The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-07-03
A. j. II. CROSoN, President.
G. w. SMITH, Secretary.
COusOiIdauoa or the Confederacy ,,


CousoiIdaaoa or the Confederacy.
Read the following, Secessionists, and
tell us if your Wanted State sovereignty
is not floating off like the morning mists
From the Montgomery tAa) Advertiser, Iuro :
Every now and then we see an inkling
Of disposition for a dictator, which can
only be explained upon the hypothesis
Of natural desire TO cure the evils of
weak administration by the adoption Of
strong measures. But we feel confident
that theptopostion is rs III advised as it
will be unpopular wherever the sOurc0 of
our troubles is understood. It is only
necessary to review the brief history Of
the management of our new government
to come TO the conclusion that the fault
does not lie in the system itself, but in
those at The head of it. The country was
unfortunate enough . repose a blind con-
fdence in a man, who, whatever might
have been his ability to conduct gov
eminent in time of peace, has failed to
exert the powers requisite for time Of
war.
During the reign of party tactics, Mr..
Davis was considered an accomplished
diplomatist, standing cautiously between
the breakwaters of Southern secession
and national paTtyism, lie had been
counted among the leading Secessionists
in 1901, but failing in that instance TO
receive Che popular support he, like many
others, concluded that the people would
never sanction resistance, and secretly
determined in future TO take special care
Of himself He had, however got the
credit of being bold and intelligent adj
vocate of cause which rapidly rose in
public estimation, until, TO his surprise,
the people manifested the spirit TO go out
and set up for themselves.
To this he added the distinction Of
having made a gallant charge at Buena
Vista, having been a good Secretary of
War under Mr.. Pierce, besides being
Chairman Of the Military Committee in
the United States Senate up TO his re-
cent departure from Washington, where
his intercourse with Congressman SEEM
ed to have impressed them with him, par
excellence, as the man for Southern Pres
ident. He was elected, and those Of US
who had previously regarded him rather
as an adroit party diplomatist at Wash
ington, than as a great statesman, after
hearing his eloquent speeches on the way
to the Capital, reviewed our opinions and
helped to laud him 70 the country as the
second Washington. 1t y. ~
The delusion soon became general.
Implicit confidence was thus yielded mp
TO one man. The Congress and Cabinet
was moulded TO his will. The people
promptly responded 10 whatever calls
were made upon them for men and mon
ey, confidently relying upon the Presi-
dent 10 carry the war into the enemy's
country. When the seat of Government
was removed TO Richmond, on the ex-
irene limits Of the Confederacy, they
supposed that il was part Of forward
movement TO rescue Washington and
Maryland from the grasp Of the North.
But, though mistaken in this, their con-
fldence was not yet shaken. After
months Of delay, the battle Of Manassas
was won by a scratch, and the Govern
ment and the people were 80 infatuated
with the result that they imagined The
war had ended
for eight months our army was kept
standing on the banks of the Potomac,
as if for no other purpose than 70 give
the terrified Yankees an opportunity to
come over and propose terms Of peace.
Ample time was given President Davis
10 gloat over his dream Of a union be-
tween the Southern and Northwestern
States, 10 be presided over by himself
In the meantime the Yankees wore maxi
ing the most gigantic preparations for
our subiugation in the spring campaign.
They were pruning the army Of worth
less officers, organizing hundreds, Of
thousands Of troops purchasing immense
quantities Of arms and munitions from
abroad, besides putting the machine
shops Of the North 10 work night and day
in The manufacture Of implements OF
war.