The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-09-19
The War and Exhaustion.

There is much said CremarlSs " cotem.
porary) as to the power of the bellige-
gents to conduct the war. The majority
Contend that the North will exhaust the
South 6rst, ana,ses consequence, tic
South must yield. They say that the
North has 20,000,000 of people, that she
has powerful navy that her ports are
open to all Europe, that she has large re-
sources, and that in the end she will con-
quer the South.
We are not disposed TO underate the
above advantages, but to accord to them
their full Importance. The North has
100000 of people, and the South H.
100000, and of these 100000 are slaves
and employed for labor AS women do
not at the North perform agricultural la
| Dor, we may set aside 100000 of the
Northern population for this purpose.
Then we have 100000 for the south
against 100000 for the North. Allow
one-seventh of these for fighting men.
and we have 1000, 900 for the South and
:, 10000 for the North. AccordingNto
this estimate, which think a fair one, If
not an accurate one, the North can bring
into the field, 100000, 900 more men than
we can; and if the casualties on both sides
be 100, 900 men annually, we of the South
will be exhausted in ten years. and the
North in twenty years. This conclusion,
however, is based upon the suppositon,
that the loss on both sides shall be equal.
But it is not equal. In all of the BATTLES
fought, the North has lost one-third
more than we have, and in sickness, the
same. Then add to this the casualties
of an invading army demonstration and
the moral motive, and the loss oil the
North must be two to our one. The es-
innate which Cassius Clay makes, puts
the Northern loss at 100000 per annum,
and we estimate ours at fraction below
100 900. Under such circumstances there
will be no relative superiority of the North
over the South, as both armies Will be-
come exhausted about the same time
But if one Of these armies prove victoHi
Gus, and in almost every engagement de-
feat the other, then the war cannot con-
tinue to exhaustion, even though the SIN
ews of war were not wanting. Despair
I will be like so many bayonets, stabbine
: the vitals of the Northern army, ano
: peace will be the consequence. No wal
, in modern times can last ten years, ane
@ especially such war as the one II
z winch we are engaged. our commerce
q is so closely allied to the interest of Eu
/ rope, that. an interference is inevitable
: and the belligerents, from necessity, vii
be forced to make peace. Those who
think that the war will be one of eXhaus
ton, labor under serious mistake. The
voice of commerce is strong, and it must
be heard, and it will be hoard; and there
is another voice, equally as strong, the
voice of humanity. The moral feeling Of
Europe is hostile to this war, and vast
amount Of moral power is put forth to dis
courage and brandwith infany the abettors
of Lncoln's policy. This power may not
be felt like the eruption of volcano, but
it is felt, and is silently consummating
its noble purpose. Nothing in our esti-
nation is more improbable than war OF
exhaustion, and not very long time will
elapse, when the drum shall ceaseits roll,
and all the pomp and circumstance OF
war shall give place to science, art, COM
merce, weddings, holidays, and joyous
teasts."