Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-01-30
Why the War should be short,


1t IS occasionally remarked that we
should prepare ourselves for 81 long war
and that it is folly to think OF putting down
the rebellion by a sha p and quick blow.
Ten years, it is said, this struggle NAV
lasti and we arc advised that it is the par,
OF wisdom to make up our minds for "a tiu-
ration OF hOstilities at least us long as the
War of the Revolution.
We believe these ideas not only wrong,
but mischievOus. These are many reasons
why thestrugglc shoul be made as short
as possible; and there is no reason why i;
should drag along for years TO waste our
suostan:sGnd divert our energies from the
wholesome channels of peaccabIe indus
try. ltis n mistake to judge of the pro-
Eress of the future by that of the past
In the last nine months We have had to or
gantze war; we are now ready to make war.
There was time for patient preparation ;
1t Is now time for an energetic use OF our
immense material. Certainly, lack of
strength cannot be given as a reason for "A
prolonged struggle. We have probably
100000 more men in the field that the en-
emy, and while our forces can be increased
at once aud without difficulty at any poin,,
the enemy is unable to move his armies
with anything like the quickncss he will
need for successful mAnpuvrcs.
Why, then, should the war last long :?
Why should it not be short and sharp, ms
General Mcclellan has several times prom
lsed? 1t is absurd to expect that we can
either starve out or weary out the rehcls :;
nor would it be advisable to attempt this
were 1t possible. The southern aristOcrats
forced the war upon us, from the couyic.
ton chat the northern freemen were merely
"cowardly mudsills," and their arrogance.
can be thoroughly cured only by Il free
application of the bayonet Moreover, all
history proves that rebellion grows more
robus! with every day it is permitted to
exist. That which regiment of regulars
could have quelled II year ago without fir
ing gun, six hundred thousand men arc
now barely holding in check. What force
will be needed to put it down in another
year?
Todclay vigorous measures is to strength
on the rebels in several way. Our defence
less condition has already reused the Gu
Pidity aud ambition of European nations.
aud nothing is more certain than that
very few months at flrthest will. if we
have not in the meantime pushed the war
forward to some decisive successes, bring
about au alliance of some kind between
our enemy and England and France
again, the longer the rsbellious govern.
ment is suffered to exist, the more will it
gather to itself the moral support of the
conservative sentiment in the South
That large part OF the population which is
constitutiomally Nvcrse to change, and
which ut first looked coldly upon the rebel
becomes daily more reconciled
to the axisting state of things, and will
presently regard the re-establishmcut of
Federal authority as only another change
from an established order of affairs
Again, many of the disabilities under
which the insurgents have labored they
are getting the better of. They can equip
and feed an army more easily next wear
than now. Their manufactures are i'm
proving fast Their wheat crop will he
vastly greater than the last In this re-
gard, as in all others, they can only gain
by prosOngatiOn of hOstilitics.
But there is a reason more powerful than
any of these; and that is the injury which
will be doGe to the national habits and
tone by long war. We nre to-day the
most peaceful people on the face of the
earth-ten years, or even Eve years of civ
il war would materially, and we believe
injuriously, effect the future of our people.
1t would weAn our young men from tho
love of peaceful industry and entcrnrisc
and turn their thoughts and hopes to deeds
of arms. 1t would SO divert certain bran
ches of industry from their natural chan
nels as TO make it the interest of large
class to keep up n war!ike establishment,
1t would deaden within US, to II certain C X
tent, that respect for law which De Toe
queville noted as one of the most remark
able characteristics of American society,
aud which, US he says, enables us TO main
tain law by the mere force of public ouiu
lou.
1t was by prompt and uuintermitted
blows that the Sepoy rebellion was nut
down, From the day when the British
were able to assume the offensive the ad-
herents of NenH Sahib were pressed un-
ceasingly and at all points. In that des-
perate struggle no battle stands alone-uo
commander came home with Dispatches
the tight to-day was but prelude to that
OF Tomorrow. 1t was by such swift
succession of blows that the morale of the
Sepoy movement was broken down-and
when that was done the rebellion was vir-
tuaIly crushed. Can we afford to do diff
isrently with our Sepoys? 1t is true the
british were not only prompt, but savage
ly energetic. They slew the enemy with
out mercy. They gave peace and protec-
ton to all who aided them, and who re-
mhined quiet at home, but they spared not
either life or property of those who were in
arms against them; and the verdict of the
world was that they thereby saved n great
and PoPulous region from the most crnel
and wasteful Lloodshed and destruction.
Had they stood dillydalIying and discuss
ing the best way to put an end to the war
without seriously hurting the enemy or
alternating the affections of the population,
Nena Sahib would have laid waste prov
ince after province, just rs Davis aud his
helpers have devastated Missouri, Virginia
and parts of Kentucky, destroying impor-
tant public improvements, robbing and
numbering peaceable citizens, aud break
ing up every branch of industry in the
fated sections.
But, it is said, we are not yet ready; our
greatest army is but poorly trained; they
are not such soldiers as a general can trust
to in an important action. Perhnns moi ::