Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-11
.ssTITUTIOS-srArR RIsATs,
RICHMOND WING,
FRIDAY MORNING. DEC. IL. 1868.
The Presidents Message.

Tue co-umhs o. our paper nave Deeh occupied Almost
exclusively for the last two Issues with the Annual
Nessag of President Davis and Gov. Lscher Their
great length has not allowed US room Tor comment
upon them up this time; and, indeed preferred
70 leave them in the rst instance, to the unbiased
Judgment of the reader The Message of President
Davis is written in the smooth and polished style that
cbarac;erzss all Of BIS State papers; ohaste and ele
CANT in dietOD calm, though not buoyant in its tone;
in discussion bold, in argument strong, ID exposition
pungeat As il is presented to under separate and
approprAts headings, will accompany the reader with
such comments as have occurred to US II opens with
hearty welcome the leg satiVe bodies, and an
PRESTON Of qualification in which tie public will heart
Fy concur that they have come 10 aid him with their
counsels on matters Of grave public interest," Il further
states that but for serous obstacles" and the
ty for his temporary A1sepcs from the seat Of govern
ment, be would have invited them 10 earlier meet.
g than that fixed st the date Of their adjournment
AS there was very general wish expressed at period
auirg the last summer when rapid succession OF dis
asters attended our arms fora called meeting of Con-
gress-a after which appeared desirable, not only
70 the public at large, but the President alsO-it
would have been very gratifying had the President
&c TO state in his message what were the serious OBJ
|
y in the dark as to what these SERIOUS obstacles may
have been, did regard bis temporary absence
from the seat Of government" but as occAsiOned by
eIgences that cO4ld not have been in contemplation
when the public desire for a called Congress was so
universally expressed.
The President first enters upon calm, oincise and
very interesting statement Of our military ATTIRE and
review Of military operations of the present year.
Our situation plainly stated our aud
es, without oYer-rating INDUCING in e1travagant
nOpes and promises from the one giving way de-
spOndency the other. Paying jus. and merited com
pments to the superior &c, perseverance and
durance of people throughout the war he
rat the experience of mankind should not 'permt US
70 doubt Of the result" We would have been glad long
As the message s had this portion bsen more extended
and the causes our grave military reverse explained
yleksburg Port Hudson the invasion Of Arkansas and
chattanooga ere passed over with but little more than
uere mentioSof them. He does aOt state why Genera
Joanslons orders for the evacuation OF Ycksburg we're
ses aside 10 reference the battle of Chattanooga he
says: "sone Of our troops inexplicAblJ abandoned
position Of great strength" Is the President justified
~ tarOWing blame on the sOldisni Who reduced the
amy by detachng General Louss.rest to Kuoxrills,
i
blame fer l.? Surely not the soldiers. Is i. General
bragg, some one else? 1t is worthy of Inquiry who
1. is that forms the plans Of campaigns. Ia it the
Generals or is it the PRESIDENT 1t is propr here to
remark that in three marked instances the voice Of
he army and Of the country, with an una1inity une
q1alled, except in the commol determination to pro
sseue the var have disapproved of and demonstrated
4 the appointments to responsible departments. In
each case has tae President scornu dsregarded these
remonsuaoOe Failures and disasters, ev n beyond
| public anticipation have in each case ensued They
are recOunted wish breviy this portion of the Pres
dents message.
TIE President ground for oOngrasuatiOn on our
successes in Louisiana and Texas He has, pehas not
called attention sufficiently to successes in these
States These are important, because they show how
difficult if not impossible it is for the enemy to main
tain themselves with small forces or detached armies
This is the most encouraging sga TO Us in all late
military events. If maintain our forces undi-
vded and uaWeakeued in front OF the enemy's main
invading armies and thus check their advance, our
detached forces, which have ShoWn themselves more
match for those opposed to them, can greatly
restrain their ravsges and threaten their commuuica
lions, and their armies remaining securely masters only
Of the immediate ground they occupy, mus necessa-
ry give battle mlintain their position, or withdraw
from it, alike at great disadvantage
The President treats at great length of our foreign
relations He discusses with boldness the conduct of
England and proves conousivey that her st:ict nsu-
trty" s Onesided and inimical u.s. He gibbets her
Minister of Foreign A6irs the pussilAnimOus instru-
uent of enemies. exposing his base subterfuges,
hi ulblushiug disregard Of treaty spuatous and the
urgenerOus advantages taken of our present situation
Tee unfisn6y action of the British Administration is
proved strOrgy-perbaLs unfortunately, too strongly
de shows tba: Lord John Russell is decidedly hostile to
~ The tendency Of this information, SO presented is
80 discourage people. Argument on this line too
tends TO sooth the anagonism OF the North towards
Great Britain, for so well sustained an accusation Of
the English ministry BY the Confederate satea is the
sequitta of England by the North. Jus. doubts may
be- entertained if they the true expcnento of the
majority of intelligent Englsbmen, or even of PArla-
me1t
What policy does the President disclose in our for
e'gn rtatousl What efforts have been made to COZ
ciiate foreign nationsl Two measures of retaliation
for their broken faith we're suggested but deprecated
on moral grounds. We wish faTor5 from foreign ma
tons. Can We reasonably expect them to be offered
| gratuously 70 us even upon merely signifying
desire for them? Sentiment may influence the actlors
Of men, Interest only influences the action of nations
On the FEASIBILITY OF claim 10 be recognized
European nations promptly accorded to the position
Of belgerents, though the sentiment Of Europe was
adverse to Us because Of peculiar institutions Why
IS the attitude of European powers, Eogland especially
now inimieal to U.S. Because the superior diplomacy
of the United States has made it appear that Is to
their interests to be 60. What the argument or the
iudueemen offered time viii disclose; but it has been
,iclcOus to the e1tentOf securing to her full privi-
sge to obtain men, munitions and credit to an unmit
ed extent Perhsp, the reckoning is antcotsd at orr