The Nevada Democrat., 1862-04-01
Aerada 2enIufrat.
War Debate In the Rebel Congress.

gives sketch of an interesting war debate
in the Confederate Congress. The ever
lasting Governor Foote, formerly of Mis-
sissippi, then of California. has now "turn-
ed up as a member from Tennessee, and
as soon as the c0nclave was organized, he
introduced resolution declaring it TO be
the duty OF JEFF. Davis Government ito
carry the war into Africa" that is, TO in
wade the Northern States. He did not like
the idea Of waiting to be eaten up.
w. w. Boyce, of South Carolina, sided
with Foote. He was for offensive warfare,
and for holding on to all the slave States.
He referred TO the boast of the rebel Secre-
tary Of War, Walker, on the fall of Sumter,
that Within month the Confederate flag
would be flying over Warrington, ald said,
substantially, that, instead of alarming the
North by this threat, the rebel conspirators
should have done the deed while talking
peace. Boyce was right about this bragga.
dociO of the rebel official, for the threat of
capturing Washington had more effect in
arousing the North than the bombardment
of Sumter. The peace disguise was thrown
off little too soon.
In the course Of the debate, Boyce nam
ed Beauregard and Toombs as the two
men to form a plan of campaign. Foote
denounced the Confederate Secretaries of
War and Navy, Benjamin and Mallory, and
"intended TO one day make developments
that would astonish at least somebody"
for he had startling facts" which he in-
tended to.bring to bear on the subject He
continued to denounce the defensive policy
so long pursued by bis rebel Confederates,
and advocated the policy of pushing the
war to Philadelphia, New York and Boston.
To pursue this plan, Mr.. Jenkins, Of Virgin
ia, mildly suggested that the Confederate
army would have 10 be increased 20 double
its present numbers; but military champi-
ons like General Foote look with contempt
upon such tri6es as overwhelming numbers,
artillery and resources on the side Of the
enemy. The Herald lkens this violent
conflict Of opinion, as developed in the reb-
ell Congress, to the wrangliDg, disjointed,
and disordered councils of the Jews. when
their sacred city of jerusalem was besieged
by Titus.
A Richmond paper gives the following
sketch of the remarks of Mr.. Boyoe, of
South Carolina, during the second days
debate:
Mr.. Boyce said that as 1t concerned the
resolution of the gentleman from Tennea'
see in relation 10 the past and future con-
duct of the war, he proposed very briefly
to express some views upon the question,
with particular respect to the Executive
branch of the Government. 1t was his
opinion that the policy to have been pursu-
ed at the outset was very clear one. He
had thought that we should proceed with
all possible energy. We should have bad
aimed at an offensive warfare. All the
Slave States should be included. In his
opinion the war between the NoIth and The
South might continne very long, and that
hostilities would exist forever. We GER
tainly cannot offord to give up one inch Of
our Southern soil. The North now exceeds
us to The number of eighteen or twenty
millions of white people. We should have
pursued. from the very first, more Of an ag-
gressive policy. which wOnld have given a
position 10 the Southern States; it would
encouraged our friends aud discouraged
our enemies, and such policy bad been
indicated by our distinguished President,
from Mississippi. wbeu on bis way TO be
inaugurated as President Of the Provision
al Government-thatw we should wage war
on the enemy's own ground. Mr.. l.. +.
Walker, the former Secretary Of War, had
said at an early day that the flag OF the
South should float shortly over the Capitol
at Washington. He, the speaker, had
thought the expression unwise at the time.
We should have talked peace and acted
war; used peaceful terms, but prepared for
active war. Audacity l-audacity !-au-
dacityl-is the key to success. Make no
show of fear; prosecute the war with great
yigor. Talk of risk have we not risked
a revolution? and shall We see it fail? We
should have pursued an aggressive policy
from the very FIRST. The enemy at that
time we're unprepared; they had but 49,
900 men, and most of them were holiday
soldiers, and came South as 10 sort ol