The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-16
ENGLISH NEWS FROM THE
SOUTH.
Exhaustion of the Male Popu-
lation.
Columbia, 4. c.. Sept esl Correspondence Of the
London Times

London Times
EXHAUSTION OF THE MALE POPULATION.
But the most obvious danger whic
threatens to weaken the military etrengt
Of the Confederacy is the decrease In men
The drain upon the population has bee
terrible, and is daily augmenting; 200,
900 victims are estimated to have fallen il
this four years struggle, and everywhere
cripples may be seen whose torn bodie
testify to the frightful carnage of the wa
and the power of modern projectiles. Still
two great armies are maintained, with de
tachments and garrisons in many place.
which combine would make third. Tha
this drain must eventually DO seriously
felt there cannot be doubt; the natura
increase of population under these circum-
stances has its limits, but this, it may be
argued, affects the Northern fighting
strength alike with the Oonfederates.
Judging from the thronged appearance
Of every town and village where trade
still fourishes, there seems to be abundant
material at hand, for, minglng with in
valids, strong hardy men may every
where be seen with apparently no tan
gible occupation. This fact is made the
basis Of attacks against the government of
Mr.. Davis, who is accused of favoritism {;
it may be this is right; still, it seems a
cruel thing to suppose Mr.. Davis capable
of such conduct when his armies need re-
Inducements sorely. One hundred and
forty thousand able bodied men are detail
ed to supervise the operations of their
farms and plantations, fifty thousand are
exempted from service because they are
State officers, and it is estimated over one
hundred thousand young men, between
seventeen and eighteen years ofage, become
liable to the CONSUMPTION in 1865, and
whose enrolment has already been order
ed by the Secretary of War. Looking,
therefore, at these figures, which 1 have
obtained from good authority, there is Ger
tainly no danger of exhaustion of men ut
present, and the armies of 1865. if, IS the
opposition papers call for, radical meas
ures are adopted, must become vastly su-
perior 10 strength to those of 1864.
REBEL PEACE TERMS.
The second point Gen. Seymour made
was the discomfort which he says prevails
among the people. This is answered by
the fact of the late State election of Gov
ernor of North Carolina, when a candi-
date of "peace party" was defeated by
an overwhelming majority of fifty thou
sand votes, because "Peace on any terms"
was his watchwOrd. The Confederates ar
IDENTIFY desire peace; but they ere not will
ing to have it "on any terms" Negotia-
tons with them short Of complete indie
pendence would be futile. This General
Mcclellan, if elected, will find out to his
cost. There cannot fail to be discontinued
persous; but their causes of complaint
arise from their difference of opinion in
regard to administrative details, and in no
way affect the stability.ot the great cause
the Oonfederates are fghing for-viz., the
independence of their country and the
right to self-government. After strug-
gle of now nearly four years the Confed-
crates know too we'll that nothing but q
strong bond, bundle Of .fasces which
nothing can break, is necessary to achieve
the goal of their wishes. They would, in
deed, be bad pupils in the school of adver-
sity had they failed to master so simple q
lesson taught by the history of every age.