The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-10-18

the North leave no doubt with regard to
the reelection of Lincoln. For our own
part, We arc in no way disconnected or
disappointed, for We have never, for one
moment, entertained doubt that the re-
suit would be precisely such as it is now
evident to all that it must be- Nor, To
speak the truth, are we displeased with
the issue. We have always regarded
Mcclellan As tho most dangerous man
Tor the Contederacy that could possibly
have been put in nomination for the
Northern Presidency nor do We see any
reason now to doubt that cur opinion
was well founded He has proclaimed
himself Il war candidate, although placed
by his friends upon n peace platform.
lie avows, at the risk of losing many
votes, his determination to prosecute the
war 10 the restoration of the Union. He
avows his determination, if elected, to
place the prosecution Of hostilties upon
u footing consistent with the usages of
civilized nations. Had he been elected,
there is every probability that the policy
of armistices and peace conventions-thc
most dangerous policy that could posi-
bly, have been inaugurated for our cause
would have been pushed to consumma-
ton. Besides all this, he is man of
large military experience, and knows far
better than Lincoln how to handle the
immense forces placed at the command
of President of the United States. We
are gratified, then, at the escape we
think We have made. 1t might have
been infinitely worse. We are, indeed,
confident that it would have been.
We now arc pretty sure Of what we
have to expect. Not only is Abraham
Lincoln President of the United States
for the next four years after the 4th of
March, 1866, but he goes in with ma
jority large enough to sustain him in any
atrocity he may mediate The majority
OF the North have pretty clearly de- |
clared themselves well pleased with the
war and with the manner of conducting
it. They endorse all the atrocities of |
Sherman, all the cruelties of Hunter. all |
the crimes of Sheridan, all the murders
OF Butler, all the butchery and barba-
rism Of Grant. The conf1agrations of |
our towns and villages, the deportation |
of our women and children, the starva-
ton of whole populatlons, the instiga
tons of our slaves to murder and rob
berry, an aggravation of all the horrors of
war, in its most horrible aspects, where
the passions are left entirely without
and every appliance is used to
them, until, by their indul-
gence, men become devils-all these
things, the virtuous, intelligent, civilized,
christian, religious North-the heirs of
the best government the sun ever shone
npon-have deliberately approved of as
applied to US. And We accept the ap-
Indeed, there is no way of I
escape, did we even desire to avoid the
ISSUE. There can be no shutting in the |
ranks now. Every man must know his |
place, and must keep it. The issue is
not peace or war, but freedom or slavery,
existence or determination.
1t is best for the people Of the Con
ederacy to understand, once for all, that
heir hopes consist in their arms alone
If victorious, they can command the is
iue; If defeated, the issue will very Ger
AMY command them. They arc con-
ending with an enemy who will listen
o no terms short Of absolute submis-
ion. Let US hear no more cries for
'cace, but let every man make up his
mind to war. We have hitherto been
extremely ayerse to regard the war as
nything more than sort of episode in
ur existence. We must in future look
pom 1t as the main business of our q
ives All our thoughts must turn in j
hat direction, as they have hitherto been
urned upon the means of procuring a ;
livelihood and establishing ourselves in
lie. Everything We do must, from this
ay FORTH have some relation to the con,
uct of the war. Our army must be q
iade regular army; hitherto it has
cen nothing moro than body of vol
nteers. Our cavalry system must be
eiormed. We must give up money {
'aking and devote ourselves to the pur- A
uits that will best assist in carrying on
he war. Better to make few dollars :
'ss Tor the time being, than to make it !
n the benefit of the Yankees. We have
ecome accustomed to hardships and self. i,
email. They will become even easier to
than they are at present. Above
Il, let not our people be deluded by the
ry OF peace 1t has done them an i'm :, o
'ense deal of harm already, and it will a
o them great deal more if they listen
IT. There IS, at present, no prospect I
peace nor will there be as long as the =!
ahkees continue tn halle 4, -