Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-03-20

longs 10 their aud neage aud as Burke long ago
remarked their relation TO the sefye IN contact with
them has intensified the feeling and invested this love OF
liberty with sentiment of personal Wiyege. TO sup.
pose that people with such military political and social
characteristics will voluntarily submit to be ruled by
any other government than of their choice is too
insulting their pride 10 be entertained for moment
And doubt their capacity TO achieve independence and
maintain themselves separate power among the ma
tons OF the earth to close eyes TO all the teachings
Of history-to ignore the proof which our own fore
fathers have stamped upon Us pages-to believe that
human nature has changed that we IRE degenerate
race descendants of revolutionary sires
The appointment by the President OF Generai Lee as
GeneTalin Chief has done much to restore confidence
10 the country and 90 ninpre the army. All eel that
we may safely repose this weghty trust and response
blty that great soldier and devoted patriot All ieei
that may lean him rs our tower OF strength All
feel that his calm courage and steadfast purpose his
mit ny skill and wise Judgment VIII enable MIN to Weld
our armies with the maximum efficiency and strength
May God strengthen him Tor the great task TO Which
eOnidng people have called him
10 provide for caTIylng on The war, Congress
has been compelled 10 impose upon tile country heafy
burthen OF taxation But heavy as u IS, IL ~ not 100
heavy for the country 10 bear and not heavier han our
wants imperatyey demand IL Impossible 70 maintain
the mighty contest in Inch are engaged without vast
expenditures OF money Money can only he raised py
loans or by taxation Gun condton does not ehap US
resort TO the latter We appeal 70 with confidence 20
submit cheerfuy TO the burhens which the defence pi
your country, your homes aud your Deles ehuers me-
cessary To contribute according to his means 10 mat
defence IS much obligation upon the citizen as Is
To peril his lille upon the battlefield
Let u.s. then leowcoantrymen tread the PLAIN path OF
duty No nation that has trOd II faithfully aud iearesy
eys IN the worlds history has stumbled aud fallen ma
tions" says Burse never are lmnrdered-they commit
suicide Let not be guilty Vi The FOLLY and the cme
of edesructiOn Let us show the forttude endurance
and courage belong to race, and neither the
brute urce OF enemy nor the subtle poison Of
his lips can extngulsh the life OF this COniederacy
hreated into il BY the sovereign States which created
IT, ,
The PEOPLE Of the United States becoming weary OF
this war The foreign material for their armies is be-
ginning to fail them. The muerings of discomfort ut
lie prospect further draft upon their home pOpula
ion beginning to be heard IN their great cities The
prospect II indefinitely prolonged ALARMING their
capitalists Public credit must sooner or later collapse
under the burden of expenditures, the magnitude OF which
be most skllul hnancier cannot venture 10 predict The
Debt OF the United states already equal ~ the national
eebl of England winch has been accommodating since tue
revolution Of 1885 The interest ON The debt is six per
cent lille the interest the English debt Is only three
per cent IL has been computed that the interest on the
debt Of the United States together Whthe amount ne
csaTy carry its governments even were the war Al
an end would TALL much short OF live hundred mil
ioLs per ahnum "a affirmed to BE- greater than the
entire annual wealth OF the Northern States W lille a
people in self.delenec may submit cheetuly to any p
tions and suierngs-tO any SACRIFICES ~ ITeaspre aId
OF DOod-theie is limit beg 0nd which country, wa
gmg war of AGGRESSION and conquest Ell not 60 We
cannot stop this war without degradation ruin dlshon
or. uur enemies can have peace at any time by sban
donng their wicked attempt at subjugatOn and al
ing 10 govern ourselves IN accordance with those
great principles Tor which their fathers and ours fought
side by side. .I
Considered therefore in every point of view, it is inn
possible believe that the people OF the Confederate
States will ever incur subjugaton or accept submission
ls the result OF the great struggle IN which
gagged Neither Is it possible 20 believe that these States
competed by long yas Of unust aud Unconstitutional
action towards them by the Northern States. to with
draw from political union with them ever be tempted
by any promises, so-caled guarantees" again TO
unite theinselsss with them under a common govern
en Forced into this revolution by their aitLles dis
M Infft a int Al
ana by the selfish and sectional legislation which they
fastened upon what in the course ofthis has oc
cured TO change opinion 10 their character and
pu pOses The barbary and unrelentng erocity which
mas their conduct ct IT, has excited the in
dignant wonder oi tho world Falsehood duplicy and
mean cunning marked their course in its inauguration
and in its progress every atihce OF low diplomacy and
persistent Misrepresentation has been resorted to by
tAem to lessen us in the estimation Of mankind
our struggle for the right OF self government
which they themselves have always declared 10
he inalienable-has been held up TO the world
A. a contest for the maintenance of African
savery-a purely Stae institution, which neither
the Confederate States government the United States
Government has any CONSTITUTIONAL control To prevent
oregn nations from according 10 US that recognition to
which we were entitled by public law and eveA the very
language of existing treaties recognition which they
have themselves accorded TO other far sen
rer grounds-they have deliberately fasfed accounts
of military operations and our capacity and resources
for continuing the contest war which has been car.
