Natchitoches union. [volume] ([Natchitoches, La.]) 1859-1864, 1862-05-01
Our Past and Future pOlic v.

The policy adopted at the commence
ment of the war, and, until lately, fol
lowed out by the Confederate Govern
ment, seems not to have produced tht
results anticipated. When it was de
termined to stand on the defensive il
entrenched camps, it,was probably sup
posed that the war would not become
50 sanguine and rage on so broad {
field, and that peace would soon be
restored-that the United States, ex
hausted in their finances or embroiled
with the European powers, would, af
ter the lapse Of few months, gladly
recognize us as in independent nation
The belief was general that France and
England, in order to sustain their ma.
nufacturing interests and keep their
operatives from starvation, would, eli.
the by force or by peaceful means, ob.
tain their supply of American cotton.
This error Of opinion was an almost
universal one, and to it may be fairly
traced many Of the evils we have felt
in the last few months. This, with an
underestimate put on the strength and
resources Of the North, lullcd the public
mind into false security and partially
paraIyzed our energies 1t is time all
such Illusions should vanish. We have
q powerful and vindictiye enemy to re-
pei, and we must do it with our un-
aided strength.
1t is, at least, problematica1 whether
the policy of levying import duties,
during the war, and laying ar export
duty on cotton, was a wise one; to be
sure, the export duty was imposed in
order to pledge it for the payment of
the interest and principal of the fifteen
million loan, and before the blocade
was proclaimed, but, after this took
place, it could have been repealed and
the public creditors satisfied in some
other way. Congress has changed its
policy by repcaliug all import duties.
Had every induccmcnt been held out
at first to foreign merchants by de-
claring free trade, much Of our cotton
would have found it's way to market,
for the blockade would have been of.
tener broken That it could easily be
run, is proved by the fact that it has
been run SO often. The inducoment
was not strong enough. Mercantile
ayarice has a long rrobosc;3, aid, like
the elephant, will extend it good way
to take up what will satisfy the appe-
titc. Old Christophe, the black en-
pcror.of Hayti, once said that if you
would hang up a lag Of coffee ten miles
beyond he'll, a Yankee OF English mer-
chant would risk hell frc to get at it.
Every possible inducement should,
therefore have been held out to foreign
vessels to run into our ports.
The impression too, is general that
he war and navy departments were
lot we'll administered. That Mr.. Ben
amin is man of most splendid ability,
# vast learning and untiring industry,
10 man who has watched his career
AN doubt or deny; but, having been
rained in other schools than military,
may well be doubted whether he
vas the right sort of man to be at the
cad Of the war office, while war was
aging on SO extended field as the
resent. 1t is not every man who can
Ike Lord Chatham and Carnot, "orean-
&c victory" But new era in admin
'tration and policy will be followed
GREATER. A new war minister is at
1e helm, said to possess the genius of
is race and educated soldier; new
nergy is already infused into our
nbIic affairs; free trade, during the i
ar, is proclaimed and the Conscrip-
on Law will bring into the field the
hole effective military strength of the !
'gntry. Our past reverses will yet
'ove blessings in disguise. Under the '
ar policy adopted, to be carried out =
: the wisest heads, we may look for !,
ard to certain, if not speedy triumph :
'er the enemies who are carrying OH v
war of subjugation. What country Q
as ever long enslaved,' which deter /
ined to be free? By courage, fortitude !
ID unanimity among the people, we
Ill soon become nation recognized by
the governments of the world. o
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