Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-17


States are, if the people have the will to
use their strength, in comparatively bet
ter condition to resist it and hurl it back.
Our government has thrown away good
deal; but it has not been able to squander
sll our resources. We can even afford to
take step; it would seem also that we can
afford to dispense with the services of per-
haps the Rblest general in the land; can at.
ford to let him retire to his country dwell
ling Ito plant his cabbages," as Macaulsy
says, and supply his place in the field with
fourth rate leaders whom we desire to erect
into great and immortal commanders. SO
little apprehension have We of any fatal dis
aster or disgrace.
In very sober earnest, we are not in the
least danger of being subjugated, unless
the leading men, who compose the Con-
gress and the Legislatures, are absolutely
resolved upon it. But one thing is to be
truly fesred-the decay of public senti-
ment before the continual spectacle of Ex-
ecutive folly and Legislative subserViency.
Let them, instead of bawling for "conh-
deuce" and doing nothing else, exhibit the
intention of removing the causes Of disas.
ter, and they will see how rapidly the
masses and the armies will respond to their
own return to msnliness and common
sense. We have but to hold to the deter
minstion of freedom, face ourdomestic and
political, as well as our military difficult
ties as fearless men should, aud the Yam
kee power for offence or conquest will col
lapse, the clouds will blow off, and the
heavens be clear again.
no PLACE Oh SAFETY IN TIE seUTH-ooTToN
TO BE BURNED INSTEAD OF STORED AWAY.
PROM the Richmond Examiner, Jan. IL.
The fact that the enemy has found in
Savannah thirty three thousand bales of
cotton, which he has con6scsted to his
own uae, and now employs as a fund for
the subjugation of the South, has an M.
expected consequence in the legislative
movement-to weaken the force of
the law which renders the destruc-
ton of cotton in exposed districts OBJ
ligstory on the military authorities. 1t is
difficult to understand the logic which con-
nects the fact and the proposed amend
ment to the law. One would suppose
that the occasion and event would mani
testify compel the enlargement and rein
forcement of the law: that q class would
be thereto added, requiring under heavy
penalties, the immediate destruction of all
the cotton in such districts, with the vain
attempt to remove it to place Of safety
a place l0hieh is notVhere. In this period
of the the war, when the raids of the enc.
my reach every corner of the land, it
would not be unreasonable to burn up all
the cotton and tobacco in the South not
needed for the government. They can be
ofno use as articles of trade till the block
ade is raised and, before that happens
they may rot, if they do not fall into the
enemy's hands. One bale captured by the
enemy is a greater injury to our cause than
a thousand bales usiess and idle on our
hands. The cotton treasured by specula-
tors in the South is one of the greatest
incentives to invasion of the States which
containi it.
rHR REBELS ON THE RETIREMENT OF BUTLER,
Prom the Richmond Examiner, Jan. Il.
The Confederate readers will learn with
regret that Major General Butler has been
really at length relieved of all command
in the Yankee service, and ordered to re-
port at Lowell, Observation-Disclosures is to
say, to report to his wife. 1t may be mat
ter of taste, but we envy that female the
exclusive possession of her hero; he was a
greater favorite with Contederates Gas a
Yankee commander) than either Grant or
Sherman. He suited us; never since this
war began has he deaa us the slightest
harm in the field though We admit he has
stolen many valuables from ladies in pri-
Vate life.
In all the record of his military career,
from Big Bethel down to the blowing up
of Dutch Gap, he is the man who always
knew best how not to do it. Who didn't
take Richmond by the Southside2 Butler.
Who didn't besiege Fort Fisher after COM
ing SO far with so grand an armada ex-
pressly to do it? Butler. Who didn't even
land from his said armada to see whether
it could be done2 Why, Butler. Who
didn't blow out the head of Dutch GAP?
Butlersgain. Who didn't kill Cock Robin
and didn't strike William Patterson But
Ter still. What trophies, then, does the
Major General bring home to his wife at
LoWellH Trophies indeed, the most sub
stantial; not tattered old battle flags: not
faded Confederate standards, hauled down
from the towers of captured cities-the
weavers of Lowell could at any time make
him better and fresher drapery for his
house than such rags as those; but gold
aud silver aud precious stones, the fruit of
keen trading and speculation at New Or
leans and Norfolk, the product of much
private and public theft throughout those
regions which have enjoyed the advantage
OF his government. These are the genu-
HNeO hoPuieSj anu Sn6 Is no true
iady OF Lowell Who does not prefer them
to glory, which does not pay.
Now that he is actually shelved for his
failure at Wilmington, one begins to feel
certain partisan regard for him as against
Lincoln. How was he to. be expected to
go ashore there upon that bare spit of sand
behind Fort Fisher, and await the attack
OF furious North Carolina brigades, who
would have been very sure to hang him if
they had caught him Does Mr.. Lincoln
please to recollect that General Butler was
outlaWed among Confederates, aud that the
first soldier who could catch him would
never send him to the rear, nor report him
as prisoner, nor embsrrsss the govern
ment in knotty controversies on his ac-
count, but simply kill him like a mad dog 2
Would Lincoln himself have come ashore
that day upon such a footing
But 1t is too late to plead Buffers cause,
or TO regret him. BE is gone from us now;
and perhaps the confederacy may in time
have some consolation for his loss in the
of the exchange of prisoners. and