Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-05-03
From the National Intslligcncer.
CONFEDERATE FACEEIH

One would suppose that the "circum-
stances which surround" and govern
the situation" Of the Southern Codfede-
ration at the present moment were not Of
a nature to suggest the indulgence in
equivokes or flcetiG, especially in the
Legislative acts and executive proceedings
of the confederate Government" And
yet in what sense can the following reso-
luton, recently passed by the Confede-
rate Congress, be regarded as serious
declaration
3 "Re8olvs1, That the ports of the South
ern Confederacy are open to the free en-
try Of goods from eyery nation in the world
except the United States"
As we understand the facts in the
case, these ports can at present, be hardly
said to be "Open to the free entry Of
goods from every nation in the world"
There are very palpable distractions in
the way, which no resolution of the Rich
mond Congress can remove; and, unless
we are labOring under a strong delusiOn.
it is only the nation which is excepted
from the scope of this declaration that
has the privilege of freely entering many
of these same Southern ports-a priyi-
lege which it holds under another au-
thority than that granted by the resolu-
ton is question.
And President Davis, it seems, is also
an adept in this species of solemn Joking.
A notable instance of it appears in his
late message" recommending a military
CONSUMPTION of ell males in the Confed-
eracy between the ages of eighteen and
thirty five years. The principal reason,
which he assigns for this step is contain >
ed in the following extract:
The vast preparations made by the
enemy for combined assault at numer-
GUS points on our frontier and seaboard
have produced results that might have
been expected They have animated the
people with spirit Of resistance so gem
oral, so resolute, and so self-sacrificing
that Il requires ra0'er to be regulated than 10
| 6s stimulated"
The point of this untimely waegerv is
so well explained by the New York
/ Commercial Advertiser that we cite its
commentary on the foregoing passage:
"There is nm argument for you! So
general, so resolute, 80 sacrificing is
this spirit Of resistance at the South, that
a law OF CONSUMPTION 10 necessary But
then, intimatea Mr. Davis, this is not 70
force the unwilling into the service, but to
keep the over-eager youth and aged out Of
it. AS, therefore, every law pre-supposes
the imposing Of penalties for breaches OF
/ il, we infer that this act mist contain
clauses providing for the exemplary pun
ishment Of all below the age of eighteen
or above that Of thirty five who NAV
presume 10 offer themselves as defenders
Of Secession. Alas to them the door is
shut for the present. The juveniles mus
grow older or the seniles must grow
younger before they can be legally clothed
with the panoply Of instruction. TheJ
must soldier at home in time of war, anC
leave their firesides only when these ar,
/ invaded But is itnOt droll that con
description act had to be passed 10 regulat,
and restrain not TO call forth, the South
FERN people to defend their country from
invasion? We would Ike to publish thu
clauses which prohibit so imperativell
the enlistment Of all except the fayoret
few between eighteen and thirty five"