RED on for four years with varying fortunes their
min ,er Of State has again aud again assured foreign
mowers could possibly be wGged by for more than
TWO or three months And after all their insoeni boa ats
of their power to crush they have been coneled To
sort 10 foreign enlstmens and the aning OF our can
nred slaves in order to I'LL up the ranks Of their armies
In spte these practices wink ID at ii not countenanced
BIZ European pOwers-they have practically confessed
their inability 70 yanquisl in regular warfare by the
nhuman policy OF destroying the dwellings the food and
the AGRICULTURAL implements OF combatant pOpn
Iation Thus endeavoring by the starvation of their
wives aud children to break the indomable spirit of our
soldiers.
In the invasion OF soil neither private property
nor age nor SEX has been spared from the rapacity and
brutal ia ssons of their mereenary legions. -. 1.
Xherevey they have passed over the surface of fair
land the backness OF deSoaon has marked their path
and sach baIbarous devastation has been their deysh
boast Public records have been
of learning-puhc and private libraries-pillaged or
burnt and the temples of God sacfiegiously de6led
Felowcounuymen, will you, yousever submit TO
he ruled by such people Can you ever join hands
with them in ateinal union Can you. with all these
things freshly before you-day occurring on your ma
tive soileyer return To political union with these des
poers Of you hones-these yiolators of your wives aud
daughters Never dark crimson stream divides you
which all the skill OF negotiation can never bridge over
The Southern people have determined be free and in
dependent and their 10 tade aud courage do not fail
them il is impossible TO doubt the But there must
haltingnO hesitat,onin the only path that leads
10 the goal We must prove 10 enemy aud prove 10
,lr world that we cannot be conquered We must con-
vince them that though our soil may be oveuun the
faith Of people in the great cause for which they are
contendiug is unbroken-ther determination unchanged
their will invinoble. Let emulate the example Of
the Russian people when invaded by the grand army Of
Napoleon. Let US be wlllnJ ia m9ke and every
ihce aud consider bnt me Offering the altar OF
country By ~ light OF the blazing ruin Of what
had teen proud palace Napoleon read this inscrp
ton, which Rostopchin had affixed to his gate.
"Frenchmen have spent eight years ia embellishing
this 6ence. Here have lived happily in the bosom
OF my fmiy. The inhabitants OF this estate numbering
seventeen HUNDRED and eny persons have Quilted at
your approach and have, with my own hand, fired my
beloved home prevent pollution by your presence .
Shall our Patriotism be colder and more calculating
than that of the subjects OF despotic ruler Have We
less 20 resist less to dets the invading
armies the North than the Russians had TO oppose and
hate the Frencha Our enemies, with b0astfui inso-
ence unparalleled in the history OF modern civilized w
fare haze Threatened not only hut some
them have announced their discrimination, If success
ul in this struggle, II depot entire white population
and supplant it with new population drawn from their
territory and from European countries! lille snoh
threat may we'll excite ridcule and contempt the
deye+h spirit which prompts il mns provide In us an
Indignation that would render the feebest people irwin