The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-10-25
SATURDAY MORNING, OCT IS. 1861
The Farce Of the Age.

The Farce Of the Age
Our readers will enjoy hearty laugh
over the following documents which seem
designed for caricature on legislation +;
THE oFFEh on THE FREE SAvIeATIoN OF
THE MISSISSIPPI no THg soRTHwEsT.
The following curious reports were pre-
sented to the rebel House of Representa-
tives on the 26th ult
MAJORITY REPORT.
The Committee on Foreign Affairs, &c
whom was referred certain resolutions
relating to the true policy of the war,
and recommending to the President the
issuance of a proclamation touching the
free navigation of he Mississippi and It's
tributaries, and The opening Of the market Of
the Sottth to he Inhabitants Of tie Northwest
er71 States upon certain terms and condi-
tons, have had the same under consid-
GRAFTON, and now report back said reso-
lutions, with one or two slight amend
ments, and recommend that they be
adopted.
The expediency of conducting the war
in which we are engaged with all possi
BILE activity, and of carrying that war
into the enemy g country, so soon as the
same shall be found practicable, is be-
lieved to be now universally admitted by
all enlightened men who have given their
attention to the subject. 1t is evident
that we must rely alone upon our own
energies for success in the struggle of
arms which is now in progress. In the
present condition of affairs it is quite
manifest that, in order to bring the san
culinary struggle in which we are engaged
to an early termination, it will be neces-
sary that every portion of our army
should be kept in state of constant
readiness for active exertion, and that no
opportunity should be neglected of strik-
ing the forces of the enemy, wherever TO
be found upon Southern soil, with that
boldness and heroic energy which are 80
certain to secure to our arms the most
signal success.
1t is equally manifest that the enemy
will never be willing to desist from the
unjust and ferocious war which they are
now waging until the evils and inconve-
niences thereof shall have been brought
home fully TO themselves. When our
valiant and disciplined armies enhanced
in numbers and in strength, as il is hoped
they will shortly be- shall have once
found their way to the heart of the enc
my's country, and have inflicted just
retaliation upon those who have so ruth
lessly ravaged our territories pillaged
our towns and desolated our homes, il is
to be reasonably expected that even they
will at last be able to discern the rank
injustice and brutal cruelty which they
have compelled us to experience, and for
the preparation of which they have not
been heretofore subjected to anything
like adequate punishment.
Your committee are we'll satisfied that
the issuing of some such proclamation by
the President as that described in the
resolutions referred to them, at such time
as he shall deem expedient, could not but
be attended with the most salutary eff
fects. 1t is an undOubted fact that the
government at Washington, aided by I'M
scrupulous local demagOgues in the
Northwestern States, has succeeded to a
considerable extent in deluding the people
| of that region into a general belief that,
should 1Ve succeed in our struggle for inde-
pendence, it is the intention of the gov
| eminent aad people of the Confederate
Seates to shut them out from the free
navigation of the Mississippi river and
its great tributaries; and though the
Provisional Congress OF these States long
ago emphatically negatived this idea by
we'll known acts of formal Legislation,
vet your committee Is assured that the
| delusion of this subject still continues to
exist among the people of the Northwest,
and that the gross Misrepresentation in
ragard to the intentions and policy Of the
| Confederate States Of America, thus en-
gendered and kept in existence by wick
ed and designing men, has operated most
effectively in prompting the people Of the
| Northwestern States $50 closely connect
ed with the South heretofore, both by
geographical and political ties), to con-
tribute freely, both in men and money
to the prosecution of war which. ii sue
cessful on the part Of those with whom il
originated, would be eventually as disas-
trous in its effects TO the people of thC
Northwestern States themselves as t.
those of the Confederate States Of Amer.
lea. IL is gratifying to discover tina
high spirited and intelligent public meT
in several Of the Northwestern States
have Of late become exceedingly actiyl
in their endeavors 10 discourage and sup
press the ferocious war spirit heretoforl
raging among their fellow-oitizens, anC
that their honest and patriotic efforts
have been already attended with the mos
marked success.
Such a proclamation as that recon