Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-12-23
Gen. Burnsids,s Letter.


the Secretary of lWar,sud the GenerAl-in.
Chief, and e5oueratss them entirely from
all responsibility in the fredericksburg dis
sster., BE claims tbe whole responsibility
for, himself and owns mp that he was de-
ceiyed by the appearance of things across
the river. 7a
This letter will have double effect. II
will, excuIpate the administration from any
blame aud will silence the mouths OF ma
liggnlaInt sympsthizers with treason, and
will rebound to the infinite credit of Gen.
Burnside, as gallant, frank and noble
hearted soldier. 'e'aas-a
All honor to the heroic but unfortunate
soldier. 1t took. just sueh a heroic spirit
as bis, TO write the letter OF this morning.
TaH Richmond Examiner of a late date,
had strong article giving reasons for its
belief that the South can continue the war
longer than the North without exbaustiug
itself OF course the reasons were falla-
eiOus in many respects, but it succeeded in
showing that the South had some real adj
vsntages in the war. It's conceded that
fighting on their own soil aud on the de-
fenstTe, gives the rebels many advantages.
They can generally chose their own posi-
tions md compel Us to assault them there.
aud with the modern means of warfare,
one man behind well placed and well built
iutrenchmentsr is equal to Eve outside
This has just been painfully illustrated in
...,,l,. - EnadariokphnF
But the EEdnfasy finds the chief super
iority of the South in its system of labor.
1t. says that the white population of the
South before .theswart we're gentlemen or
idlers, and by going to war they subtract
nothing from the productive labor Of the
SOuthlf At the North on the other hand,
where leborers are scarce aud Wages high,
taking million of men from productive
labor and putting them into the fsld.. with
h&lfa million more engaged in the creation
of supplies forthe army, is a great draft up
on theIabor and therefore upon the re-
sourceso n community. Except in the
districts held by the federal troops the Bz-
aminer contends that the productive labor
6fthe South goes on as in times Of peace,
and thohgbths planters toreRo the eultiva-
ton Of cotton, aud thus lose their prineely
revenues, the slaves can raise enough to
supply all the wants of the people aud to
feed aud equip the armies-and tho soldiers
having merely turned from one kind of I'M
productive labor to another, the South thus
has the means of continuing the war indef.
nitsIy; w6ilsithe NORTH is ipPoysEibbsd at
a rapid rate. So far, ,as there is truth in
thiscomparisou it furnishes a strong argu-
msHtfor emancipation as = War, policy
II tiaye lsborsis the real strength of the re 4
bsilion. then Il is a matter Of necessity 70 1
depfiEe The rebels of their slaves tes the
stestest1 possible extent, aud 50 far assthe
emancipation proclamation shall contribute
to-thIsead it is legitimate war measure.
There Is another respect in which the
rebels have the advantage Of u.s. not mott 4
ced by the Examiner, but obViuus to those
who are acquainted with the character Of
the rebel soldiers. Life In camp brings to
our volunteers ansccustomed hardshipsi
aud selE.denials. To the semi. barbarous
sfcraeksts," "Bushwhaekers," aud other
sp0or white trash" who constitute the
mas of the rebel armies, the war actually
brings an improved condition. Poor as
their fare. is in-eamp, it is better and more
regular and certain than in their former
prscarious life and they have no need to
harden themselves TO sroughiugit, = These
poor whites, who are ignorantIy lighting
for the system that degradss them, are the
real strength the bone and sinew of the
southern army. They do. not value life.
for they have little to live for. Destitute
of propsrty,-.aught by slavery to despiss
labor and hate the negro, Proud, only that
they are not niggers themselves, glorying ia
the wealth and spieadoE and even 81 tbs
despotic, power of their sqPeFioFs, the lords
of the plsntAllea-they are always ready
and eager to aid them il, any flibusteriug
enterprise, as well Is ia Keeping their
slaves in subjection. To this large class,
-about seventeenth of the RhitelpopuIa-
ton the South-theSagabonds, filibus:
tiers, "saud, hillers,' ''clay; eaters and Dor!
dsr humans, Who have heretofore gained
scanty subsistence by fishing, hunting aud
plsndsr-4to them the var is God-send,
n much as it is 70 some Of our army con!
tractors. Their army ratiepsi however
poor, are luxury 70 such men, and though
shoeless and naked, they do not mind II; II
il nothing new % them. They are better
OF asrebsl 9ofaists than they ever were
beEore. they are inncesstbie 10 ideas that
Blight lIsks thsn aisssa,sne EItR thsi+
present work, aud ,thsFebsllioa Iuill5conI
tinus strong aII, the iKnorant brute force
which thvSes Ede6 fdEalsh is broken by de-
feat. This clement q, rebel poFehBshays
notsheretofore sufficiently iestfmateds INIT
I'VE are finding IL out. : 5sig--sE I.IOITlI