Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-01-26
OUR STRENGTH TO BE TESTED.

OUR STRENGTH TO BE TESTED.
The recent triumph of Federal arms near
Somerset. Kentucky, will naturally have a ten
dency to embolden the enemy. He has long
been hesitating, as is known, about the prOprie-
tv of an advance upon our positions at Bowling
Green and Manassas. Popular clamor in the
North. ever impatient and ungovernable, has
demanded that BUELL. and MCCLELLAN, shall
each respectively, make a " forward move
ment upon these rebel strongholds Months
have been occupied in appointing aud equip
ming their armies, andbu few days since it was
announced upon the authority Of northern pa
pers that the long expected crisis had arrived,
and all was ready for another =" On to Rich
mond I" move. Hence it may be possible that
the exaggerated reports of C~RTTTENDEN's de-
feat viii inspire the Federal generallisamos with
an overweeuing confidence, and be productive
ola fictitious valor that viii precipitate one or two
tremendous engagements within the next TWEEN
ty days. 1t IS this feeling Of madness and in
judicious exultation, for the exhibition Of which
no previous opportunity has been offered since
the war began, that induces the New York Her
aid to hatter popular expectation with the
dreamy delusion that the " rebellion will be
crushed, and peace restored with the blooming Of
the May flowers next spring.
The latest intelligence from the North, with
our knowledge of the present military situation,
indicates strongly that a desperate effort is 70 be
mace By the Washington dynasty to atone for
the disgrace of its past r~everses, and save if pos
s5ls IT'S sinking credit We are told that for
this end Nj LISCaLN has made a demand upon
Massachusetts, and several other Northern States
for more troops to be furnished within the next
ssosn days. The United States government
already has an army Of 100000 men in the field,
which, il thus appears, is Acknowledged to be
incompetent for the task before it, and is to be
stl more enlarged, until It iusures confidence in
the supero1ity Of brute force over patriotism and
vsior.
Now more than ever it is apparent to the Lin
coin Cabinet. that It's only hope of longer keep
ing up a war Of attempted subjugation Is in
making the conflict short and sharp Be
sides. the continued ~re7erses that have vertaken
the Federal arms, the financial disability and
weakness Of the government are rapidly pro-
ducing popular dissHsction. and demonstrate the
necessity of q vigorous advance in every availa-
be direction where victory is even possible
The national treasury is zhausted-bankruptcy
stares tie government in the face-and Onerous
taxation. with stamp duties and a high tariff,
constitutes the feast to which the people sire in
vited. So rapid has been the issue Of paper obi
cations, passing for currency by the government,
that, in the language Of the London Times, ali
Europe stood aghast when they had for the first
time disclosed to them by Secretary CHAsE's
report, q the tire reHduous vegetation Of its M
tional debt and the magnificent scale Of its
deficit"
Such serious financial complications, coupled
with the impending recognition of Southern in
dependence, leave no time to the " powers that
be to debate upon the course they design to pur
sue. They must advance upon US by land and
sea, and follow up victory with victory 50 rapidly
and so decisiyely as to furnish the northern peo-
pie with some better assurance that the four hun
millions of money and thirty thousand human
lives already wasted by them in this war, have
not been spent in vain Else they must ignomini-
ously abandon their insane and p~Toftess scheme
Of Southern conquest before Mr.. SEwARD's
sixty days" are gone.
The Potomac is safe, owing to the good charac-
ter Of its defenses, the excellent organization of
our army there, and the superior quality Of our
officers and The number Of our forces. Nor have
we much to fear from the coast SO long as cur
authorities, State and National, are as vigilant
in its protection as they have been since the dis
graciul affairs at Hatteras and Port Royal But
the war in Kentucky, along our northern from
tier from Cumberland Gap to Columbus, is as
suming proportions so tremendous as to demand
the fullest energies Of the Confederacy in meet
Jag and driving back the invader. Belmont and
Fishing Creek have only initiated the terrible
shock Of arms that is TO mark the sequel. a
movement is already progressing in Western
Kentucky threatening the siege Of Columbus;
z formidable demonstration is reported as being
made upon Fort Henry on the Tennessee river;
BUELL., with a large army, maneUvers his forces
within the vicinity Of Bowling Green, waiting
for his chance to attack JOHNSTON, and finally,
THOMAS threatens an advance into East Ten
H6saee, eiEL Aafhg Fdhqusubu the army OF
CRTTTENDEN.
Such is the situation Of affairs that confonts
us-trying, indeed, but not terrible, full Of sole.
itude. bat not Of apprehension or dependency.
Our people, we believe, are eqUalto the occasion.
With q proper degree Of patience and s~elf-sacri
fee Oh iheir part, and Of vigor and energy on
that Of our military authorities, we are destined
TO pass through The ordeal purified, strengthened
and g~ioriously triumphant Let this last mighty
aggression Of blood-stained tyranny be success
fully resisted. Cts m--ious be driven back in dis
sster and defeat, and the backbone Of the war
VIII be broken, the s~ubjugation of the South
acknow lodged a failure, and q consuumation
achieved that viii place us nearer to a conquered
peace than the most sanguiue patriot dreams Of
al tao present portentogs hear.
CONVENTION OF TEEE SOUTHERN
PEESS
The newspapers Of the South are every day
----esza1 nth tho raaaes;+v &c