Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1864-02-09
TIE FUTURE.

Another cnil for troops has been made' ano
another draft for men ia ordered By Lincoln
IN the 10Th March. Desperate indeed must
&c .hc difficulties and embarrassment CT the
,nemv in this matter Of procuring men,
Waiting to SEQ how ro-cnlistncnts would
take among the soldiers, the January draft
Was postponed. The fact that five hundred
housand men are now called for, and are to
be drafted on the 10th of March, would indi-
cate ,ba. establishments had not been so "a
yornble rs the authorities at Washington de-
sired and expected.
These repeated calls anil drafts indicate.
greater difficulty on the part of the enemy in
procuring men than any encountered by the
Confederate authorities. They demonstrate
IN uuwillingness n the part Of the people to
continue the war. As long rs volunteering
could be relied on, the war was popular, the
oeoplc were in favor of it but when e1orb:-
.ant bountios became necessary. it evid enced
. falling away Cd popularity, a popular indls-
position toward the war that may fairly he &C
nsp.ed a.. the breaking down Of the war spirit.
| Draft has supplantod bountics, as houn'ics
uperseded volunteering. First, patriotism :;
next, money; and, lastly, force: these are the
,brec features that characterize the war
among our enemies. Patriotism ran it's course
j., onc year-from Juno 'Gl to June 'G2-and
expired with McClellau's failure on the Pc
~aiusula. Another year was gotten over by
bonnties, which valued a Yankee soldier ut
about the same price az a frst-rate negro
man before the war. Bountics are now played
out to q very considerable degree. Draft has
this year to run its course, and Will either cx-
,;ra with the Presidential election or over-
throw the party that ia dragging tbs men
from their homes to continue q war of which
the people are heartily tired.
These are signs which indicate that grndu,
aly n disposition for peace is making itself
felt throu ,hout the great mass Of the people
of the lated States. A blatant cry for war
On ths part Of the Republican papers will not
de,eive the evidence furnished by Mr.. Lin
c,in in those repeated calls and drafts cannot
b, weakened or destroyed by the noisy clam"r
Of marty Journals. These indications are un-
mistakable the people arc giving way the
war spirit is on the wane. Force and violence;
NAV seize and secure mon, and discipline may
bold them for a while, but the war spirit Ia
broken, is gone, and Indications Of peace will
soon crop out all oyer the surface of Northern
society.
Confederate Victories this Spring will end
the war spirit, and fully and completely develop
the prospects Of IN early peace Every en'rt
Of every nan should he devoted for this year
10 tn. cause. The united excrtion of all lie
psonlc, the revival Of tho spirit Of laGl, will
crown our Eff ,r,s of this year with peace.
The prospects of peace should stir up the
nconlc each man should SEQ that hin neigh
Dor who ought To bc in tho army il mt the post
Of duty. Stalking Of da'y behind .c"ntr ac:s
should be exposed. Men engaged in rrocur'
ing contracts should be held up to public exc
Grafton.
More depends upon the Spring campaign
than ever before waited upon tho conflict OF
arms. If tho Confederate armies are Vlcto-
rious, Lincoln will DO defeated in tho Presi-
Dental election, the draft will be useless ms o
means of rccruisiug his army, and peace will
follow. If we are defeated, Lincoln will be rS-
elected, the drafs become a powerful means of
securing mon, and the war indefinitely pro-
longed. -,
Duty 50 plain aud palpable, ddty so full OF
hope aud promise, duty 80 necessary to sue,
cess. demands of every MAN hls undivided
labor for his country. For the enforcement
OF tho performance of this duty the Congress
has legislated the Substitutes principals into
the army. Has no member OF Congress lent
the aid Of his influence to procure contracts
for these same mon wlA!!eh viii! keeps them out
oe the army