Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-05-02
sUBsCEIPrIoN PRICE.
Our Duties and Our Hopes.

There was a time when the inhabitants Of the United
States Of North America fancied that they ohO
sen people exempt by the special favor of Providence
from the evils that afflicted all other nations on earth.
From burhensome taxes from the expressions Of tyran-
ieal government from the annOyanees of passports,
political prisons and from wars, they free, and
hoped to remain during the ages to come. prosper
Gus aud mighty people already they expected the cen
tures to bring them increase Of riches population,
glory power; until they should be the master Of
mankind debating terms kings and delivering every
where the downtrodden from the bondage Of unjust
laws and class-faVOring Institutions.
That dream rudely dspeled two years ago, when
the gus Of Beauregard opened upon Sumter and the
upslart Lincoln, called $4,000 men to crush out the
freedom Of independent States Since them il has been
sppareIt every rejecting mind that heneeiorth for
US or all other nations the abundan. ills of human
isy we're in store. We too, must have wars, our
debts our taxes our bitter and enemies, ready at
any moment 70 uaict mighty injuries and to provoke
the worst passons-;o upheave the foundations Of Or
der and keep in constant peril the peace of the country
Permanent repose was no longer possible in America,
any more than in Europe or Asia The sunny morning
Of national youth was past the full day with its clouds
aud shadows, It's stern manhOOds duties, was come.
Rspiniugs were vain; Arcadiln dreams
than useless; the impeFious, unrelenIing exigen-
eie Of great Esostrugge we're upon US the part of
maniness was 10 meet them with brave 'front.' to vel
come them aud TO win our way upEard and onward in
tue worlds rugged pathway by dnt Of the only virtues
that succeed here-courage truth and hard labor As
men, it became Us to accept mans lot; to shoulder
is burhsns cheerfuy, encounter its ills and endure
It's trials without, ainchng What other had borne
We could bear what they suffering, could suf
fer If not specially fivored Of Heaven, we we're not
singled out for unusual Affections Could We not play
our part as well as The rest? At least could try.
Thus, or somewhat thus the thoughts in the minds
Of the great mass Of our people With Carlyle, they
were content to do the duty that lay nearest them,
trusting to the morrow for strength to perform the
next duty. But there we're others who looked little
deeper into the matter and that VAR for all its hOr
rors was better than the stagnaton Of long peace
and the corruption OF MlmmOa-Sorshp which lOng
peace always invites and promotes Has any failed
70 observe how the standard Of riches has gone down
during these years Of war and how valued now
not for their houses lands, jewels equpages but for
those heroic qualities Of mind and soul which bring
victory In the field Of battle wise legislation in the cOun-
ellis Of Saie and largshelrted, Opea-handed help to the
widow and the orphan the sick and wounded soldier in
the round Of everyday life? If there be such an one
his perception be Of the duest and there is little
hope that he viii profit BY the sad but sauary incuca-
tons Of the war.
With varying fortune, the var has been waged for
two years Our losses have been sore indeed-the heart
sckens a. the thought Of them-but since the crisis Of
DOnelson aud New Orleans cause has been, day by
day, more and more hopeful Never have we been
SO strong as We are at this day Never had we so many
men in the 6ed never were troops SO well equipped
armed aud drilled and we're their spirits so high
AID 50 determined II the war be regarded as the dis
ease and ourselves the patient there IS not intelligent
aud impartial observer in al the world who would not
pronounce the patients easa hopeful one. Tie full
Tranquil pulse the clear steady eys the cheerful and
eonfdent expression Of the face, indicate anything but
aaek Of vital energy sufficient ensure eventual health
There may be slight reapsss-serOus symptoms may oo-
eur-but signs Of collapse there are none. The pro-
gaosis Is altogether favorable
To drop figures and come to facts: Il is evident the
snemy intends number Of simultaneous attacks. A
general engagement a. Fredericksburg, battle at SUI
folk and another al Kinston may be, at he very mo-
ment these lines being written in progress Thanks
70 the Increasing power Of the Southern SUM- the skies
are bright and beautiful Sunny days have ever been
favorable to Southern arms. We may hope for good
results at fredericksburg aud Suffolk perhaps at Kin.
stOn, if Gen Hll BE- lucky.
Our immediate auiy Is to make every preparation for
tie wounded 70 be even prompt, willing and ten
DERBY sympathetic in tAeir be.all than we have ever
been; and our present hope is, at great success
Fredercksburg viii bring Us As near peace as we had
boDed before Hooker ventured the asArk to be next
Fall