Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-02-27
TERsls on ApyDhTssG1a |.
The Biunders of the Rei;sls.

me fleral1, DaptlSt papefs prlnteu IN
Richmond, Va, IN enumerating the mis-
takes the leaders Of secession have made,
mentions eight great blunders having been
committed by them ": In firing
Fort Sumter; 2. In believing there would
be divided North and an apathetic U. ,;
Government; 3. In believing that they would
In belieying.that the bonds Of their Confed-
eracy would readily be taken 10 Europe; 8.
In believing that the military power Of the
North would be directed 10 crusade against
slavery, rather than employed for the'oy
throw Of treason, and the establishments Of
the Union and the Constitution; 6. In be-
lieving that Sarthsrp caurs -. and. .physi4ns.
were no match for Southern, or that in hat
tie one Souther ner equalled five Yankees
7. In believing that the flag of the Cotton
Oligarchy would wave above the Capitol ut
Washington, and the roll of slaves be called
on Bunker Hill; 8. In believing that the
fancied omnipotence OF cotton would domi-
nate the commerce of the world"
A year nearly Of disastrous war has mod
flied considerably the opinions of the rebels.
Before hostilities commenced, one of the
present South Carolina Generals filed col
umn after column of the Charleston Mercu-
ry TO show that secession would not lead to
war that the North was too much welded
to its gains to think of adopting any policy
which would interfere with them, and il il
was so disposed, that the interfereuce Of
European powers would hold itin check
In this way they prepared the minds Of an
unwilling people to aid their reasonable pur-
poses, and step by step led them on to their
ruin. Arguing upon false premises, the
secession leaders have proved to be politi-
cal charlatans of the worst stage. Not one
of their predictions have come true, and
every one Of their conclusions have proved
to be false. In this they were, no doubt,
scli-decived, but their mistakes show that
instead of being statesmen, as they boasted,
they are nothing but politicians, and very
blind ones, indeed. But the people in the
South are beginning to criticise more freely
and express more decidedly their opinions
of the leaders, and we find these persons
put to the necessity Of defending themselves
and their policy. This is an evidence Of
popular dissatisfaction, and well may they
be dissatisfied with insurrection when its
| fruits, Cnstead of being the splendid Con.
federacy promised, extending over ths
Southern States, Mexico and Central Amer
ica,s commanding the commerce of all the
world, are prostrated commerce, trade
Sut JIM iOos VI poit VI thC tCftl-
tory which has always acted in concert with
them, wars devastation, and property de.
stroyed by the thousands. 1t would be an
, instructive lesson for the people of the
Southern States to contrast the glowing pic
ture of their greatness when indspendepl
4 q ss shs y S8ftA yAisR gSa Y RaRl 81. 81
choly facts as portrayed by Cobb, Toomb.
q Co. in their address to the people d
Georgia, acknowledging the energy and re
sources Of the U. S. Government, the i'm
t mense army it has in the field, confessini
/. that the rebels cannot expect to cope will
this army, that foreign intervention Is hope
less, and that the only satisfaction which i
left them is to desolate the country with fire
so that blackness and ruin shall mark thei
steps departing before the advancing troop
of the Republic. This is indeed q melan
y choly ending to all the fine expectations an,
e promises of these instigators to treason an
!, to the destruction of government unde
e which they had always prospered; andwbjl
r foreshadowing the result Of their wicke,
t efforts, affords to the friends of free insti
:. tutions the cheerful prospect of the speed
e downfall of that stupendous folly which th
: rebels have been deludiDg themselve
II with for so many years.