Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-02-27
JEFF DAVIS PLAYED our.
BIurm and AIutL
MES among theSrebeIs.

!
These are tue times that try men 8! souls!
The consequences of sdefensfTs 1olicyE
and of the folly 81 transferring the war 10
the Valley OF the Mississippi where the
enemy have their best fighters, instead of
attacking them in their central and most
tender potnt-Pennsylvania-by aggres-
/ siVewar, are now upon u.s. We have per-
mitted them, without interruption, to ma
ture their ProgEammei of sdrroudding and
comprising ps, which was announced
more than eight months ago. What our
Government has done to meet the issue,
besides wraugling With popular Generals
and piddltng, over petty jobs, the Lord on
lily knows. Judging ny results so far, it is
the most lameutable failure in history. and
suggests TO the rejecting mind thRt,the
most signal service which that Government
can now render to the country IS the sur
render 81 ale helm to GbleE and better hahGS.-
10 view OF the past, tile present and the
probable futurei the pageant of tomorrow
IS bitter mockeEy and miserable COM
lpeusation for the ruin of free;people. A
child with n banb!e, au old man withla
young wife, are partial Illustrations of the
deplora6ie folly.
For eight mouths the people have been
| hoping and confidiug. Never enough can
be said the ardor, the disinterostedness
and devotion of the Southern people.
With one heart, they have offered all they
had tor'the common cause.-the cause Of
life, liberty and happiness;but there has
been no reponse from The authorities AT all
ia proportion to the outbnrst from the
IPoPnlar heart. The dreary inaetion of
the last summer and autumn, the disease
and weakness of camp life, and tue
tHAsttHi away Ofths finest army ever as
sembled, were endured, il not with patti
ence, at least without any boisterous com
plant against the Government. If con-
fdtnee was shaken, hope still survived
that our rulers were labOring diligently,
wisely aud effectively for our defence.
The result Is before us. Docs patrfo-
usm dlCl0tei does itjustify longer silence?
Are we privilegedto fold our in mute
admiration of some reputed great man,
while tue country, under his guidance, is
| going with railroad speed to destruction2
There is no Unkind feeling in any quarter,
thai We are aware of, towards Nr. Davis,
so TAR from it, all the manifestations OF the
last twelve months prove the contrary.-
But the conviction is general-ohtside of
Official circles it may be Ehid to be univer.
SAL that no one man can perform rll the
varied and difficult functions, civil and
military, of this Government. The myste
rtous d0-nothiug policy which has been
attended only with disasters, las substitu-
ted dtstrust and apprehension FIR the hope
and confluence which previously prevailed.
1t Is this loss of confidence which presents
the most gloomy phase to our cause. The
men and the policy that have without ne
cessitY involved US in our present troubles,
nre they gu whom we have to rely for ex-
tricaIion. Confidence can only be regain.
ed, aud our deli1crance achieved. by a
change Of men or a change of policy.
The crisis is too serious to mince words.
Perhaps we all have committed an error,
and have contributed to deludc the Admin-
| istratton by holding our tongues, or only
ihdulging the hbneyed tuccents of praise.
The disposition has been great among all
clAsses to look on'tlIe bright side of every.
I.ththg-t6 gloze over what we did not ap-
prove, aud hope for the best from what we
Ibid not understand. But such disasters as
those of Roanoke lslandund the Tennessee
land Cumberland rivers, are such patent
ind appalling evidences of inelEiciency that
all confidence must be lost, without some
assurance of au altered and more vigorous
.tppiiSy.
r. Great and criminal ms! may have been
f0ttoiRl renissuess during the last Gig Ittecn
months, while the enemy were actively. pre-
| parting to invade us, our cause is not des-
perate, if we can have councils and ener-
/ geiic action. With free and brave peo-
pie, ready to peril fortune and life for tile
maiatenanre of their liberties, nothing Is
wanting but competent leaders--men of
wise heads and hig hearts. worthy of this
great movement tq.eonduct them 10 VIC
tOryJs ..f5s4tz,s....
The permanent Congress of the Confed :
eracy isnO@t in session. 1t IS an. impor.
ltpnt branch of the Government, privileged
and required byits position to take an 3,lc-
tive part in the conduct of affairs. 1t is
Its high Prerogatiyet to see that Other de-
partments perform their functions, and if
they fail, TO take care that the Republic re-
cetves, no detriment. But, with wise aud
harmonious councils, our past rcyerses NAV
prove sources of future tFinmph.
Qrom the Richmond whIg.), -.
8aais THE LEVY In ltAssE.
We had not supposed it whs seriously
contemplated in any quarter to call out in
| to active service the whole male pop1la-
ton of the State. The proposition of Gov.
| betcher to have all over. sixteen and4unCier
sixty. Ave, in cities drilled for tue defence of
their respective localities Is different a fair
tThatmay be practicable, ami, under cir.
cnmstances, might be desirable. IL But we
have very great doubts, whether such a tnass
would effect more good than mischief. But
" tue EutHt ulsttlctStt TO cali out
the whole male population over. six
teen aud under sixty-hye. or even between
eighteen and forty-ive, would ibesA mis-
chtevous and inexcusable folIy.a Ia the
irst place VIC have not arms tOiput in their
hands. That objection alone is sufficient.
In the second place it Wonldiruin the in :,
dustrfAl pursuits OF the State and leave us
without the means of prosecuting tie ;War
oeyoud the presen t'seasoh. ss9i4 -
We Hear that1ke rage for vol au teeFing
Is greater than 1t has been since the be-
giuning of the war. There will be, no
wantef men, without any Extraordinary
Legislation, IT they can only get arms and
leaders to conduct themiagalnst the ens-
my. II there Should be any deficiency, 1t
sou.l % eGsily supplied 5y draft on the