The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-11-24


men and children. He retains a veal
inefficient Cabinet and never calls then
in council, that he may reign as sole des
pot over our people. He has had at hi
disposal physical force enough to carry
out acts the most arbitrary and oppress
i've. He has shown his selfshness ant
disregard for the interest of the people
by his appointment of Heath, Van Dorm
Dick Taylor, and Mansfield Lowell, al
relatives, and all alike incompetent. He
has alienated the people Of Georgia SC
much so, that were the Confederacy ac.
knowledged to-day, Georgia would not
remain two years under him. I heard q
Confederate General ofgreat prominence,
who understands the feeling in that State
SO declare. And as significant Of this,
Governor Brown, of Georgia, gave to
Gen. G. W. Smith, meanly driven out Of
the army by Davis, the Presidency OF
the Etwoah Iron Works. with a salary
larger than that of his salary as Lieuten-
ant General. He falsifed all his prom
ises to Kentucky, and took Gen. Hum
phrey Marshal's command away from
him, turning it over to his old political
rival, Gen. Preston, to gratify the parti-
zan requirements Of Kentucky citizens
who had suddenly risen from the OBJ
scure position Of pork packers, to that of
Senators and Representatives in the Con
federate Congress, and jugglers in that
political S0dom. In word. he has en-
riched and honored his friends, ruined,
and impoverished his enemies Has
given over the people, those of Arkan-
sas especially, to plunder and oppression
by his favorites, and in no instance pun.
ished the offender.
admit that in some things he looms
up above other men but he has so ma
ny defects and weaknesses beneath 9th
ers, that it reduces him to very poor
secondrate character. And you can
never change rim. His life has been
warped by political intrigue. His prej-
udices have been narrowed and lis hates
embiltered by years of partizan strife.
And you had as well take the oak which
has been bent while twie and beat up
On by the storms of centuries, when its
boughs are falling off and its trunk de-
caying, and attempt to straighten it up
toward heaven, as TO attempt the stra'ght.
ening OF character so warped and bent
by years Of political storm and intrigue.
WHAT SHALL WE DO?
This question naturally comes up, af-
ter all that has preceded. If Mr. Davis,
when he held the lives and fortunes OF
many millions in his hands, so blunder-
ed as to lose his opportunity, what can
we hope from him, now that scene OF
blackness, of anguish and desolation
reigns where wealth, happiness and plen-
ty smiled. If he tOoala not protect AR.
kansas when he could, but, instead, gave
it over to plunder and oppression by his
pets, what have we to hope now that be
trembles in Richmond for his own safe
ty, and wakes up at last TO the terrible
reality Of his weakness, folly and indis-
cretion If We aoere not protected when
we could have been, and if we cannot now
be protected, what must we do? Some
say continue the struggle-let the last
man die, DC, dc.
think differently. We ought to end
the struggle and submit. But say you
it is humiliating. No more than to sur
render when whipped. We have done
that often always when we could do no
better. have tried the experiment
twice and found it by no means foolish.
Submission is but surrender. We are
fairly beaten in the whole result and
should at once surrender the point.
II we don't get the happiness we en-
joyed in the old Government. we can
get no more misery than we have felt
under Jefferson Davis But | look for
peace there We had it many years
Even while we are arrayed against it,
find that hostile forces in our midst give
more protection 10 citizens than they had
when Holmes and Hindman were here
1t is true that Johnson tells you thai
Gen. Steele has imprisoned aud oppress
ed people here. There is not word o.
truth in it. And they know it is al
false. In few months. when no more
Confederate money can be invested, and
nothing more made out Of the people
they will sneak back and claim his pro
| lection.
But we are whipped-fairly beaten
Our armies are melting and ruin ap
proaches us. Will continuing this strug
gle help us? Every battle we nigh
gain aught TO wiring tears from the hearts
OF Southern men We are just that mucl
weaker, that much nearer our final ruin
Anguish aud sorrow und desolation NEE
us wherever we turn. The longer tn,
struggle the more Of il.
Don't let yourselves be deceived will
the hope that the United States viii
abandon the struggle. They can neve
do it. They have toiled and spent To-
much to see the solution Of the problem
and not foot up the figures. They scarce
ly feel the war at home. Their cite
are more popuious aud thrifty TO da
than ever. For every man who dies o
gets killed in battle. two emigrate to III
country. Their villages and towns. thei
! fields and country, flourish as fresh a
ever. They could sink their armies to
day, and raise new levies to crush u
and not feel il.
a