Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-08-13

lnecesssary should be understood on bot
sides the Atlantic. The disclosures MOI
made ought to render the secessionists i
England, and particularly those in Parlia
ment, humbly thankful that they hav
oeeu prevented from falling into the ira
set for them, and make their country ridic
ulOus, by recognizing State which doe
escaped they will do wisely to take I,
heart such warning against the passion
and prejudice which are attracting th
worlds notice just now as the tempe
characteristic of retrograde politics.
| would be well for our citizens of all polite
! to open their minds to the explanation o
matters which have seemed unintelligible
and then to be thankful that our govern
ment has been supported in its refusal Il
recognize the Southern cOnfederacy. pre-
maturely.
Mr. Davis did not approve of Gen. Lees
late expedition. Bat Mr., Davis will is moi
paramount in the confederacy. Some OF
she seeded States have taken care Tor
some time past that the world should knew
this, and the North has been well aware
while thr invasion was proceeding, and
many of the citizens before il began, that
the enterprise was undertaken against the
advice of the Southern President. There
was reason enough for it, his disobedient
citizens say, in the state of keen want to
which the army and the people of Virgin
ia were reduced. There was reason enough
for it, others believed, in the state of prep
aration for Southern coup brought about
in the North, aud, as they hoped, in Eu-
rope. However sound the argument from
hunger might be, the other certainly in-
volved grave mistake. Southerners are
accustomed to be mistaken in political af-
fairs. They have always lived in an at
mosphere of passion, have always heard
exaggerated language, have always been
encouraged to believe what they wished,
and accustomed to put down opposition;
and in the recent cunning plots and child
ish errors the managers have acted after
their kind.
The Vallandigham business has never
been thoroughly understood in Europe,
and those in America who understood it
could not explain it till events made it all
clear. Mr.. Vallandigham was, at the time
when secession took place, regarded AS the
bridge over the great gulf which separated
North and South. Time proved that Mr..
Vallandigham's action would simply be di-
rected to the reinstatement of the slave
power at Washington, aud giving the North
peace at the cost OF all the objects of the
war Towards this end he has wrought
diligently, while the rOwdy party in New
Yok calling themselves peace democrats,
were laboring in the same direction. No
pains have been spared to make England
suppose that purely gratuitous tyranny
was exercised by the Washington govern
ment and General Burnside against Mr..
aud the Chicago Times, and
great deal has been said here, and we
may add that a great deal has been felt,
about the supposed high handed suppress
sion of free speech on the platform Rnd in
the press. All the while, us is now we'll
there was much more 10 ques-
lion than the wording of speech or articles;
I strenuous effort was being made to rouse
and organize an opposition in the Western
States to the erecrniting of the federal forces,
aud to prepare a welcome in Ohio for the
expected invader. There seems to be no
doubt that General Lee and his political
directors have been really deceived by
the noisy boasting and audacious ly-
ing of the "copperheads" of New York
and Ohio. They did not believe the
evidences, and assurances offered them
that the party was small, de-
spised aud disreputable one; and they ex-
pected to find "A welcome ready for a South
ern army on Northern soil, while the same
which led a Confederate
army across the Potomac was preparing
for the governments of England aud France
to recognize the Confederacy. The pres
sure of necessity was strong; but sOme
dashing enterprise, political aud military,
a last effort must be made TO save the sink
ing South; aud Mr. Vallaudigham's coup IN
Ohio, and the agitation in New York, in
which European newspaper correspond
ent might be Involved Ia order to guide
European opinion to the right issue, seem
TO have deceived the plotters themselves
more fatally than anybody else. The eX-
pectation at Richmond certainly was that
General Lee would find the Northern peO
Pile strongly disposed for peace; and that
at worst there was a certainty that General
Mcclellan would be once more at the head
of the army--rendering it harmless to the
and perhaps an instrument
OF peace, by making General Mcclellan
a President who could
unite the two sections of the country once
more. At the same time all was making
ready 10 France and Eagland fsr the re
cognitiou which bad become question of
life or death to the Confederacy. Such
have been the hidden movements of many
months, quickly disclosed when the san
guiue Generals-despising the cOunsels Of
their COmmander-in-C Chief and President
ventured upon. Northern soil, expecting to
carry all before them by the silent favor or
noisy acclaim of nation of peace Demo-
Gratis. The Confederacy was, in fact, at
the last gasp. but it might be saved by the
good news which would be arriving at the
same time from the Northern States aud
the European courts.
Itis all a mistake, IS SO many childish
conspiracies and proud visions of the slave
power have been beforel The dreamers
have found out that the Northern vassals
of the South are fewer than they thought,
and lower in influence and character, and
that Eogland is no more disposed to rush
into premature recognition than at auy
former time. These victims of delusion
will show rs soon what they mean to do
next 1t is more important to US now to
contemplate what our position would have
been if the country had been led, by the