Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-03-26
no,Aus ON THE WAR.
We make the following selections from late papers
received at this Office

We make the following selecuonS Irom ia'e PaPei'
received at this Office
-- HOW WILL THE WAR ENDf
Under this caption the jackson Crisis says. {.
An must agree that some time or other this cruel
struggle will cease One point at least may be settled
it cannot last forever.
To the deerminatio of this one question: there is at
this hour concentration of more intellect, more hui
man interest," more anxious expectation more hope 2y
the patriot prayer by the Christian, than to the
settlement of any other one question which has engaged
the public mind and interested the public heart III Two
generations The interests aud passions OF twenty
millions of belligerents on theatre; the interests
and hopes oftwo contnents the diplomacy OF empires,
the policy of Kings and potentates the comfort OF un-
numbered millions of men, women and children cluster
around the solution Of this momenious inquiry 1t Is
something to the word-t is everything to the people
of the Confederate Statesl
what result will II finally closey How shall it affect US
In what condition shall it leave uss
We cannot answer these inquiries afirmative!y. We
have our own opinions buttbe map is spread out aud
the field is open 10 all and each and all, may form
their own opinions well. But some negative respon-
SEES. we think, may be given with great confidence.
The war will not end merely the result Of conflict
however fierce however prolonged. Battles will not
calm the storm nor victories bring peace, though our
people are constantly taught to believe that these are
the only means of "conquering peace The effect oil
and defeat the purposes OF the foe. These, therefore,
are the instrumental causes and the necessary condi-
tons of our preservation and hna lndePehdence we
must fight and must repel the Zoe, or we sha lose
all and be crushed. But battles and victories do not
and never will bring peace without the nterposton OF
other causes and the combination OF other eelnehts
In the great majority OF battles yet fought Southern
arms have been victorious The first battle OF hanas
sas was a great success. The battles before Richmond
were sgnally successful. :
l.. lIa1a
pated the Initiation of peace measures. The subsequent
great battles of ManasSa were equally successful ana
Inc shattered armies of the foe reeled and staggered
back on Washington. But the victory brought no
peace Twice has Vicksburg been unsuccessiully as
sailed and yet the foe digs and dtches and moves ana
countermoves and attempts To flank position 100
strong 10 be carried directly. With the recollection oil
twenty thousand fallen at Fredericksburg, the enemy
gathers up strength and once more essays to move Oh
Richmond. ,
Now the point is this : if our foe were united, and
should he remain So chershing the purpose oil
non submitting to the surrender oil freedom hmseii
ordeto enslaye u.s. conserving to ruin in order TO IN
aiet ruin there is no reason why the should not
and might not be perpetual And yet so far from per-
petuity of conflict we among those who believe 1t
is now passing its last stage and that the days OF the
strife are numbered
But how will it end? Wars, like famine and pesti-
lence are judicial Infections But for the restraining
forever But for the same Auences individuals would
never cease to make each other. When re-
straining influences operate it is the office OF Mercy
when these influences are partially Withdrawn, and
boodshed and desoation ensue it is the office Of in-
censed Justice.
1t there were, to faith, no operative system OF
unlimited intelligence TRUTH goodness and wisdom, com
pretending ALL controlling all, guiding ALL merciuly
restraining the work Of inter destructon aud evolving
the highest and best results atainable for humanity
should laugh at cry over and despse the whole ar
raw of effort aud the work of sacrifice, the insane
folly of demented victims of destiny the sport Of
tends. We would not write another line nor bestow
Rother care nor suffer another prvaton ia the premi-
s,is lie would be fool that would do so
But the springs Of human action be touched-al-
ready the finger of God is visible in this workand the
tide rolled back in day, hour and the glorious
light of peace beam brightly land purified by suf-
ping aud dsenthraed from the mapacles OF despotsm,
and the embroments Of fanatical hate. day the good
Lord deliver US, and hasten the day Of our deliver
ANGEL