The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-08-23
AUGUST "a, 1864


TUESDAY MORNING AUGUST ~, 1864
There is a class Of persons in every community
In the Confederate States well as elsewhere. IN
the State Of Virginia we'll in the rest OF the Con-
fctcratc States, In Richmond as well in the resi-
Of virginia-whose souls live but in their property
Indeed, such rersonsif they really have any soul.
at all-think them much less worth saving thar
their goods ehattels and real estate. They are be-
lieved, for the moss part, seldom never to hay.
bent knee in alteration Of their Creator; the,
would not only bend both knees, but would wallov
in the miro, and kiss the feet Of any successful in
vadcr, to preserve that which il more precious ts
them than honor and country, wife, children and
friends These the men who first start the cry
Of Scompromise" and " armistice' Fromthem it Is
afterwards taken up by others who do no. reflect and
at last it becomes extensive, because everybody
really tired Of the war, and very few really
know what armistiee and compromise imply in such
q situation as ours. 1t is the greatest mistake in
the world to suppose that there are many people
who hold obstinstciy their own opinions There
are great many who obstinately stick 10 the opia-
ssas Of others; bat the number Of those who form
opinions for themselves is exceedingly small. Men,
the aggregate, do not love the trouble Of think
ing, and viii be thankful to any who will make
CUT their opinions for them, and hand them
over to be used at second hand. The large
majority of those who are now crying for an ar
mistice mean well, but know not what they are
talking about. They are patriotic and have done
their full share in the war But they have generally
imbibed their opinions from that class TO which
have alluded that class which, in thinking about
fhiswar, attach other idea to it than that of the
degree in which it may affect their property They
would deliver up the town tomorrow to Grant, or
anybody else, provided he would give sufficient
security that he would them from loss The
Honor Of the Country is nothing to them Its future
welfare, save in far as it is connected with
their possessions, is with them a matter scarcely
worthy a moments consideration. They are for
any terms that will ave their money, and their
lands, and their goods they not how disgraccf
they may be, or how destructive of the liberty and
happiness of their countrymen
Yet even men Of the character we have endea
vored to describe-occupied they arc with their
solitary idsa-n they were not blinded by the sug-
ssstions Of their own selfish fears-misht see one
would think, the danger Of the policy which they
propose for adoption. The Yankees, too, are a one
idsaed people Their one idea is the subugation of
this Confederacy, the confscation of its property
ths reduction Of its people to poverty, the
establishment OF negro superiority, the enslavc-
msut of the whites TO the negro race tn,
forcing OF mothers and sisters, and daughters
to receive their slaves gentlemen entitled to con-
sideration-the degradation of our people, in /
word, in every possible way. Upon this subject /
they all mad. They believe that they are able |
to bring about this oonsummation. They believe /
hats mai of iS adpto ,niD
with them All the checks they have received have
this source, Those hopes have been considerably
damped by the results of the campaign in Virginia,
it is true but they still live and ara ready to burst
into fame upon the slightest breath Of encourage
msnt. The slaughter OF Grants army caused
momentary detection; but the triding affair at |
Noorefeld the victory of the Kearsarge over the
Alabama, the defeat of our little squadron at Mo-
BILE and the capture of Fort Gaines, were sufficient
10 dssipate all dependency and make the whole ma
ton as hopeful and as boastful as ever. The pine
nomenon is easily explained. They have fixed their
eyes and their affections upon the lands and wealth
Of tho South; and they find it almost impossible |
to ressn dreams so full Of everything that is charm
ing to the imagination OF people whose avarice |
IS rs boundless and as bottomless as the all-d,-
Vouring PIT OF Tophet. The only way to disenchant
hem Is to oppose barrier Of steel to the consume
nation OF their wishes to show a stern and I'M |
bending purpose to repel them at all hazards and
1t all times to let them see that how great so ever
he treasure the danger is greater still 10 bring the
tanning sword full in their view whenever their |
'yes wander to the Paradise beyond Instead Of
long this, We find Persons in our midst CRYING ont
atlnistlce, ar1nistice,' thereby neutralsing in
moment, all that General Lee and his army have |
'een doing for the last three months Can any,
hung be more encouraging to the Yankee. who ,
as almost begun to despair of ever seeing his vision
eonnscated lands and captive white women con-
erted into reality! He has always been assured
hat ho had friends in our camps. Could ANYTHING
onvince him more thoroughly that he has not be-
eved without cause
what DO we want arlnstice for Is it that |
'rant may have leisure recruit and re-organze his
battered ranks Is it that Lincoln NAV have SOL
iers to control the elections within his dominions
. 1t that the new levy of half million may be
thoroughly disciplined before it be brought into the
cid, and thereby be the better suited to his purpose
trampling out the life of our liberties 1sit that
sw iron-clads may be built, new engines of de-
ruchon be invented, new arms DO imported from
e arsenals of Europe Is it that at the end of the
I'M we may find ourselves surrounded by bayo- |
It's, blockaded by aoets, beset in every quar-
of our country, that We can no longer offer even
@ show of resistance! We can see no other result
an this for it does not seem that the fleets and
mics are to be withdrawn.