New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-01-27
NORTHERN FORESIGHT.

sition to the gasconading impetuosity of the
South. The latter may be astonished at the
miraculous fuliillment of predictions made by
the former at the opening Of the contests but
no such surprise has oyertsken us. From the
very beginning the North knew and felt what
! the result would be. 1t was not the impuisiVe
confidence of the Southern leaders, but the de-
liberate conviction Of the Northern masses.
While The masses there were goaded into action
| by their leaders, here il was the reversible
masses were perpetualy urging theirs to I'D
vance. If at any moment there was sluggish
ness or hesitation with u', it came not OF popu-
| lar inspiration. Public confidence in Northern
shaken. All it demanded was, that tho trc-
mendous energies it was calling into action
should be wisely concentrated and vigorously
welded TO that end. The grand result thus
clearly foreseen from the beginning, it was Inn
possible for the North TO be blind TO the numer.
GUS collateral issues of the contest. If the
greater evil were to be overcome, we felt that
the lesser ones would cease 70 be dangerous.
Hence the blunt antagonism Of opinion between
North and South as to the prosperity which was
10 attend rebellion there, and the ruin 1t was TO
inangurate here.
! These things are entirely too recent TO be al
ready forgotten. The seli-reliant North felt
/ tina. her foundations were too deeply planted
/ for the structures Of her society to be over
tuned. Her people, by pen, by tongue, and
/ By press, foreshadowcd the future with apre-
cision which proves the sOundness Of their ear
! Hest convictions. While setting forth the
strenih Of their own position. they warned the
South of the weakness Of hers. They predicted
! the dosolation OF her fields, because they knew
that this was 10 be war Of invasion. They
warned her that q blockade would destroy her
commerce, aud shut ont all supplies until her
population went about in rags. They toldher
that her leaders, either directly OF indirectly,
would seize the capital of her moneyed institu-
tons, and impoverish the thousands who de.
pended on dividends for support. She was no.
titled that GIL invading army would Of necessity
become q liberating army, that the slaves would
not only fly from their owners, but that owners
would everywhere fly from their. slaves, aban-
doning luxurious homes for shelter in forests or
novels. As tho Southern reilroad system was
\ known TO be the creation Of Northern enter
prise and capital, stocked with Northern cITs
and locomotives aud kept in working trim by
Northern mechanics, the South was warned
that these mechanics would cease being care
takers, that the blockade would destroy Us traf.
4. &. lpta oh ha tran
/ tation Of Rebel troops and stores supplied, and
that it would 90 rapidly 10 decay. On the pri-
mary question Of debt and currency, while the
entire South seemed stricken With blindness, the
North saw clearly and gave notice of all insoi-
yency so general and disastrous that history
could furnish 10 parallel
AS in all great impending conflicts, counter
warnings were adopted as part Of The machinery
OF intimidation. 1t is unnecessary TO recite the
caamities which were 10 oyertako the North.
But the North saw that the destruction Of the
Southern railroad system would DO the resusc-
tation Of her own. The first shock Of the Rebel
lion over, the evidences Of her correct Judgment
appeared. Sixteen hundred steamboats, ceased
descending the Mississippi loaded with produc-
tons mainly dc tined for shipment by sea. The
direction Of this enormous traffic was immedi.
Eately reyersed-Rebellion forced IL over North
err railroads 10 reach Northern seaports. The
food crop OF England was deficient, but through
out the West il was abundant. While the South
was impatiently looking for British recognition,
that country WAS helplessly dependent on this
for food. England, during two years, could
have tanned her supply from no other country.
Recognition meant war, and war was synOny-
nous with 10 more food. In I-6I England took
from us over $4,000, 900 bushels of wheat, flour,
and corn alone. III ten months OF 1862, she
TOOK of our food TO the smount Of $50, 800, O0O +.
or over 1926, 900 per day. 1t was by aid of this
large supply that she was able 70 preserve the
public peace, so seriously threatened by the des-
titutOn OF millions turned idle from her cotton
mills into the street. Thus for two years'eyery
Northern railroad having Western connection
was burdencd with supplies Of food which for
morly descended the Mississippi, some for New
Orleans and foreign market, but much Of il
for tho river towns, whence il was distributed
through the interior 10 feed both master and
slave for never until now has The South raised
her own provisions. Even cotton abandoned
the costly railroads which had been built for its
transportation, and reached w over our own.
Tie shrewd North saw that this extraordinary
breaking up Of the old channels Of trade was
! Inevitable. The result has testified TO her wis