Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-07-16
Tha npsning Of the MississiPpi.

Ths Opening of the Mississippi.
n ..,orI5 iadge by an article which appeared some
;, ,bc London Times, the prevailing sentiment
:, r,,ssd L. that the fail of Vcksburg and Port Hud
a., nj, involve the opening Of the Mississippi - the
commerce of the Northwest. It would be wei to dis
abuse these people Of this delusOn By practical tess
and with that view We would suggest that strict watch
h, keps upon the first steamer ia transit with merchan
disc from above. The posting OF ieE guerrilas al
points where he channel the river bank will
comosh the doom Of the rss adyeaurer, and yield in
moral effect reoompense fully commensurate with the
fall of vieksbug. Il win, moreover, bring salatary
,onv;et,a 70 the minds Of the Northwest who doubt
ls, take the same vew OF the effect Of the fall Of that
stronghold as the people Of EagiAud Il will satisfy
the people of that section Ct the irretevable loss to
them of that great outlet o.hersse than through the
Insrrumentalty OF peace with Europe and the
Northwest alike would see the utter Atuty OF any at
tempt At a compulsory sIacsion Of the freedom Of the
Mississippi Practical proof Of this fact should by all
means be given on the very hrs. attempt at the foie-
BILE navigation of its Uater and no enterprise in war
fare seems easier Of accomplishment
It may bsthat the first few efforts by freight steam
srs TO descend the river might prove successful through
the agency of Government conveys. Bat that would,
Of course be no test The experiment would be rather
oreudeia TO the prospect Of its future uninterrupted
navigation than OtherHise For what trade would jus
NV this perpetual conveying OF transports along dis
lance Of over thousand miles BY line OF hostile ter
rtory The idea is BcepOsterOus aud yet there Is no
safe transit for The enemys boats on the Mississippi
otherwise than hrOagh this impra;eabls eXPedeni, or
tbe consent OF our Government The number OF gun
boats nos ~ the command Of the Ulted States multi
Piled by twenty could no: safe transit for the
eneuys boats Aud then shen es-imste the enor
nous cost which such an e1pedent would involve, even
IT, By possibility, is we're successful, 10 mus come 10
The conc usion hA. trade thus carried would be 50
embarra sed AMI prices enhanced. practically 10
parayzs it, Such a resort it IS eVideat S0uli be chi
merieaL
What With regard the prao.esb.liy OF safe pas
sage along the Mississippi Of the eaemys freight boats
without eonvoyg As We have already intmated there
various point, along tina. part of the Mississippi lying
within our territory where these boats would Of neces
city be compelled to come vittn easy range OF Oue
light artillery and sharpsaOO.ers. Tue necessiy fO7
wOoding a. no remote intervals you'll Indispensable
aud here they you'll lie completely at mercy The
WOOding points aOeg the Mississippi vel defined
as are zoo regular landing and Of these guarr las
would OF course have full knowledge Carrying steam
srs on the Mississippi take il At time wood enough to
IRE Ihem say so 90 miles, and the wood landings
arranged accordingly; aud this bsing the case
VII d1ubt the feasibility Of lying in wait for thsn a,
these pOinss and either destroying capturing them
Moreover the thick forests Of cotton sood and unl5
growth uhch line the Mississippi afford such shseF for
shArpshOOtsrs as TO enable them to operate upon the
,ensmys steamers without any risk injury evSn they
we're prepared TO infct acY. This species OF s4riase
would denude the boats OF almost every board
long before they reached their destination aud ,b,y
would then fall an easy prey % cur guerriiIa'.
These are not grO1ndIess spseulatiOus. They sIs
fae.s which patent the Iltuest comprehension,
and reasoning eonFoVert them. People
are TOO apt draw their conclusions the progress
and issue Of great events FROM prominent incidents
which are superficial awnings that the p-sc
teal, though subordinate details Il viii be pie
'samed that the fall of Richmond would involve the
sabjugaton Of the S,u,h. The moral influence of
such result abroad might be injurious to our cause,
If indeed We place any value upon the estimate Of
osher powers o. our position ia this war but practically
+ would bri z the enemy 10 nearer the goal OF nj
wicked ambition Aud neither does the fall Of Ncks.
barz and Port Hudson, while the moral influence may
, be considerable, advance the enemy step ia the
work Of opening up the ssiSsipp to the ireP nayga
ton of the Northwest Heretofore, attention was
directed TO the defeucs Of few prominent points
hsre stable fortfcahons bad been constructed de-
bar the enemy from the free Of that great highway
Henceforth We shall harrass him FROM hOusa differ,
eFent points ao the entire range Of our territory
bordering on that river HIS troubles have just begun
jInssead Of directing his efforts to the reduction Of
stronghold or two be viii have give bis atteluOn to
thOu,A and other points if he eutertans The sghtes
fope of eOusummatng what has cost thus far millions
4ioon millions Of dollars aud pyramids Of dead in his
sain efforts to accomplish
Al ell eveots the sooner let the Northwest in par
SECULAR know how gSOundess hope for the freedom Of
ths Mississippi she fAp Of Yeksburg and Port Hudson
furnishes the sooner viii they be led 10 make up their
minds as to what course they will pursue She;her to
seek reconciliation with and thus gain what the
North falsely promises them, through the agency Of
blood, carnage and millions Of dollars continue in
hostile attitude towards "a, and reject the boon which
toe trsachsrous Yankee taught them 70 believe we had
Shfuly withheld people more inia;ulied, 1t would
he difficult TO find. They the duPes OF mercenary
Yankees Who to prOlOng the VAR and thus enrich them
vss are deladng these people into the idea that our
oEcy Is TO exclude them from the free navigation OF
the Mississippi If they will persist 10 this delusion
let them At once be made TO realize how vain aud futile
q any e1pedient to secure this cad other than that
OF peace aud reconciliation With Us
Strange Doctrine