Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-10

the public tens which would have diverted from tha
banks the investments essential to their stability While
appropriation Of their bullion for the necessities cf
the Union would hardly have been ficulty to the
Government which has found the United States cons!i
tuition elastic, and would certainly not have been
ied at by the despotc msj ority The bank directors
probably thought that, far they concerned,
OF two great dengers the chances OF were, the
WHOLE the lesser aud more remote.
But plainly impending are the consequences Of the
present system. The safeguards ordained by the authors
OF the constitution have long teen Withdrawn. Federal
Republicarism has become Democratic Absout;sm,
which has borne It's natura! fruts-the exrcton Of
soral liberty, iettered press, reckless expenditure.
An nconyer ible currercy canno: be remote and
while the proved and alleged dishonesty of the de-
partments produce general distIus, which goes the
/ length OF belief that members ot the Govern
ment would plunge the country into foreigr war from
personal aud selfish considerations. Worst Of all, the
widespread distress which must attend upon the cJl
lapse Of all foreign trade II except the export OF
corn from the West--lhe stagnation OF manuiac-
lures, except such as serve the devouring jaws Of
war-the rapid absorption by the OF capital with
drawn from inyes.ments-the additional liability Of
the Noth in the event Of Southern ndepsndcIc, bel
mant ined for those portions OF the dsbt which the
Government pretend to allocate TO the seeded States
must give the governing, because the most
class, motive terribly focibe for pressing thsr de-:
egates financial measures the most uascrupuous aud
most ruiuous to their country.
Such some of the elements Of early difficulty which
beset America but for the present the question is
! Of war; and we proceed to consider how far the
Confedeacy msy be expected TO maintain It's position
de fdeto Government, against tue great armamens o.
the Federal Government. The Government has drawn
without stint upon the national resources and the
papers tired OF declaring that the country pos
magnificent aud overwhelming army, the
| of which continue TO await.
Bot must not like the Americans in their sanguno
antcipsons, forget that of the rank and file Of this
grand army the chief part little experienced than
the battle OF the 2lst Of Juy-:hat It's officer
taken from the same class they were on that Gay
aud elected in the manner-and that OF all the
which the rout Of Manassas has been attributed
better proved than the ncapaciy Of the regi
mental officers The unftness OF the great Of the
general officers for their position is necessity More
over largo and believe the most trustworthy part
the Federal army is composed of foreigners; aud al
though the Germns are vauibe for their aptitude for
drill and the Irish for their courage their services
not bo the offspring OF patriotic spirit, which might
compensate Tor a defective discipline. They Just
such troops high pay will attract to any service in the
world but the tins essential to their military education
has been wanting OF the soldiers who properly be
called Americans, believe that many joined their reg
ments from belief that Washington was threat,n ned
with capture aud their native States with invasion.
il curious that in the North by many the awakening Of
the military spirit is ascribed 70 the Judged speech
Mr. Walker, tken Confederate Secretary OF War, wh
promised to the seeding States that their banner ou
wave the Capitol y while 10 the Sou.b, who
rmeTy, aud up to late date, stout Unions dc
clare that Mr. Lncoln's proclamation 10 which he called
for upon the South alone alionaed their loyS2
IL is much be doubted whether many Of the AmrcaL-
born soldiers calculated on or desire the invasion Of h
| Southern States.
IL is evident too, that though the confidence express
cd By the Northern newspapers 10 the invnebls srac-
Of the army Is unablted Is hardly shared by tbs
commanders. Their measures within their lines thC
ght bank Of tho Potomac rather calculated for de
f. g.. sE. -
eager and imposing army" Every road il commanded
by powerful batteries aud breastworks-eVeTy hloc
| crowned with redoubt-evety mile 10 which the re-
eling enemy encourages the advance of their ouposf
marked by fresh eldworks oi the strongest descp
ton.
The Northern army may probably consist according
TO the most circumsantia s,atemenp, OF 800 900 msn
for the larger estimates evidently include among thosr
raised by the various States the three months men,
afterwards dsbanded Frequent complaints reach as
to the sackness of the rscru Gg in New York and other
eastern States. Many OF the 800 900 must be VET
very little drilled and few have seen four months ser
vice. There must be also colsidarab daily dimin
ton by casualties. gentleman who professed to G
well informed but who was himself bound by 10 oic'a
reserve stated that he had Of the arr
val of troops at Washington from the date of tho battle
of Manassas 10 the middle Of October and that their
bersiid not exceed 900 Is is likely therefore that Mr.
Ra-seIs recent estimate Of the "Army OF the Potomac
AZ 100 OOO s not much belos the mark including prob
ably about 80 pieces Of artillery Yet If the Ftdera
General has such force az his command Oh the line o
the Potomac, we should fall into grave mistake were
we TO coaoude from experience Of Europsa any otLs
regular troops that he s in position TO advance far in
to daicult aud hostile country, held 10y a wary and
resOlute enemy.
w, have seen Il assumed by the Tunes in one OF ia
spsculatye momenls that "without sending from
the army dss,ined 20 protect Washington and a1sa
into Virginia the D. daral Government direct eIpe-
ditions upon other points which they may judge assa
able" Ii is true that they have ipst done the Gov
eromept can with the command OF the sea- direct eIpe
dtions to any point and that they have in other quar-
ters large forces in the Id but besides having to leave
40 LIE 30 900 to maintain The quasiN enetian occupa
ton OF Maryland it must be remembered that their
forces have failed TO gain single lin the Euro
pean sense if except the capture Of Cape Hat.
under the guns OF menof wand from thence they We
failed to adv Ince that they nave sustained several
rious deeas one Of which resulted in three month,
suspension OF hosli,ies at the most important point a
they helpe tho navigation Of the Potomac closed
t1at iron Kentucky tie most sausnine buiistin Al
uounces that "Louis vile may now be considered sale
A. ir Missouri Fremout unable 10 prevent The CAP
lre of town. important bee iuIe held by competei
garrison and containing large stores Of arms, ammuni
ton and treasurer and tha since he took the hsld Ia
h, been unable prevent the ulcon OF Price and Nc
Culoch 1t may indeed happen tina: 'ntucky ard Mis-
souri, will be lost the North. And the statements
the generals who almost uniformly report that they hav
been oppoied by vastly superior forces, is to be re'
on the conclusion s rrtsstaol that either the nnmber
of the Northern amy grossly exaggerated that
is generals arc woeluy inferior 10 their enemy in lh
important Of bringing their troops to the points
which they required.
The conditions Of the contest will appear still more al
tered II the of the South b. understood. That it
ar nv Is inferior TO that Of the North in equipment II
military material in the command Of European SUPPLE
has been correctly assumed. Il Is not uniformly clad
rs train is less regular and splendid its field artier
probably less numerous aud the supply Of riff ord
nance aud gunpowder must necessarily be difficult
But the spirit which has created the army aud maintained
hitherto the Southern Confederacy has also found
to supply many of its wants Formmly neglec'ful o.
manufactures, even OF the simplest kind the blockad
has cal cd forth many which before hardly know
in the S,u,h At Nashville factory has been estabi h
Ell from which hsl! million OF copper caps turned
Out daily TIE Navy Yard at Norfolk furnished numer
Gus heavy guns which sre supplemented by factories
Richmond aud elsewh re. Il is worthy of note tha th