St. Mary's beacon., 1862-04-10
From the London Post government organ)
March IL.
Davis Message Still CanYassed.

The Message Of the President of tho
Southern Confederation is firm in spirit
without being defiant. aid candid without
betraying apprehension for the result Of
the late disaster of his country. 1t rcadi-
ly acknowledges that for once fortune has
deserted the Southern arms; and it refers
their double misfortune to the extension
Of the national line Of offence over too long
u tract Of country to be in keeping with
the resources at the command Of the
Confcdcracy. 1t holds that it was impos-
siblc for. the Southern lsgions to lie a,
once strong on the Cumberland river in
Tennessee, strong on the Potomac, and
strong upon the whole Of their vast sea-
board. There is no doubt that this is but
the truth. Armies on the oifcnsive and
armies Oh the defensive each have their
advantages. 1t requires greater strength
to subjugatc country than it requires to
defend it; and, so far, the position has
been in favor of the South. But, on the
other hand, the attacking Power has, as
far as geography will allow. its own
choice of the quarter to which it shall d.
root its assault; and there the advantage
lies with the North. These circumstan-
ccs explain why President Davis is still
able to declare with probability that the
Gulf States can never be trampled down
BY the enemy. and why the North has
been almost invariably victorious on the
scaboard. In penetrating into the far
interior Of the Southern Confcderacy, the
Northera armies would be subjected to
almost every conceivable disadvantage
But iu the maritime attacks made by the
North against the South, the former ha.
its choice Of nearly the whole hostile sea-
board, from the coast Of Virginia to the
mouths Of the Mississippi 1t was need.
full, therefore, for the South to be a.
strong at every point upon the scaboarG
as tho North could render itself ut any
one point. President Davis. however
takes no comfort from this reasoning; he
acknowledges the fall of Roanoke Island
to be extremely humiliating to the South
But he looks, nevertheless. upon thi.
disaster and that Of Fort Douclson a.
merely exceptional defeats. and speak.
only the language Of encouragement uni
confidence.
The financial side of the Southern Pres.
idcat's picture is certainly the mos
cheerful. He shows that the annual ex.
penditurc of the Southern Confederation
has not exceeded $l75, 5000 Mr.
Davis may boast with reason that thi,
does not amount to onc-third Of tue annua
expenditure of the Northern Government
He points out also that it is inferior to the
annual value Of the cotton crop But
unfortunately, the cotton crop yields nc
profits. owing to the desperate policy OF
which the Souihcr.ers resolved at the
outset Of the war. 1t is quite true. how.
ever, that the relation of the cxpepditur.
to the value Of the cotton crop, if saleable
has direct bearing On the capacity of the
South to defray the interest. in years o.
peace, upon the public debt that the,
may accumulate during the war. Dir
Davis appeals. also. to the increasing pro.
duction Of the implements Of war III tho
Southern States as evidence Of the increas.
ing capacity of the South to continue it.
resistance. lie observes. with unqucs.
tionablc truth, that. when hostililies BE-.
gan. the advantage in respect Of attaina-
hle material of war wac greatly on the
side Of his adversarics Tie North bad
nearly monopoly Of the artisans and