Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-11-20
HOSTILE PRKPARArTONs FOR
THR RUTUER,

If the Federals are disappointed in any o.
our preparations for a vigorous AID continued
prosecution Of the war, they are so in their est
mates that our population has been exhausted
already in forming the armies we now have in
the field. They have msgnifed them to cover
up repeated defeats to such an extent that they
begin to believe, and are publishing to The
world, that our arms-besring population is e1-
hausted-that our armies are filed with unwil-
ing conscripts, and thst it is only necessary for
them t. conquer our present forces to " crush
cut the rebellion" and establish the Tuinous
rule they contemplate in the sv@t Of success
While We have thus far, with or present
forces, gained, in the aggregate, very decided
advantages over The enemy, it has been done by
voluntary action on the part Of our people
The hirelings Of the LINCOLN administration
hGvs met no unwilling opponents. And cur
patriots, fighting for their liberties and homes,
have thus far proven more than tbs equals sf
the volunteers from the North. Defeat after de-
feat has demonstrated this to the world, and to
none more clasrly than to the LINCOLN govern
ment. which has been for months, and is now,
engaged in drafting its people, and in thousands
Of instances forcing them against their will to
FL up the ranks of the vOlunseer army which
has dWindled down so seriously, and which, IN
like that Of the South, even the sectional feeling
Of tbs North could not keep up to the original
standard OF numerical strength. While our
losses during the first eighteen months of the
war have been made good by unsolicited volun
tsering, our enemy has been compelled to adopt
extreme measures, and his large armies now in
the field are the result Patriotism supplied but
q small part Of tie new levies cupidity desiring
the enormous ard extra bouuties offered, in
huenced a much greater number, and the obi
Gus draft the remainder.
As yet We have resorted to no unusual expe-
dent Our volunteering was only stopped be-
cause the government preferred another plan
upon which If would rely, in its good time,
to increase our armies. We have yet, in sddi
ton to thousands in every Safe who are ready
to take the fed voluntarily, as soon as the fact
is made known that their services sre needed,
all the population who would, from interest, fesr
or a Dissemination to eight, wish to stay at home.
Upon a large patriotic, and our whole unwilling
population, we can yet rely, and those who think
our 5eligerani powers viii be exhausted when
the present armies dwiRdle down, will soon learn
their mistake.
But is it prudent for Us to longer defer the col
lection Of al our strength This is a serious
question, to be answered only BY the aulhori-
ties to whom is entrusted the conduct Of our
struggle. The people are discussing it-are
their servants attaching to it The importance it
deserves Let Us leok at the situation as it
probably exists, for no benefit can result from
concssling the dangers We moy have TO meet
Our people cannot be discouraged
The late calls Of the enemy have, in all proba-
biity, been nearly filed, BY draft or otherwise,
aud a large portion Of bis men are now moving
to the field. His advances, from the extreme
West in Southwestern Missouri extending on a
line 70 the Potomac, and thence on the Atlantic
coast and even on the Gulf, have undoubtedly
bsen strengthened. Such is thebOast, and to some
extent it is true. Here in the West it certainly
Is. Fortunately the season viii prevent s speedy
advance, and thus we will have time to prepare
10 meet it. We can now call upon our home
resources. We can quarter them in csmps com
fortsbly, aud instruct them in the science of
war, so that they viii be efficient when the
storm preparing is launched upon Us. They can
be armed and equipped in season, if delays are
no lorgeT the rule We can meet our invaders
man for man, and thus insure success If we de
not do so re viii be traitors to the canse Of
liberty, to cur interests, to all our professions
We know what we have to contend with, and
are advised as to what wiz be the result if de-
fssted. In the emergency that is upon Us we
cannot daily. We must prepare to msetit We
uavU Te mBans Euu muse use them. Oar
authorities have laws to govern their action, and
they must enforce them As we have before re-
marked, the responsibility rests upon them to
use the power delegated by the people through
their representatives, and no man, however ex
allied his position, can escape being held to q
fearful accountability if he f4lters. Imbecility
or insetiOn will not be tolerated We must pre-
pare to use our whole strength.