matters which
were likely to exercise important if not decisive
influence upon the issue of the contest. Every
expression of dissatisfaction with the measures of
the Confederate Government which can be culled
from any insignificant country paper in that sec
ton, no matter how exceptional such complaints
may be-every show of opposition to the will of
the overwhelming majority in the slave Staes-is
cited as if it afforded the fullest assurance of
the approaching triumph of the North. One
day deserter arrives at Fortress Monroe, and
reports the condition of the Confederates as des-
perate and neutrality-suspicious. pausng to in
quire whether under the circumstances, such q
man is not very apt 10 lie, in order to make HIM
self the more welcome to his new friends-there is
chorus of congratuation set up by the press,
and General BUTLER is earnestly urged to advance
at once, lest the opposing army should melt away
like snow, and so escape punishment. Again, a
runaway reaches Williamsport or Hagerstown,
and informs his credulous hearers that his late
companions are thoroughly discontented and that
at least one half of the regiment 10 which he be-
longed would come if it had chance to
get away, and this news is heralded throughout
the North and is accepted as proof of the speedy
disorganizaton and flight of the insubordinate
rebels. AT another time a despatch announces
the surrender of some overmatched Confederates
who are said to be tearfully penitent and profuse
of promises of future good behaviour, and i'm
mediately exchanges bring us jnbilant articles,
accepting these reported signs of contrition as
evidence of the general feeling in the South, and
predicting the early restoration of the seeded
States to the Union. But notwithstanding all
this, the hostile armies still stand firm in front of
the lines of Generals BUTLER Mcdowell, and
PATTERSON, and these loyal warriors have not
found that the deluded and disconnected Confed-
crates flock to Mr.. LIYCoLN's flag. Notwithstand-
ing the many opportunities to desert, which they
necessarily have, not Southern soldier in
twenty thousand has deserted. On the contrary
the Government has lost by far more men in this
way than it has received. Despite the reported
scarcity of food, the Confederates have not been
starved to death-they have not all persisted in
their tents, although half dozen diseases of the
most malignant character have, it is said been
decimating them every day for several months
past-nor have they returned to their homes, al
though their disgust and terror at their situation
are described as being uncomfortable. If these
absurd modes of dealing with the affairs of the
day were confined to sensation journals or country
politicians, the matter would be bad enough for |
thousands of well-meaning people would be thus
deceived, and induced to approve course which |
they would not otherwise sanction, and which |
will inevitably lead to fatal consequences But |
the results of this system of treating every |
petty occurrence or foolish rumor as an |
important event, are likely 10 be disastrous |
in the extreme, if the Administration and
its more influential agents continue long to
resort, as they now do to this method of encour-
aging the Northern people. When men, who
ought to know better, and TO whom the public
looks for guidance so far lose their Judgment to
imagine that every triling reverse will dishearten
the South, or that the dsaffection in few coun-
ties of one or two States will ultimately compel
the Confederate Government to abdicate, we can
only sorrow for the country whose destines are
IN the hands of such short-sghted and pre-
sumptuous councillors. Thus General MCCLEL-
Lam, the other day, wound up his ex-
account of his successes in Western
Virginia, with the phrase tssecession is killed in
''this country" and General McCLE11Ass OBJ
servation, is fair illustration of the wav in
which this contest is regarded by the Govern
ment. Wholly unable to comprehend the ggan-
tic nature of the task it has undertaken, it sup
poses that every trivial advantage which it gains
carries it step nearer to the end it desires. But
those who take less narrow view of the war
who reject upon the causes which led to it, and
estimate the resources of the South-can see
clearly enough that the Government has fallen
in'o most fearful error. They know that to
come 10 rational conclusions about the probabili-
ties OF the future it is necessary to take far more
comprehensive survey of the situation If tho con-
federate States than the. Government seems con
BILE of doing The questions are, what can tbe
whole South do, and what is it bent upon dow
These are the inquiries which statesman onoSt I
to consider and until these points can be salts.