The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-12-18
The mes.aEs Of JsGf. pari.

Jefferson Davis has sent q very i'm
pOrtSnt message to the Confederate Con-
gress, which began its sessions In Rich
mond on Monday last. It can scarcely be
called cheerful document but il GER
tainly shows, TO . very high degree, the
courage of desperation. Mr.. Davis does
everything in his power to put bold face
on the prospects ofthe rebellion but we
doubt whether he will succeed in inspir-
ing the great mass of his own people
with any great amount Of hope in its
fortunes.
The Message acknowledges that disas-
ter has overtaken the Confederate arms,
and that they have not succeeded in ex-
pelling the 'fnysder" from their soil. In
two Or three instances, their troops have
behaved very badly, aud have given way
before the forces of the United States,
with degree of alacrity which he de-
clares to be wholly unsccountable. He
alludes also 10 the very frequent instances
Of desertion which have recently occur
red, and Ascribes them in part to injudi-
cious legislation, which affects unfavora-
bly, the minds OF the men. We did not
expect him to say-What is very clearly
the truth-that their minds have been
still more seriously affected By the wan
ing fortunes of the bad cause for which
they are fighting. It is emipsnuy true
in war that nothing is 81 successful rs
success" and failure is quite certain TO
perpetuAte itself by destroying the cOur-
age and confidence which are essential
to victory.
There is courage in despair which
often prompts to heroic deeds but the
great mass Of the Southern DsOple-
those who Gil the ranks Of the rebel ar
my-cannot feel this motive, bscluBe
their personal fortunes are not to be in
iuriously affees~z - a. f-1t--a If tbe
rebellion Davis and the leaders Of the
conspiracy have everything at stake in
the contest Failure is Tor them ruin,
political and social, utter aud irrotrieva-
BILE; the instinct Of self-preservatiOn,
therefore, prompts them to fight to the
last. The mass Of the people cannot
share this feeling, because failure for
them has no such terror. After what
they have endured, il becomes rather the
precursor Of hope.
large part Of the Message is devoted
to proving that, in spite Of their promises
and the early action Of their Govern
ments, the present attitude Of France
and Great Britain toward the Confeder-
acy is one Of distinct and unmistskAble
hostility. We are glad to acknowledge
the ability with which this argument is
urged, and to confess that il seems 10 Us
quite conclusive. We trust nothing will
occur TO impair its force. Mr. Davis is
very much puzEled 80 TO measures Of re-
tAliation, bat thinks that something may
be done in this way by Withdrawing the
doctrine that "neutrsl ships cover enc
my's goods except eOntrabsnd Of war"
We trust that the rebel Congress will act
promptly on this suggestion.
The financial condi / Of the Con-
fsderscY is quite ss dismsl and unprom-
isiDg as its foreign relations. An snOr-
nous debt has been incurred, and "the
popular aversion 70 taxation" has defeat
ed every attempt to provide for It's pay
ment. 1w0-tHirdS Of all the property At
the South, that which consists Of land
and slaves, 10 virtually exempt from tax
alton, and the other third does not re-
spond. The currency of the country has
reached six hundred millions, or three
times what il required for its business,
! and the most serious and damaging re-
| suits are already experienced from this
| circumstance. The Message advises
compulsory reduction Of the currency, by
compelling its exchange for Confederate
bonds. Various suggestions are made &c
10 the means for increasing the army, but
none Of them are likely 70 be either SC
| csDtable or effective.
The rebel President reYels and luxuri-
ates in denunciatiOns Of the policy pur-
sued by the Government Of the United
| Stats. he accuses us Of tbe most in
famous barbsrities In our treatment Of
rsbel prisoners in our hands-ehArles as
with starving and freezing them 10 death
throws on Us the entire responsibility
for stopping exchanges, and heaps up
repFoaehful epithets and savage accuse
tiOns with = Volubls and exultAnt zeal
which quite makes amends for the dolOr-
Gus and depending tenor Of The previous
portions Of this ponderous document
Mr. Davis evidently counts largely on
this - . Stimelsnt 70 the waning courage
Of the rebels. We do noe blame him for
resOrting to IL nor do We at all fear its
effect. The day has passed when D0rds
were omnipotent, even at the South.
Facts, which his rhetoric cannot explain
away, are rapidly telling On the SOathern
mind. All bis railing cannot avert The
inevitable and ever-hsslenibg easas-