The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1863-04-17
VOL. XV---NO. 76O.
Some of the Benefits of the war.
PROM the Charleston Courier. !

for peace. The signs that furnish IrouhiS
for the hope that the night OF our trlhu-
lation will shortly give place TO the morn
ing Of joy. are scanned with eager and in
tent gaze. And 81 ardent is our desire
for relief from the burden of woes under
which we have been groaning through no
many months, that we do not always take
the pains to examine the nature OF those
acts and events that animate our hopes.
We are no longer subject to the an
noyance arising from the expectation oi
receiving AID from any European power
That expectation has been 80 often dis
appointed, and ..has mortified, aneered
and iujarsd - ereat a degree thAs
we are not nioved by the most plausible
reports concerning the action OF foreign
nations in regard to our 0ouiederacy'
We are at last awake to the fact that
we have To delend upon the means and
instruments which Heaven has conferred
upon us Tor the achievement of our inde-
pendrnce. In the course OF this conflict
| il has been demnnsi rated that, with the
blessing of G, d, We are equal to the work
| in which We are engaged Our suthclcncy
for the momentous undertaking has been
shown 10 the satisfaction both of ouI-
selves and of communities across the wa
| ter, and our enemies have been forced to
admit the indispurahle fact
The most pure, intelligent, unselhsh
and resolute patriot OF us all would have
rejoiced with exceeding greaI j"v over the
peaceable adjustment OF our difficulties,
nr over the return Of peace, short time
after hostlities broke cut. This conflict
has been accompanied with evils OF dire
magnitude. No war that ever cr!mso oned
the soil with human blood produced more
suffering in 50 large All extent of terrific
ry. than has followed the march ot this
terrific contest. But it has not been
without large benefits which could only
be attained through the instrumentality
of precisely such a war. as the one whose
miseries we are now enduring whose
dangers We are now confronting.
Even at the present time. with the
power OF our foe undimnished, and his
heart all on fire with devilsh hatred,
while he is developing with gigantic en-
eray and unconqutrabie will, slupen'
slous schemes whose successful accom-
nlishment involves the iufiiction Of more
,aEtllbe calalnllies than any we have yet
'beell called upon to osuiier 80 manifest are
some of the good fruits OF this bloody
struggle, than in spite of grleyous hard.
ships. trying sacrifices, heavy losses, over
whelming sorrows, we do not regret that
the war has not come to an end
II was necessary that we make good
our claim to the high position among ma
tional powers our character, our abilities,
the race we belong to, and the mission
we as 4 people are ordained TO fulfill, en-
!titled us to occupy. We have viudIcated
that right aud although we have rot
been formally admitted into the family
Of nations, the most mighty States feel
that we are "A power that they must some
day recognize and respect. When those
nations do extend the right hand Of fel-
lOwship to the Southern Confederacy tho
occasion will not be marred by any feel
ing of obligation, and we shall have the
proud satisfaction of Knowing that we
are member of the family OF nations
not by sutierance, or by privilege, but that
we raised ourselves to that place of dig
nifty and honor by our wisdom, valor, for
titude and energy.
No other agency than the war in pro.
gress, could have produced final and
complete separation from the United
States. The simple establishment of
another government could never have
that end We would have
been distinct and independent Conied.
eracy only in name The yoke of bon
dage to the Yankee race would have re-
manned unbroken. The enterprise which
is moving on gradually to its consuma.
ton would have ended in miserable
failure. and we who have woii'the praise
and admiration nj the world would Le OBJ
ircts "i dprlsion aud contempt. The
hasenpss and cruelty OF our
enemies, have caused u~ to loathe and
abhor them. and We would rather be
bloled cut from existence than sit with
them again under the same vine and fge
tee, while the victories tIIat have iIlUs-
trn,ed our genertiship and courage. give
us abundant assurance that we shallr,en-
tually be gloriou-ly triumphant
Other apprchensions may haunt the
bosom of the timid and the ,Ie-pondmP,
but no heart in this Southern land. no
matter how sordid and craven. ever In
dnlges far moment the desire of putting
an pnd to our troubles by re-untIng the
ties that bound us to the haied Yankee.
D. enemies themselves admit that the
Union is dissolved forever. and they are
Irging this war. not with the expectation
If compelling us to be confederate with
hem again, hut to crafty their hatred,
n ice and revenge.
THESE Two obj' are anfnn- hose in.
important ends which the war
las enabled Us to accomplish and which
We could not have attained by any other
means. The contemplation Of these will
;ield us consolation and comfort, and