Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-02-01
THE COEsFITUTIOE-STATR Rights.
RICHMOND WHlG.
MONDAY MORNING, FBB.l, 1864.
snnnlias for the Army.


It may be the first duty Of tie Government to raise an
army. It is scarcely less imperative duty 70 ieeo
that army. The present system for supplying 1t oy
impressments has proved failure. How lar neon
psens agents may have contributed to the miscarriage
il i, not now our purpose to inquire Is our conVe
ton that the system itself is inherently vicious, and
would have failed in the most skful hands. The very
first intmation Of coercion produced visible eff Ct
upon the feelings OF all people towards the author'
ties Bsf9re thai the disposition was universal to sell
AZ low prices, AID in many clses, even to give the
Government whatever was needed Bui when the
threat of compulson was promulgated, 1t impaired
q IN to the popular heart. People drew back; they
had been willing to give; they were indignant and hu-
inflated a. the thought of being plundered by their
own Governments. Some quit predicting, others cur
allied tboi, produc ion AMI others again secreted what
tbsy had and none were forward in off5Trg supplies
totha Government bu. those who had nothing to dis
rose Of TIE system proceeded the principle Of g-
norinc that most powerful samulant to human exer-
ion-sef interest and at the same time discouraged
he commendAbls pride which flows from grathsd
ee erosity. s;a.esmen basing legislation on such
principle could expect nothing but failure and the de-
served ridicule Of M kind. What human nature and
history taught US to expec has been fully realized in
,be rtsal.. From the very beginning Of coercion, the
,mb.lassnents of the COmmissary Department have
corsaaLy increased IlvccatiOns to patriotism are 70
l3rrsr OF avail Patriotism turns out to be VIA. all
men of sense knew to b. nothing but another name
Tor enlarged selfshness.
Bu. the army mus; be fed; and we are happy in
gowug that there Plan that has the sanction OF very
hish authority in the amy, which will not only deliver
the country from this Odous system of fraul, injustice
AID violence but has the inappreciabe merit of secur-
ng aouadsut supplies for the army. The plan is so
simple that it is Only wonderful that it has not long
since been resored 10 aud persisently adhered to. Il
consists simply in issuing proposals for contracts for
army supplies to the lowest bidder, to be paid for in
cotton and tobacco These two articles most nearly APP
o,oximate the value OF specie of any have. They
aor lie iners contrib ting not an ioa to our security,
ous rather aggrava:il danger by provoking the
odi,y of our fees They articles of universal de-
nsnd all the void is hungaring for them aud they
,,n be made instrumental in extracting the Of
comfort and saey 20 Gus armies from any quarter Of
sh, world And while they thus give relief to our sol
Lsrs, they will impars rsnewed'lie, vgour and bouy
lncy 70 the farmers of land depressed and diseOn
soted by the hated presence and unequal eKaeons OF
the press gang.
The idea that "coston king MAJ be soothing to the
lL.onal vaLity. Bat it il subject to conditions.
Ia the hands OF great poser like EOgand and France,
possessed OF vast ma acturing establishments it would
o. an imp ement of Tremendous force, aud might really
co fer sup-eAacy. 5u; with Us, who had no. in the
egnnisg o! the war DOZEN ml1ufacores, it is inca
bic Of aspiring to imperial functions. IL somewhat
mbls the case Of ship il storm, where the cargo
"a throEn overheard to save the vessel or OF au i'm
osred estate, where the inheritance is sacrificed to
DR. serve the life interest Co.On cannot give us en-
o,re Just at this tme bus it US fom present
destruction, and pave the way to future dominion.
LIT Congress repeal all impressment laws, deliver
re country from the oppression and shams ef marau-
ling officers, and an enls hened age from the scandal
attempting the sbsurdity regulate tbe prices of the
various products Of human abOur Lsl the simple aud
natural ezpedent wo have suggested be tried. Let the
-es. heads in the army be consulted il regard to lis
d ae.ica5il.y aud ellie ency. We believe its virtu.s
VII e demOnstra ed by haPpy results even before the
lose of the present. session Of Congress- Amorg the
vey first good fuits may anticipate will be that both
country and army VII be gAddsned-the first By the
absence ald the latter by toe presence Of two new bril-
a, ola. Of abe-bodied heroes.