Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-04-13
FgFCOE STITUTT 0h--STATE RIG rs
Gbt 8itgnunb daBig.
MONDAY MORNING, APRIL rs, 1853.
Our Situation.

To-day two years ago Fort Sumter was Wrested from
the hands Of the United States forces We have now
encountered and resisted successfully the armies ano
naves OF that Government many years as they ao"
d us months in the beginning and we stand to-day IN
an sttitude Of As determined defiance, and as lmpreg
,.hls defence As We have presented during the war
No, snv months after hostilities began, the New York
;5n, the most potent organ Of the enemy, INSISTED
tb.t tbey did not subdue la twelve months the et
for, should be Abandoned for said that Journal there
is not an instance in history Of people maintain
ING struggle for independence year. being Afterwards
subiupated We have maintained our struggle not one
wear only but two years and yet so capable OF re
i.nee that at all points the enemy are held at bay or
are retiring before US Could anything but the most
ipeube phrenzy prOong the effort on the part OF the
enemy.
Irofl RECENTLY the conflict has served mainly to show
that in the field and away from the seas aud the rivers
Ne had nothing to fear from the enemy. Almost with
ont exception We yanqushed and routed them whenever
thew presented themselves at distance from their gun
boats But relying upon their immense naval prepare
tons thew still hoped indct such injury on US that
We would be compelled in the end, TO relinquish the
contest aud sue for peace Il has been reserved Tor Us
10 sbow as we have done in the last year, and especially
in the last few DAYS that we able to cope with their
,ornops navy and with the Of The deep they
have devised in the shape Of rOn-ead and turretted
steamers gun has been invented, and is now in use,
that Denetrates the tbickest mail they are able to
employ In the harbor Of Charleston we have sunk the
most powerful of their Monitors fondly believed by
them 20 be invulaerabe. The others know their doom
If they approach our batteries The enemy have learn
ed that their vast and costly preparations are all IN vain
and that on the coast and by the banks Of our navga
Bile streams as well as in the interior, We are now pre-
p.red TO meet them And So the war has progress
ed we have taught them that whether on land or sea,
we are their masters
Il remains only TO ascertain whether we have the sa
gaeity TO manage financial matters and the patriotism
and energy to produce the provisions necessary to sup
port our armies aud people while the lasts In re-
gard 70 the F9rmer, we have the most emphatic and
valuable encouragement in the tdings from England
that Cotton notes are selling there premium, and
that more than fifty millions of dollars have been Of
fered for investment twill require but mOdicum Of
6uaacal ability to turn this fact 70 the most material
advantage TO Us Our currency ought to be equal
TO gold-and Eill be, if Mr.. hemminger viii only
range as be can readily do through the fundamentally
OF Cotton, to pay the interest Of the public debt in gold
The action Of the British merchants and Bankers in
this matter the judgment OF the most sensitive and
intelligent tribunal earth, that our independence is
established and that public faith viii be observed.
In military point Of view then, We are safe, whether
we look to land or sea. In matters Of finance, it is
only necessary that should practice the sagacity that
selEinteres makes clear the dinmest intellect The
question Of subsistence is all that remains, and that
luckily falls to class Of men Who ueyeryet have failed
when a great emergency calling for manly sacrifice
and energy, has come upon any people The tlers Ct
the soil have ever been the best hope and re-
anee Of zAons eOntendng for liberty and rights They
have upheld this great struggle thus far and feel
sure will uphold to the end Thus animated thus sus-
taned and dee: mined to stand msnfuy their posts
what have our people to ftar-"let the heather rage
ever so fercely.