American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1863-03-13
The OverSoiiideHise Of our People.


The OverToifidenee OF our People.
The clamor and discussions at the North
and the pregnant signs in the Northwest of a
revolution which will result in Western
Confederacy, or the affiIiation of the people
of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and the other States
of the great West with the South, has caused
dream of speedy and permanent peace.
4 True, we have much cause to be hopeful and
4 full of good cheer, but ocer-coafdenee invari-
ably begets neglect, and neglect is the twin
sister of disaster. We see no signs of peace,
except the cries of Northern politicians for a
more judcious mode of carrying on the war,
the protestations of editors, and some dissat-
isfaction in the army. OF money, men, and
all the appliances of war, Lincoln has yet an
abundance. We do not desire to destroy the
beautiful bat chimerical anticipations of the
future, depicted by many of our cotempo-
raries, but we want to guard against "a hal
Incline ton which is seizing many of our peo-
pile, and which, if not checked may prove
oaf bane, or render the dawn of peace far off
From one end of the Confederacy to the 9TH
er, newspapers have heralded that they saw
4 light ahead, and that peace was near at hand
/ This ss'ren song became contagious, and voice
after voice caught it up, until the peace ques-
ton is now paramount to all hers Ii is
lalling us into a dangerous apathy-a slum-
Der that must prove cur ruin, saless we look
further ahead, and keep every nerve and en-
ergy ca the qui ere.
| Now is the time to push on. while our foe
exhibits signs of weakness. Now is the time
to complete the good work, aud now is the
time to prepare to ctothe and feed our army
"a. present year. 1t does not become us to be
idling and dreaming of peace, and relaxing
our energies, when the enemy have ne rly a
million of men yet in the field. and a supcr:,-
bundance of everything for carrying on the
war-with the reigns of government in abo-
iition hands anI power to issue money bv the
billion. There are, we believe, none who but
cherish wish in their hearts that the war
may be brought to honorable close in
month but when there are no tangible PROS
poets of its closing iu three months, nor in
six months, unless we work if we thought
it would last for years, is it not necessary for
US TO be more vigilant, more untiring, more
fixed in o.r determination than heretofore :?
Shall we immediately give up the culture of
hreadStaHs to plant cotton, and thus encour-
age our foe to renewed strength? Shall we
give up assisting our government and point
ing out means for Kidding ourselves of the
war debt, TO discuss boundaries, and give our
orinion as to the terms upon which we would
accept the Northwest aud permit her to come
under the protecting wings of our free and
independent government 1t would really
seem So and at day, too, when we have not
spark of FIRE from the clouds of smoke that
are rising all over the North. The day which
VIII announce peace is coming-the fate of
the North is seaIed-nothing but the hand of
Providence can save her-but let us be pa
tient, and not magnify every Northern straw
that rises above the surface, into stupend-
Gus mountain. Victories yet to be won.
Hundreds, nay, thousands, must yet give
themselves up as sacrifices before the close
of this unholy strife. More fields will be laid
waste, homes desolated, and millions of dol
lars spent, before the day we all look so aux-
iously is announced. But, It's coming, and
the harder work and the more gigantic
preparations we make, the sooner will the
glad tidings of peace be chronicled. We
would urge upon our planters, some of whom,
we hear, speak of planting cotton, to cling to
articles of food and clothing. Remember
you hold the fate of the country in your
hands. Upon you depends whether our men,
women and children at home, and the living
wall of men between you and the tyrant
shall fight on and be fed, or famish and sub
NIT. With or without continuance of the
war, it is all important we should have full
crop of provisions If the war ends, our
ports will be open, and we will find ready
market in Europe for every surplus article,
and at remunerative prices, too. But there
need be no apprehension that we will have
too much wheat, corr, or live stock on hand;
the danger is, it will be the other way. Let
those who will plant cotton have the benefit
of it. The riches they gain at the sacrifice
of patriotism will haunt them evermore.
Ficss5nrg Whig.
The weather is beautifully clear, and If it holds
for a short time planting will BEGIN 10 earnest