The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-10-13
Our Country and Our Government.

We constantly Dee in the Northern journals
the most mendacious accounts of tyranny and
oppression practiced by the Confederate Gov.
Who compose the administration, and false
atatements of their universal unpopularity
with the Southern people, From these assumed
facts they argue that the Southern Confedera-
cy is on its last legs, and the Southern cause
becoming extinct in that which was the only
source of strength it ever possessed, the atfec
tons and will of the people
If all this were ever 90 true, tmight be an.
swesed that the same argument would prove
The Federal Government on its last legs, and
the Union cause at the point of perdition The
Lincoln Government has deprived its people of
every vestige Of constitutional liberty, thrusts
into its dungeons every man who dares to
breathe free thought, and substitutes the rule
Of the bsyonet for the rule Of law everywhere.
lie and his Cabinet are at this moment SO un.
popular in the North that if they were not
kept in their places by the army, the storm Of
suppressed public indignation would scatter
them to the four winds Of Heaven. There
fore, we might take it for granted that the
Cnion cause is near its last end in the North,
having lost all that ever gave it cohesive pow.
er-the confidence and affections of its people.
But there is another and better reply to the
arguments against our Government, by which
the Northern writer's attempt to prove that the
rebellion, az they call it, is near its extinction.
!. 10 this, Our country and our Government
aSe two wholly different things; and, though
the last were as weak, selfish, and tyrannical,
a. malignant enemies describe it, the loyalty of
our people would not be affected, because they
are fighting for CAUSE, and not for any man
or set Of men. 1t was not the Southern ad.
ninistrstion which produced this revolution;
II was tho Southern people. The individuals
who compose ito Government are but sparks
from the great popular locomotive. Or to
change the figure: they are but drops of water
- the pa1de-wheel Of the steamboat, which
ssvolotion has brought to the summit, where
tAsy remain but q short time, and are con.
asal again to their native deep. II each
ssd svsry ono Of them were as dead az Julius
Gear, the onward course Of the Southern
.svsment would no more be retarded BY it
than the Great Eastern is by the myriads of
phosphorsseent atoms which she dashes off in
every encounter with the waves. 1t is ridicu.
isss, thsn, 70 talk Of Southern disafection on
ssasans of the allegedimbecilj1y and selfshuess
u ssosushsrn leaders. Il is the country and not
ne Government; It 10 our homes, our wives
and children, our institutions, our honor, and
propessy, aud freedom, we are fighting for, and
@ nM Ia any Government, except as the repre-.
ontas've and agent Of our cause. We're these
representatives and agents ever 80 arrogant and
laeapaole, they could not wean us from the
0nse, which involves all that makes existence
precious. Never was there revolution which
wa. 20 universally revolution Of the people
= snis Of the southern States. Even the Amer
0en Revolution itself was not a. much so.-
thsrs wa large and influential class Of the
ssonnnnity which opposed that movement from
.Issinniug to end Host Of the literary men Of
s1e ~ aus were it, unoompromising antagonists.
iasay Of the men Of wealth and Of political
~ !Msnnsnce, and numbers Of the yeomanry Of
.ae =. Gay, were opposed 70 IT, What il there in
me south which can compare with the Tory.
ssn O The American Revolution! In the South.
w ContedeEacy the only enemies Of our
I I.ose ere secrst enemies, who have never
~ IHssd 70 take arms in their hands, and even
ssrvs consideration The people have given
thsw children, their cons, aud brothers. 6eps.
~ 49,, e, md III that they have, to the war. II
- Noyernuept hes In any degrse incurred
sssssu,e, y he's pot bssn By 6sine shssd Of. bss !
J. osAin6, The people. But whilst no one
1919 .. sos the aeent Of the people infallibil. |
~, - eondneee9 ~ dimcuIt task with de- 4
Soal 9: Adniaistsaloe he not besa sbIs. W sil
~ sasosnese, = estL 4 y II vain ~ the @. |
eaaey teGae p( Cnpolnism % ~ 8 -
eDo1e - Wheok H. paoa3e a ~ |