The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1862-02-12
Progress and Duration of the War.


that the war cannot continue much longer, but We mos
cbeerfuy spread before our readers tac views Of IL
editor Of that paper.
"The impression throughout the south, one year ago
and even LATER very president, that the secession
Of The southern States would not be followed by war
The opinion freely expressed that the whole mat
ter would TIE arranged amcably, and peaceable sep
araton effected This opinion was based upon the sup
position th5t the people Of the north were governed
solely by and being So would be shrewd
enough to avoid war, seeing that one Of its conse
queaces must be the financial ruin OF The north. The
belief in peaceful separation also founded on the
expected action Of the SO called conservative party Of
the north which many supposed would have the power
and the viii to cripple the efforts Of those DESTROYS Of
F waging war against the south. Some there who
thought there would be war, but that would neces
sarily be short deeming it almost impossible that the
Confederate States should remain unrecognised not
only by European powers bat also by what left Of
the United States year from.the date Of secession
/ We were, however, among those who did not believe
in the possibility Of peaceful secession and from the
very outset have urged upon people the neces
sity Of preparing for war-war, long, desperate and
bloody. During last winter and spring We stood all
most alone in predicting that the people Of the south
would be called upon make sacrifice upon the altar
of their country Of their ease prosperity and their
lives to win the independence which they had soemnly
declared their determination possess True the peo-
pie of the north have been governed by Interest in the
past and it was reasonable suppose they would con
inue to be thus governed but it must be remembered
that there is and been large element at tile north
actuated solely by sentiment Of hatred to the south
and this when added to that portion Of the people Who
il the su9ugation Of tie south the only hope Of
saving the north from ruin was strong enough to pre-
cipitate matters, and overnhelm all opposition.
Holding these views in regard to the war, we have
believed it good policy enlist troops for short
terms for any less period than The Had those
whose duty it to call troops last year fully con
sdercd the probability of the war lasting several years
doubt if they would have consented to the enlist
ment Of a single regiment Of twelve months soldiers
Tie who then responded 50 promptly to tie call to
arms would have enrolled themselves a. readily for die
FIR ABLY specified time, and thus OUR government
would have avoided the trouble expense and anxiety
consequent upon the recruiting rcanlsng aud the re-
organisation, which must take place during the next
fla 10 Asep 'Is '''''i>S o. 'e 'one1efae army
i''' ~ 10 ''o -'.' however 10 complain Oh wat ''
s'" ros' OILY ~ Us 'ea'" from Il lesson lot u'''e
US. Inc war may last one Two OF t'ree years more
and every who goes into it ought to do so with
a determination never to leave tie standard Of bis
country until the victory i and tile war ended"
zone great delusion il regard to the war-ono which
Ihe recent ueeaJ q tIe 1oeaeates " Kentucky WIN
do much to dspeI-s That the most o. lighting over;
that the north IS virtually conquered that itstFoops are
disprted and will never be able to make stand against
the armies OF the south aad that all it is necessary now
to dc Is to stand on the defensive fora short time when