The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-02-25
Nilbniono Dispatrb.
TUESDAY wcRHyNC. ......fEB Is. ,esl


e,<.a Csn,nr"-vissrsms Acttsn.
I, In d'fieuItto decide whether an excess of
confidence or deficiency Of /, is the greater
evil to nation AT war. We are suffering now
from the first error; it remains to he seen
whether, instead of learning by experience to
correct the one error, we shall rush into its
opposite. and sink AZ low in the valley Of de-
spondency as we have besn exalted upon the
mountain of hope. We have all along ad-
monished the South 10 tnvn deaf ear 10 The
ia,nsion that the Yankees are Chinese, and
that victories over them are matter of eonrse
1t wonld be equally absurd and disastrous TO
conclude that they are invinciole, ana give
way TO detection of spirit because, with odds
of five to one against NJ. and supported by
their cunboa.., they have gained some i'm
porsan, victories. To hold thsm in utter con,
tenn. was dangerous enough; to swing from
that TO the opposite extreme would argue a
weakness Of character which it would be hui
initiating to impute 10 the Southern people
We must no; permit what the Yankees have
accomplished, with immense odds in their ia
vor. 10 make us otlivious Of whet we have
achieved agsins; great odds, and, in lamenting
eur defeat at Roanoke Island and Fort Don.
elson, to forget Bethel, Bull Ran Manassas,
Springfield, Belmont, Leesburg, Carni.ax Fer.
ry, Greenbrier River, and Allegheny Noun
tain.
Ii is tul TO learn from an enemy and
anless we would eoncede 10 our adversar;es a
moral, rs well a. numerical! superiority,
we shall not permit even long succession
Of defeats 20 have any otner effect than TO
awaken our energies and intensity orr eter
mutation 10 retrieve onr fortunes " nat was
the effect Of The great battle of Manassas
II demoralized the entire Northern army, and
created such panic in Washington that the
Capitol could have been taken al any time
within three weeks afterwards withou. firing
gun. Gen Scott actually gave orders that,
in case of TIE advance Of the Conte5erates,
40 resistance should be made. But the North
cru rpiris, though depressed, wssn"t overawed.
]; was only stimulated ~ disasters TO new
exertion. AS i. had refused To be dis
heartenei by Bethel and Bull Ran. 1t rallied
again after the stunning blow a; NJ .nassas,
and when their bloody rout at Lee.burg
added it's appalling Lesson to the long list
resources ami put forth additional vigor.-
southsrn vistory followed upon Southern
victory, and the unfreudly and even menacrg
attitude of Europe TO the North, added new
elements OF encouragement but adversely
aud misfortune served only to ipsI ire The III to
Il more desperate resolve. Have we less NAH
lness, less endurance, less tortitude less faith
lees hope i'll 4 good and righteous cause, IN the
defence Of our homes. our fTC6ides and our
liberties, than they, IN a war of wicAedness,
aggression and cruelty Ii we have, tAen
indeed are oar fortunes hopeless and our over
throw certain for We shall prove ourselves
Inferior TO .our enemies il the great moral
qualities which ere essential to success in war;
aid Ill only 10 be slaves.
We have not E" degrading an estimate Of
the character of the Southern people. 1t it
natura! that they should be mortified for ii
moment by unexpected disasters, but they
will NC, be permanently disheartened.--
In the language of Ins?iration. we are
troubled on every eide, yet not distressed;
we are perplexed, hut rot in DESPAIR; cast
down, bur not destroyed The calamities
which have occurred, 80 lar from rejecting
she prowess Of our soldiers, have exhibited
VA rs brilliant Il light As cur greatest victory
the splendid herolsm OF our men. Why
rhould We be discouraged because we canno;
always triumph against enormous odds If
with superior numbers on our side We bad
been defeated in dozen battl-s rs the Yam
KEGS have been, we might have had sons
cause for desponA4ncy. The Lesson which we
havo 10 learn from rec6ut events is, not TO
desp!se our enemies nor, on the other hand,
to fear them for if they hare fought well,
they have had advantages of vastly eu
peIior numbers, and of naval force, of which
we are utterly destitute. Their naval force
can only operate on the rivers, and their gu
peri"r numbers will be weakened the farther
they advance, whilst onr capacities for mill
tary resistance, especially fer guerrilla war
fare, will be increased. No! We have Do
fears of the Southern people. Let the Gov
eminent be az eagacious, circumspect, and
energetic as the people; let the military lead.
ers be not only cautious, but aggressive, and
give full scope TO the genius and spirit of our
volunteers, and the clouds now overhanging
ns will be ewept from the sky, and radiant
armament once more gladden. our eyes
We rejoice TO know that in cur CAMPS, in
stead Of any emotion of disquietude and des
Pondency, there is the most burning zea. aud
determination. Our noble soldiers laugh to
scorn the idea Of ultimate defeat and dsas.
ter. Re -eniistment, which at one time was
almost sdious In the army, on a,count OF long
continued iuaction, has received an impetus
from recent disaster, which puts all appre.
hension of danger from that source out Of the
question. Every State will furnish more than
its full quota for tire war. Let the people EN-.
ulaie the spirit of the army. Let them prove
that they are not unworthy and degenerate
children Of the men of the first Revolution
who against the moet powerful! empire under
the sun, against armed tories in every
neighborhood, cruel savases at their doors
and great part of their country in unnter-
rupted possas.ion Of tho enemy, fought, etrup.
gled, and endured eever long years OF war
tl they achieved tho in3srendence which
their courage, their fcrlitude, aud rerseve-
rance proved that they deserved.
This AlllSs in M.xice. ~
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