The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1863-11-13
sl,ni, we have ana Eighl Ycn,>' yyars 2

eight ycals on its present gigantic scale with
on cngulphing tho country in hopeless bank
rumcy.
The war has already lasted two years and
six months, and in that time We have accun.u.
lated Il uatio"al debt amounting to about g.
100000. Fla h year of the war must cost
more than the year next preceding. for the
constantly increasing initiation Of the currency
will cause a corresponding increase in The cost
of military supplies. With the same numlcr
of men in the field it is rrolahlc that, taking
one year with another at least thirty per cent.
will tc annually added to the cost of support
ing the war. a simple calculation will show
the impossibility of the war continuing eight
years without hankrun,cy to the nation. 1t
may fairly bc donbtcd whether it can continnc
five years from its commencement, or double
its present duration, without prostrating the
credit of the government. !"
1t is clear that II war for the Union cannot
hc indcticilcly prolonged, and consequently
that an administration which spends much and
accomplishcs little WILL if continued in power,
bankrupt the nation, and fail to restore the
Union at last.
"Tiic Union at any cost - is we'll sound
ing cry till you come 20 examine it. DO we
want the Union at the expense OF national
honor? Ough: we purchase the Union ly ma
tional bankruptcy? We are shocked 10y such
questions; VIC rccoil from the alternative they
present. But if the thought of either part Of
the alternative is into!erallr, what shall We Say
of am administration that is so managing the
war rs TO thcatcn us with the the accumulated
horrors of both? II the war continues to he
mismanagcd as it has tccn-tlat is to say, If
the Republican party continues nrowcr auolh-
cr four ycars-wc shall have nation lanklnpt-
cd and dishonorcd, without the compensation
of Il Union restored.
" But the war has made considerable pro-
grcss." If you look only ut the credit side Of
your balance sheet, and shut your eyes to the
debt side, You may easily fancy Yourself rich.
1t may hc satisfactory 10 have All omcct ON
y"ur breakfast ,al'lc, hut it You have paid
enough, for the oimcict to buy ii house and lot
YOU have really very little to show for your
money. In proportion to the number of men
called into service ard the amount Of debt ac-
cnmulatrd, the administration have ACCOM-
pliS.,cd very little. "Washinston is SAFE"
and so is Richmond "Virkshurg Is ol;rA'-
but a cry comes from all the Western cities
that the Mississippi is II" more open. to
commerce than when VickshuIy WAS in posses
sion Of the cncmy.
The Army of the Cumhcrl,nd river is in
Chaltanoogs-Lut it ws driven there defeated
and stands ON the defensive. The Admins
tration has called successfully for $1,000 me-: !;
for $4,000 men to end the war early hy >iI-
gle ovrrpowcrirg effort; for 100000 men to
save Washington aud rcpl the invading rebels;
for 100000 men again to serve ninc months,
and end The war within that time beyond all
pcradvcntur,; for 10000 men still again to
replace the nine months men who were mus
tered out. with Washington again mcnaccd
and the North again invadrdR ard now the
President calls for still another 100000 men,
to he allowed for, he tells us, on a future draft!
Unless the war makes more rapid progress
in proportion to tic colossal scale OF onr OK.
pcu,llturcs, our resources will give out hcfnrc
the rcl'cs give up. We shall have lost the
knife, and have flung the handle after it.