The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1864-09-21
CONFEDERATE INDEPENDENCE.
From the London Herald.

doubt that the independence of the Con-
fsderate States is an accomplished reality.
Ii. at the outset. Mr.. Seward himself had
been asked how long he demanded for the
accomplishment of the enterprise his Co.
vernment had undertaken, he would GER
tainly have been satisfied with single
year and would have been content te al
low that. Il at the end of that period the
Confederates could still keep The field in.
Virginia, the European Powers would be
ep,itled to recognize their independence.
Three years have almost elapsed since the
FIRST defeat Of the Fedsrals. and during the
whole oil that time the confederates have
fought, not as Spain fought against France
during the uneasy reign Of Joseph Bona
parte, net as the Spanish colonies fought
against Spain. not even as our own Ameri-
can colonies faugh. against the armies of
George ILL.,, but a. Russia fought Napo-
lem IN 1915. or as Frederick II. defended
himself against Austria in the Seven Years
War. The war has been waged for the
mast part on Southern soil !; il has. 50 far.
not been a war on equal terms, that tie
one party has fought Tor empire and the
other only for Independence. But il has
IN no wsy rartaken of the character Of an
in.urreetiOnsry, as distinguished from an
international war. The Confederate Co
sernment has, from 6rst IL last, held po-
siton Of perfect equality with that Of the
NorIhsrn States. IL has administered,
with undi,2uled authority. the affairs o
its own country and the Federal Govern
ment has been unable TO exercise any other
than military power there. and that oaly
within the territory covered BY It's own ar.
mice.
The State Governments have gone on Al
regularly as ever the administration Of th'
civil law is as perfect in the South as Il
sny European Country; and while in th'
Nerlhefn States the necessities ni an az
gressise war have been held 10 require ih,
exercise Of a military auth.rlty superior 4
the law The civil authorities have ne,e
been essrridden BY martial Law in an,
Southern district nut actually invaded o
threatened by the enemy.
To deny sue. government the ststus Q
independence according 10 Nicaragua. o
20 Greece, certainly seems the height O
ab.urdity and this impression is not weak
ened when we look 10 the military opera
iions that have taken place. Il j, tru
that at sea the Feierals have been able |
maintain a decided superiority. and ths
q blockade, efficient enough 10 impose scr
serious difficulties 10 the way Of Che expoi
sf any bulky commodities. ha, been main
tanned OF every port which has at once :
good harbor and such means Of commu
nication with the interior as 10 be aysils
ble for commercial purposes but il is ais
true that The Federals have hardly game
asingle naval success. aud have sustaine
several naval disasters.
Itistrue, also. that they have bsens sab
20 occupy. several points on the vast ertei
of Southern cpast which are commsnde
from the sea, and TO obtain the control oi
considerable portion Of the inland wstcrs
the South. They have also penetrated
various points the long aRd indctensib
irsntier line, and pushed their a,mirs &
into Southern territory. But they ha'
not been able 20 conquer single Stat,
sud the chief fruit Of three years Of wa
fare, besides the disputed possession
Tennessee, is d widespread deyastati'
and a considerable havoc among the labo
ing population Of the South. Hundreds
homes and farms have been destroyed, Al
thousands Of negroes stolen.
The Southern armies have sustained |
great disaster in the field they have il
fiicted halt score OF the most terrible d
feas recorded in history. Their capit'
with sort Of bravado. was planted ne
their NEST endangered frontier; army ate
army, 10 the number of several hundr,
thousands, has been hurled against il Al
completely shattered; quarter Of mi