Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-02-11
HRCONgFIFUFI0N-sTAFR RIGHTS.
,,EfNyTAgANNn NXIHTO
THURSDAY MORNING, FEB. II, 1854.
The North DespOndent-The Period for

the tone of dsspondeney which they nantes, inler-
Fatally a. least For the fest time in the progress Of
is war they estimate at its true STANDARD the msgn-
tide Of the task which they 10 enter upon 10 the
coming clmpagn. They aizs with clearnes that
speaks creiby of their pereeptve powers, that The
,eou ID o. crushed, and frankly admit that "AbeU'
amnesty proclamation was a little pr mature. They
in in shcr tha. the policy Of deception is no longer
elective, and they now resort TO the novel device of
ruth and caneOr This eKgeaisnt will serve Their
ends 10 no better sdvanisgs truthful presentation
of the spirit zeal sni patriotism displayed BY our
ant sollers il their spontaneous resolves to see tie
W4r terminate N independence, VIII not be found
compatible with the augmentation Ct their army to q
standard Cf.rng guarantees Of such results ts they
Eould fain hope to reslz, The spectacle Of gallant
host Of veterans, reinforced by many thousands,
auimaed BIZ motives Of indep nden6e and self
protection against barbarous hords of mercenary
yagabonds, viii be found very effective in cooling down
he fighting aidor OF the Yankees. The prospect Of
70 .zng rich sIOs in the shape of Southern larm', is
last diminishing, ard the Cfset Of large bountes Sc
cured before hand seems to be little regarded. Every
motive tia, inevitable success coud furnish has 6sap
oeared and With it every spark Of that spurious and
,pheueral patriotism which served Lincoln wel at the
inception CT this war.
Dependency is Papably written in the utter want OF
eaergy payed by the Yankee Congress- aud the cores
oadng apathy tha; evidently psrvadCs the public mind Of
be North in reference 10 the var The seton of Con-
gsess il rather Of reIrograde character, betOkening
omewAai such indifference a ioFegone conviction Of
defeat would occasion So far, they Lave not taken
single sep promising The least hope OF in the
lnrg eamra;sn. They are merely enactiug schemes
Tor the raising Of an army which have heretofore proved
utterly abortive. Il might be expected that
sure would be conceived upon the experience of the
nef6ceaey Of former ones which would secure results
.dsqua,e - the peculiar needs occasioned by tho
expiration Of the terms OF the three yeas men. But
~ The height Of their legislative achievements reaches
only to the point of former expsdents with the novel
feature of making exemption BY Communication effective
Tor period of three years. the full term Of service
contemplated BY tie new draft.
w, noticed IN an article, few days ago, that the
ear Of Oredng popular favor would restrain the Black
Republicans in the enforcement of an efficient draft
choice had to be made between the duty of reinfOrc
ng the army to the standard OF efficiency, and the
Ipsdienoy Of a superficial and loose enforcement of
eonscrp. law, VII ca would no. risk the forfeiture Of
. , uar favor The latter il seems, has been chosen
a We Predicted. The spOils of ofh,s offer stronger
mptatOn to tia. corrupt patty, than in this
var. Il is ttrange, that while tie Abolition press for
che irst time, present the hue magnitude of the task
be achieved, and tie stupsndOus Efforts necessary
is accomplishment the eel Of the authorities is rather
oh rwise They SEEM in facs to proceed in an invere
raiiO 10 tho grea. work pictured for the army in t:
oning campaign. When the reb sllion understood
be its ltt leg the case at the opening Of
avery campaign, tho energy displayed vastly in
xsess Of the supposed task TO be encountered Mighty
.rmes were rising up, as if b. magic, and "ninety
lays" OeyOad peradvenlure, to Wtless the FINAL
contamination OF legal and constitutional ascendancy
jvsr rebellion and wicked treason. Now tha! this
Achievement is found to be bss with serious hazr and
Id to involve mighty GJrt an evident lack of zeal
manifested, which only be accounted for in fore
gone conviction Of the hOpe5ssnCsI Of any further
raordnary ,ffoIt to ,ffec. the ebjse. in view.
This hetokens in our estimation, purpose to end
ais var by other means than continued resort TO
A. ms. The absence of all popular warIke displays,
uoh as has marked the opening Of past campaigns,
significant Of the waning faith Of the peoll e In the
iromis,d conquest Of the South. Not single popular
manifestation has occurred give seIat o the grand
inal movement in the work Of subjugation. No high
losn resolutions now herald the renewed determination
If ,he people to cOnqur Gle. No warning echoes
each Congress from the great sources Of power to give
see. TO the popular yearnings for subugaton BY Wig
rOus enac.mens cOnOrmlble to tie needs Of the crisis
and the enthusiastic and determined spirit Of the masses
All is flat mono,onous and apathetic. Not a siga of
gorous life IS visible either in the halls OF legislation
Independence Square, the Cooper Institute FAneui
Isl Peace to- day is the prominent and, We might
uost say, the a-pervAdng sentiment Of the North,
ne truth we're known. Il is this conviction on the
ar Of Gengrss that begets the existing apathy in hat
quarter Policy eujons Difference TO this sentiment
Il the Presidential election more remote, the
disregard Of the popular will which has marked the
legislation for the past three years. would still be
manifested To run counter to the popular will nov,
would be to rk the oss OF the spois, which
Important 10 the Black republicans than the pursuit OF
doubtful sua, involving in is maintenance a resort
o means the moss unpopular and the most OdiOus in
the present temper Of the Northern mind.
As the di proportion aud neieency of Northern pre-
o,raions relatively 10 ours shall become developed the
peace endsncy, which the Northern mind is manfesy
assuming, viii rapidly ataa to the reasoning standard
We venture the prediction, tina. by June July next,
when the abortive efforts now being made to recupe
rate the army shall display themselves, peace PrOpos-
lions from the South will b acceptable IL offered. The
policy of Seward, in an sxgency Of this Sort rapid
" maturing under the inAusnc Of resctionary popuas
niment, viii be to intimate to the leading foreign
powers through his Minister'S willingness to treat tor
peace in tho hope Of securing better terms than would
be accorded him under conviction of his inability
oi,,g tho mar anv further Yankee prida will hardly
brock the idea Of forcble submission to our terms; and
external influences win be put in active play to aVest
the shame Of such submission. However, the popular
mind being reconcied TO peace he can with safety Ven
.urs upon negotiations brought about through foreign