Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-02-12
The Great Northwe,t. 81


Tie E7Yt.,a' Of yesterday contains the following
comment the paragraph in this paper Of the day be-
io-s la regard what should be our policy towards
tae Northwestern States:
,'-.grly the "Whig' does not mean, cannot mean,
tNE'r; che Cnteieraes to fight their invaders more
a'ir an1 m.dly-uor TO parayze the military passion
walsh row MAKES iuyincible-nor 10 encourage the
lS % fossil politicians after that glorious North
.,I 'n.e Which u,ei 20 be rolled up AS aforesad.-
t "la J.r IS che precise drift Of the paragraphs
We have Uo cause Of With the North
Well. So are not making war upon 1.-THE
TO. "-s. ,- n1lng var upon But ''the policy of
'.' southern States IS clear And what sity What
.u'' can we u lnr tien than guarantee them the free
'a's1'oa oi tH' Mississippi soon o they are sick of
.-. war w q should cOnSdertheir embarraSSmentSl"
- we do bat those cnlbaraS5ments are none of our
making. All that We can do for them, As We believe,
D, 20 corrge their armed brgands from of our SOIL il
t.'. ne not smoothing the way TO reconciliation and
ar-S "e positively know no better Way. "The occa-
son Is too grave 70 hagCle about petty difficulties ~
J., che oppression mud plumber of New Orleans petty
OueutVs Are the rlvageS Of Tennessee the lombard
mont OF Elcksbuig and Miroy in Virgins petty diff
c'.r's, These things, aud such as these are the
llcl-as the sole difficulties, in the of peace. We
hl nor create them; We cannot remove them save by
one single methoi-the edge Of the sword
We are told that 1T WOuld be graceful and becoming
Do Us 20 take the initiative and to press overtures Of
pelle on them. No nothing is becoming or graceful
g. mo" except to Kill the largest possible number of
tu.a and the very grtcetul'St movement can make
i, % huut them Ike Wild beasts. The Aig however
assure rs that t Is now in power TO extend 10 them
'hr I'D o Friendship" What does General Lee think
I'D .Hss What 90 an the soldiers think RR tits ev-
deaf the Hig knows something that il IS lust Low i'm
prudent 90 tell We wish that Snew SLst T. wss for
.e should straight proclaim &c aloui Have Com MIS-
s,oners' arrived Has hdy come
Nobody will be 50 happy 10 hail peace ana eerd.hp
witt che North West shat, be but the, nus
cal back and chain up their heLhoguds This i, the
r,' step; after that as much right hand Of fellowship
Won please. AZ this moment the very name Of the
threat North West has become u nuisance.
lt Is scarcely necessary for Us reply to the first
question, that we would not abatc one o III our host
icy against those who a,aiI Us uor ia any degree or any
where relax energy for the most vigorous prosecu-
''l ot war. Bl, h,r does not preclude when possible
and udcioas the employment Of Other arms than the
h1yonel Our contemporary s read N history, and he
luoWs t the uniform policy o. TIE Romans, when
ever they had war hand or ant;c paed Que, to get
'4 ay IN the eneIuys country, if possible No policy
contributed 50 much TO the success and grandeur OF
that people l eusbled them almos. always give the
enemy FIRE in the rcar'-the most effective and de-
structve Of all fires. The condition of things in the
Northwes. invites US to policy which sagaciou, and
ioreseeiag statesmen would not have waited for an uv
'aton 10 uaugurltc. 1t Queen Elizabeth or a Richie
lieu had bad charge Of our foreign Affairs We should
NO, nov be Ignorant what more we could do for the
Northwest than guarantee the free navigation of the
Mississippi But il may not yet he too late to cGec,
great deal The minority Of the people in those States
appear, by their late elections aud the proceedings of
their Legislatures be hostile to the despotic policy of
their Goverumen-aversc 70 the prosecution of the
war; and disposed friendly relations with u.s. There
difficulties OF iorlnality in the way of coming 70
prompt and p,sic: understanding but if the great fact
bs acr that majority of them do desire friendship
aud fellowship with as guilty Of wrong to our
selves, as well TO them in negectng any means to
bring aboui a speedy reimbursement and a happy re-
-concin'iOn.
The Etqairer knows no other mode of dealing with
them than with " the edge OF the sword This i
very good mode if have enough swords and enough
men in the right place WELD them. The Enquirer i,
hettE qualified than speak OF our suf6ciency
In this respect, and we should be happy know that
We at all points able "to seourge their armed brig
ards from OH soil" But this task attended by loss
of aand OF limb; and if it could be aided by pacific
means, those means should not be overlooked. The
airs OF diplomacy, skiIfly used may be more effective
rhlu swors welded by the most staIwart arms.
What asa Is that nsaRs shall be left unemploy-
G. TO ascertain the sincerity Of the friendly dispositions
BE Northwestern people, and to strengthen and en-
courage those kindly feelings Success in this effort
would save from oh the evils OF long desolating and
ezoaas-ug var azd give US almost instant Peace
When 20 much good may be gained, and 80 much evil
1-1ijgi, B not the policy worthy Of a tralg
~ L.7s 40 secret, as the Enquirer to suppose
40; having seen either the Commissioner" or the
Lady But &c should not deem it prudent to pub
lisa 10 the Yankee World the Of agencies that might
oep7oper for coming to good understanding with the
Northwestern States
Northern Items.