Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-02-23


soft aud sweet as the vhispsrngs Of an angels voice.
We listen With eager for the faintest echo Oh us
fahery footballs upon our doorwsy5 as II seeks 70 re-
enter iis accustomed haunts. While the IMAGINATION
labors and sgonizss with the thought bright scene
around VA The roar of the cannon Is hushed;
tie cangour of arms is heard 10 more bcnhres blaze
ON every hilltop and the notes of congratulauon
and rejoicing vbra.e on every breeze Inc son
ia restored to bis mother; the brctner 10 MS ionu
sister and the bridegroom 10 his long-lost prioe-
The family circle is reunited, and beams from io.e.
LIGHTED ewes shed hallowed brightness through every
household. The scene charms and melts the nearI-
Ru, bloody hand suddenly stretched forth to mar ts
bsau.y-t vanshcs away, and leaves IN ls steao INC
dread realities of war. Honorable pace We all
desire. Blu. our enemy will not allow Us tmh-
There is another sort OF peace tnat euomlsslon
would give US. IL is the peace that waits on thS
footsteps of the o3nqueror the peace that was pro-
claimed In that famous announcement-"Pedee rstgns
in Warsav" Ii is peace whose nlde't sttnoute is
chesress endless, hopeless slavery. Better anything
than thi Aye, there is yet ano1her SORT Vi peace,
vbicb IA GREATLY to be preferred to 1.-THE peace OF the
charnel house the silence OF the grave FltJ
| is sometimes expressed for those, who are mark
ed out in case of the success Of enemies 10 De tried
and executed for treason. In that event. their ate 10
nv opinion ia the most TO 6e depored Far DETER
the gaIows the stake anything rather than slavery to
ration whose chief aad representative men are But
Ter Sckles Sumner and the like. What brave and
m nlv heart ia there ha would not from the height OF
the gibbet, look down wish pity aud contempt upon
those mean aod abect wetches, who have turned from
the cause of their own injured Suh because II appear
ed weak and, by mean compliance and sycophantic
ssryty, have sought to commend themselves to the
tyraut who wishes to enslave US. Washington IN
chains would have looked with contempt upon
Arnold in purple Think of Saonewall jackson in
his bloody shroud and then think oil Andre" Johnson
in his pride of power!
But WY speak of sutjugation now? What is there,
in our present condition. TO make such an event in the
least degree probable? We have resisted the utmost
power of the enemy for three years, and are as
upsubdued as everl Contrast ou' present condition
with what it was two years ago. when This Congress
opened and what is there to discourage u5f
The cad reverse at Spring Mill Fishing Creek, was
then fresh in our mnds Roanoke disaster had just
occurred; Forts Henry and Donelson had just fallen;
the coming calamites at Nashville and New Orleans
were already sendirg forward the fatal omen that her
aided their approach: and the army of Northern Vir-
GINA short lime before buoyant with hope and re-
sulendent with SUCCESS, now weak and wasted, we're
actually preparing to fall back upon Redmond.
Who does not remember that dark and dismal 22i
of February on which the President inaugurated-
with thick clouds overhead, lis rain dripping care
essy down. and the earnest anxious couatensnces OF
the assembled mutudel Gloom rested on everything,
but more especially Ga the minds OF the people.
Since then we have lost much territory and several
srorg points OF defence, but consider what We have
gaiued
We have learned 10 great degree to live within cur
selves aud within ourselves to maintain and support
our armies. We have learned to bear priVation and
suffering for the rake Of our The hearts OF our
people have become practsed In the vcsstudes OF war;
pleased with success bat steady under m'sfoltunes
High courage always the characteristic OF our
people, We fast acquiring fortitude aud perss-
vefRnce also. These, united constitute the highest
type Of military character.
Look too to the change in the condition of our SOL
diers Then they were mostly undisoplined recruits,
ntsd in ho durat nj he
restraint and anxious to return TO their homes.
Now they are mostly Welltrained vetera 5, Injured 10
the service pricised in arms, and having confidence
both in themselves and their ea.Crs Then some were
actually laying down their arms aud quit ig the field in
the face of the foe. Now there Ia fierce emulation
among them who shall be foremost in -onlisting Tor the
war.
Seeak to them now Of approaching conflict, and the
wild shou: that rings along their ranke and ascends 10
Heaven gives token OF the desperate vaIor with which,
in the approaching campaign, they will rush upon the
mercensries who oppose them.
With such cause TO defend, sush soldiers to dafeld
H. and Just God ruling all, subjugltion can never
come While the hearts of our people are Iue-never!
never!
IT. ia vain effort to save their property, or in mad
spirit Of revenge Tor which they do rot under
stand do not RELISH people shouli relax their eff
forts and bow their necks, OF course the yoke would be
placed upon them. Bat if trey resolved TO strug lie
on through all The shifting phsseS Of fortuneto bear
all aud suffer all for the cluseto give money, blood,
life anything that may be necessary-our ultimate tr
umph s 10 my judgment as sure ss the coming OF te
morroWs sun. Bur, why doubt the people Cur cause
has thus far been borne up their loyal and steadss
hearts ss teadfast iloya as any smla CONFUSION
ever before displayed. Why should they now hefi-
tate
Our foes have not displayed new qualities of magua-
nity and great-aeartedness calculated to
to their rule 0u honor is no: less dear to Our
torn affections ald ruined hopes plead not in behalf OF
our spoilers
No. The people are resolved They are selfdevoted
They will make all needfu sacrifices. Tne fires of in
dependence are burning brightly in their bosoms.
Civil convusons of this kind usually give birth pro-
dges Of military and civil greatness; but If there have
been fewer instances OF great individual superiority in
this instance than in Others it is perhaps because he
qualities of true greatness ere now more universally
diHused throughout the mass OF the people. We have
not ROW hero here and hero there. Every village,
and every hamlet, and almost every homestead,
has It's hero Qualities Of herois havo found their way
into the bosoms of the softer Sex and dare not ii
they would, be otherwise than brave and true.
Go forth Their, fellow members, al by word and deed
stimulate their ZEAL their resolution, give them
confidence in tier rulers well in their csuse, sn
fan the fires OF Independence, till 10 their broad brgh:
light every cty, and village, and hamlet every palace
and cottage and howell shall glow and CLEAN and redden
like a very furnace of patriotic atdor.
Victory sits far off her mcRntlin throne. Between
US and her there may be dees be passed. avnes to
be crossed cumhDg lodges 20 be surmounted that may
break beceath feet aud throw us back But if not
outstanding ALL we will move With steady step and
determined purpose, all these difficulties may be
come, and soon, aye, sooner than think, shall
seize her on her high seat bring her home ourselves
aad enIhrone he. fortunes for long years to
come.
Now, one word as to ourselves. thank you earnest
" and cordially for the kindness with which you have
uniormy sustained me in the dischsrge of the respon
sibe and difficult duties with which have been charged
duties more responsible aud difficult than many peo
pie imagine. THANK you especially for the kind tes;i-
mony which you last evening bore unanimously to the
faithluness of my eorts and only regret that those
efforts have not been sustained by greater Of
ability on my part
And now, standing here in this presence, with my
hand upon my heart aud my face uptted to Heaven,
protest that in the performance OF my do les Speak
of this House, have beel sc.uated by Partially,