The Smoky Hill and Republican union., 1863-03-07
SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

The main features of the Conscription Bill
we give in another column. 1t sets forth those
liable to military duty, in case the Admins
tration should deem another call necessary.
Whether the law limits the President to a GER
tain number, or not, we know not but we are
told the indications at Washington are that a
call for 100000 or 100000 more troops will
soon be made under this act.
The want of a sufficient number of troops
has been serious drawback to the cause of
the Government This all must admit. But
that this only has been the impediment cannot
be sustained. We hold that there has already
been men enough in the field as well as suffi-
cient time used, to have crushed the rebellion
and restored peace to us. Drunken, incapable
and lukewarm officers, are those to whom. in
the main, must be charged the protraction of
this strife, and the unnecessary loss of so many
valuable lives. True, these were not the only
causes chargeable with this. A distinct policy
was wanting-an earnest and energetic prose-
cution OF the work before us. Slavery was the
origin of the rebellion, and until the lst of
January an impossible barrier to its suppress
sion.
View the prospects before us in whatever
light you may, and everything tends to cheer
us-to leave the impression that but few
months will elapse ere the work will have been
accomplished. The rebels themselves seem
conscious that they have lost the sympathies
of Europe, and the walls they set up regarding
the signs Of the times are truly pitiable Not
withstanding we have found fault with the
inactivity of our armies in common with hosts
Of Others and still believe much has been
wasted, we feel somewhat reproved by the
following admission of the Richmond ENQUIRER
1t is the concluding paragraph of an article
headed, Third Stage of the War;" In no
quarter can the desponding editor see any
signs Of relaxation on the part of the enemy"
"Hhere, in all this ride circsit, does the inpaston
seem 10 be fdtat'ag or g:rt,g grounde 4U round
me border, and an the rery heart eftie Cbntederacv,
the foot ct the enemy is planted and has feloa Aaq
Mes; and 1t means subjugation and extermina-
tion. Ii is, indeed. the third stage of the war
and we believe the last; but the struggle will
be desperate. If it be the last card, il is one
on which the stake is life or death. honor or
sbame-elther our name and nation will be
extinguished in a nj ght Of blood and horror. or
else new sovereignty, the newest fairest
Proudest, will take her seat among the powers
OF the earth, with the applause of man and the
blessings of Heaven"
ihis candid admission affords much ground
ior hope The evil resulting from the lack of
troops VIII doubtless soon be rcmedied Great
improvement has been made in officers
great deal of wedding out has been done. The
following compliment from the same article
proves this assertion:
"On the Rappahannock, two hundred thous-
and men wait for a drying wind TO move ON
to Richmond once more, led ty genuine amos
tie Of extermination Under UooLor
they count upon owning Southern plantations,
and giving law to Southern vassals'
A distinct policy has been attained. Slavery
now gives way to the Union. All obstacles
have been removed, and all, we believe, that is
necessary to wind the rebellion up is simply
to 60 ahead.