The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-19

great mlsCDncePblVl feiatlfs 70 tAe y EAtcu
States, its extent and resources; and also
of the character, habits, designs and
opinions Of It's people; and this misoOn-
ception has given rise 10 By far the great
er number Of the blundeTs which have
BEEN published by the Leading papers,
boin of Great British snd the Continent.
Some Of Che journals, friendly to our
success, in this struggle with The rebels,
have been highly gratifisd in discovering
that they had erred; apd they have as
siduously studied with view of forming
correct judgment, regarding our situa-
ton and sffsirs.
But by far the greater number are cur
enemies; and they cling 10 their original
errors, doubtless conceived through igno-
rance, because to remove them, would be
TO dispel Che pleasing illusions which
they have been hugging. They could not
at frat conceive Of a conquest, covering
10000 miles Of territory, inhabited By
s.OO0,O 900 Of people; history had furnish
cd no parallel; and Americans were not
the men to Hmake history"
During the progress of tae war, many
startling Developments have been made;
naval battles have been fought thOus-
and miles from the sea; twelve feet walls
have been found inadequate to resist ar
tilIery; while iron-clsds have been proven
capable Of running blockade of BATE
ries mounted with cannon of the new
est and most approved pattern; al these
things the Times acknowledged, and said
that under such circumstances, it WAS
difficult to form any calculations, based
upon data originally recognized as sound,
and even infallibls.
But while il has st length expressed
its uaWilliDgness to make further PRE-
dictions IS TO military movements, it
presents, what it believes TO be an irref-
utable argument against the possibility
of restoring the Union; or of holding
the rebel States in any other attitude
than that of subjugated provinces, in case
the Union armies were successful. 1t
says, in reply to the speech Of Mr.. Glib.
son:
IL may be, although we do not expect
4
quail 10 the occasion, and may grow tired
Of making sacrifices. This is the only
chance In Mr. Gibson's favor. If this
should turn up, the southerners would
prove themselves g smaller hearted race
than were their fathers, and inferior even
TO Spaninrds and Italians, and Oircss-
slams and Poles, All of whom have been
often conquered, but never tanned TO sub
mission. Unless, however, they should
voluntarily abandon their enterprise,
conquest and subsection are impossibili-
Ties. We do not set off in balance the
chances of military success. We will
admit, If Mr.. Gibson wishes il, that the
northoTners are as mach stronger in re-
sources of men and money than the
southefners as Englsnd in 1775, when
the first bloed was shed at Lexington,
was stronger in military power than the
scattered population Of two millions and
3 half of colonists; as much stronger
also. if Mr.. Miner Gibson so wishes il,
as Napoleon l. was stronger in 1903 than
the guerrilla leaders of Spain. But we
may admit all this-Wkich, Of course, is
not 10 be admitted in the strict interest
Of trutb--and we must still think that
all human probability is opposed to Mr.
Gibson's expectations of the late Ameri-
can Republic.
But the Times will find its data, in
this respect as deficient as in all others
The eases cited are by no means parallel;
Spain, Poland and Italy, were dense
II populated countries; their soil, under
the then existing state Of agricultural
knowledge, could not sustain the influx
of new population; their conquerors
were not migratory people; and had
they been, and had there been room,
there would have been no homogenity
between Frank and Spaniard, Austrian
and italian, from which new ties would
grow up, and new political and social
ideas gain ascendency. The conquesis
of these countries were merely efforts to
give the people new masters to change
dynasties, CT overthrow royal houses;
but in our case everything is different.
There is not a revOlted State, but which
could sustain at least five times its present
population the Americans are migrate
az race: and will soon fill up an srsa from
which The system of slavery has exclud-
ed them; and between The people of the
North and the South there exists but
eingle diversity; and that is relative to
slavery aud above all, in every South
ern State, there is strong Union senti-
ment, as has been exhibited in Arksn-
sas, Louisiana and Tennessee; and al
that is needed, is TO protect and en-
courage this.
The work Of sfiiliaiisn is going on
with 3 rApidity, which no one expected
il say proof were wanting on this
score, the weekly lists Of marriage IL
censes published in the various papers in
the South, would supply it.
Again, 1t is not the intention Of the
Government TO subiugste the Southern
people, in the sense that term is used in
Europe; they have resisted the law,
and the war WAS waged to re-establish
its supremacy; and If in the course Of
che prolonged struggle, measures Of =
harsh character were necessary, those
who commenced the war were response
bic.
All we have TO do is 10 weaken the
power Of the rebel armies; when that is
done, the people will gladly accept the
Presidents Amnesty, and become good
citizens once more.
Whst viii ne the Resultt
Gov. johnson has gone TO Washing
ington, doubtless 10 obtain instructions
-.1.t;-. - sha rccx0.ns1et;c., - -