The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-16
Important Debate In the Rebel Con-
Ertas.

Important Debate ia the RsBsI Con-
grtss.
On the Both Of January, = bill came
up for discussion in the Rebel Congress,
which proposed TO exempt planters, and
producers, under certain circumstances,
from the wholesale CONSUMPTION which is
now SO ruthlessly enforced throughout
Dixie. The remarks of members, on the
subject are Of the highest importance as
= key 10 The hopes, and the fears, The
strength and the weakness, Of our enc
mics.
Speaking Of the strength Of the Rebel
army, Mr.. Smith Of North Carolins said:
We had at this time 100000 men on
our muster rolls. How many were actu-
ally in the field, be was unable to state;
probably it was that one half were not
there, and it was well known that we
were unable 10 feed the fractional part
who were in the field. If, how
ever, there we're haif-if 200. 600 should
require the possible seizure Of one
half Of the provisions Of the coun-
trJ-where, be would ask, wers the
means to feed the ten times that number
who remained ct home? Private appeals
were daily coming TO the members of
Congress from soldiers in the army, speak
ing Of the suffering at home; how many
of their families are wanting the neces-
saries of life, when they sre unable to
send them any part of their scsnt pay
how many asking for relief 10 the farming
interests how some, stimulated by the
prospect of starvation st home, and the
deficiency Of food 10 the army. are driv-
en- to despair and desertion. With these
things constantly before it, would Con-
gress still break down aud cripple the
limited resources that were left Us TO
carry on this war?
Aside from the important admission
thAt the rebels are sorely pinched for
food, we have another of6qual importance
that more than half of the rebel army
has deserted and that those who remain
do notexceed 200 000neu, if they reache
those figures. The great difficulty has
been, that, on account Of the neglect of
our Government to seize East Tennessee,
this army conld be concentrated at any
one threatened point so as to admit a
stubborn, and two frequently successful,
resistance to cur advance. The con-
tiuued neglect TO seize and hold Weldon,
SLOWS this to be partially, but only par
tally and imperfectly, done now.
But 10 the debate. Mr.. Chambers Of
Virginia, favored putting everybody in
the field. lie said:
We could, he believed, feed double two
hundred thousand men in the field /; and
If we could not then the sooner we made
terms with Abraham Lincoln the better
for Us. We must have more than two
hundred thousand men in the field next
Spring; we have now al the supplies we
will have then, for the farmers produc-
tons won't be available until next Win
ter. Everybody admits and expects that
next Spring will be the worst and the
heaviest and most decisive campaign that
will occur, and yet there is demand for
more exemption.
This talk Of submissions forbidden
phrase for two years and hslf--has
become quite common in Dixie indeed,
there is scarcely . prominent politician
but has some favOrite theory about this
war, which he regards as absolutely es-
sential to success, snd he does not hes
itate to declare that he prefers submits
sion to The adoption of any other. Well
that is something.
Other members took part in the de-
bate. Mr.. GOOde, of Virginia, was able
to state, upon the best authority, that in
reply TO inquiries propounded them by
Col. Preston, Chief of the Conscript Bu-
reau, all Of the enrolling officers of the
State, who were assembled q few days
ago, said that the State could not stand
another draft.
Mr.. HolcOmb, Of Va, said:
By the bill of which this was an
amendment, the entire agricultural pop
ulation would be put in the army, and
that in 9 country whose agricultural
population greatly outbslanoss that Of
the cities and towns. Napoleon, in the
ruthless CONSUMPTION which he inflicted
on France, never went above the age of
thirty years. We proposed TO put In AL,
Of every age, aud when it was known
that IL was precarious matter to sup
plv, from week to week, the army in the
field. Where was the weak point of the
enemy? Certainly not in want of pro-
visions. It was not probable, then, that
= decisive victory could be fought this
Spring, and no such desperate hope
should be allowed to animate us to such
desperate measures as that of putting
everybody in the army. The weak point
of the enemy was in its financial con-
diti6n. It was our policy TO protract the
war. Time and distance were our great
allies. We must remember that, in ref
erence 10 this State at least, our last
crops were far below the average. Our
space had been contracted, and all must
now be devoted to the production Of
provisions for the next year. Take away
the men, and starvation at home and ruin
in the army would be, in his opinion, the
inevitable result.
The reference to our finances is worthy
Of Vanity Fsir--sO good joke is it. If
the finances Of the North are in apreca-
rious condition, what shall we say of
those of the rebels?
Mr.. Conrad, of Louisiana, attempted
TO ridiculs the theory Of starvation, and
related astOry; but he evidently didn't
see the point. he said that the South
''had gotten so used to starving, in fact,
that like the Irishman's horse, we will
soon be able to live on nothing"
A VoIoR.-Wben the horse died.
daughter ard merriment at the gen.
tleman's unattended misapploatiOn Of
the illustration.
The honorable member Immediately
subsidized, after that effort.
Mr.. McRae, of Mississippi, said:
The most certain way Of feeding the
army was 10 increase its numbers in the
field. The insuficiency existed because
there were so many Of the enemy with
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