Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-03-29
The Country.

A gentleman who bad been absent some sixteen
months from this city portion Of the time in foreign
countries EXPIRE sed bis surprise TO u.s. on Bis recent
return, at seeing the people so well apPareled. They
were better dressed than when he Left aud as well as
any people be had seen during his absence. The re
mark we believe to be applicable to the peOPls Of
al parts Of the COnfedsracy the inhabitants Of
Riehmond. The army certainly never better clad
nor fed and never in higher physical condition than al
present They have passed the late winter with more
comfort and come out Of h 10 better plight than either
Of the two previous. TIE people have been compelled
to give up some Injuries aud the condition Of the very
poor maJ have been Somewhat harder than usual but tie
small ss Of actual sufferers for want Of the nCOassares
Of life Is not believed to have been much, il any, in
creased. And this al the end Of the third year Of
gigantic war in which the chisfaim to have been
to sarVe Us into submission BY not only cutting O our
intercourse with ether countries, but by the most
sweeping aRd bsrbarous destruction Of the means Of
subsistsncel Very many OF people, Il ia true, have
been subjected to severe har1ships and prVaons by
the actual presence aud cruel conduct Of the enemy
but the country large far from exhibiting signs Of
exhaustion nov better able TO wage var than it has
ever been Instead Of growing weaker We have grown
Stronger Our army never more capable OF q aking
good our deferee and DO easily maintained at lie
present standard Of nyinoibiity. Our navy has in.
creased slowly il is true, but still increased uut t has
become sufficiently formidable in the eyes Of the
my to have inflicted the most serious indirect
injury upon their great commercial and shipping interest
TIE Millions of the enemy's property that our cruisers
have destroyed at make but small figure by hesds
Of that inoalcuable loss they have sustained from the
embargo put on maritime operations through fear Of
our Alabamas aud FlOFida aud from the transfers they
have been compelled TO make of their bottoms to the
protection Of the British Gag. But beyond this We
have reason to hope that the COnfedersts navy W
long receive sccessOns thas win disturb the tranquil
lily Of their blookadng squadrons aud test the STAN
Of fleets that figure largely on paper. In work
shops and factories for the manufacture Of materel Of
war, a. well as Of clothing, machinery and other
ssutsls 10 the military VgOr and personal We-beng Ct
= people, making satisfactory progress. Il is no
longer q question whether are able 70 provide for
ourselves she requisites OF life and the means Of re- i
ing aggression. We began with almost nothing, and
through three years Of the trial that pie
we're ever subjected TO- have not only staunehy held
our own, bus steadily improved. II there we're ever
reasonable question whether could be subjagatsd
h has ceased TO DISTURB the mind o. even the mos. mor
Gus and responding We have shown capacity 10 resist
and beat back the powerful armies the enemy an
send against We have been able not only to feed
our own troops aud people, but 70 supply in a great
measure the subsistence OF the enemy, and dispense
with the provisions they have destroyed. We are
learning h1W manufacture everything needu for the
pursuits Of peace and The demands Of war. The sp rt
Of our people Is high, CHEEKY, and nquera
bic a. Il ever vas. The eoEardly do not talk Of
surrender. The mOst hopeless do not think OF failure
We have BY bold and heroic effort mastered the 6nan
oa troubles into which had heedessly run We have
provided the Of keeping the army as long a. the
war may las, charged with the full fighting power of
the country. Our agdculturss have solved the prob
lsm Of food Thousands Of our laborers have been
kidnapped but the wonderful prol6onsss Of the race
has nearly or quite kept up the stock. We have on
hA ID yet cotton enough 10 make ,stess Of the
commercial world and smooth all difficulties of finance
and public debt whenever peace shall come. Patience
OBS auey and hard blows viii do the rest