The Portland daily press., 1865-03-02
The Teachings of War.

habits of domineering acquired from using
the slave-whip; their living without labor;
their contempt for mental employments; all
tended to oyerrate their own prowess and IN
derrate the proves Of the North. ks Z
"THE NORTH WILL NOT FIGHT" was ster-
eotype phrase that was on every Shareholders
tongue, and believed by many "poor whites"
1t formed no inconsiderable part Of the foun-
dation OF their hopes OF success, and induced
them to rush headlong into this wicked rebel
lion against government whose power fell
as gently upon them as the dews Of heaven.
In their blind zeal and chivalric spirit they re-
membered not that which is written upon the
pages of the history of all wars which have
ever deluged this fair earth with blood, and
developed the true character of the people
who live in the higher ATTITUDES and breathe
the bracing and invigorating air of the North.
All these lessons were winked out of sight,
and they blazed away at Sumter! The rever-I
beratiol.s of those rebel guns echoed over the
waters of the harbor, and inspired their chiv-
alrous souls with courage and an enthusiasm
which they fondly believed would strike ter
ror into all northern hearts. The old Union
flag came down, and the great rebellion was
fairly inaugurated amid much rejoicing and
enthusiasm. "The North will not fight" YVES
now repeated from lip to lip with greater en-
phasis, and splendid slave empire doomed in
the distance. A glorious castle in tae air fit
ted across their vision and the Southern
Aoa Ak
and our march is onward and upward" formed
the burden Of their songs and speeches Sup
on this rock will we establish our empire and
the cowardice of the North cannot prevail
against it," was the language Of every slave
holders heart. ,s 81, s1a vsli a5ee haA
The above remarks have been suggested
by. reading "a letter written by Howell
Cobb, dated at Athens, Ga, June Is,
1851" This letter was written to Jacob
Thompson and found in his house by the I'm
ion forces which was burned in retaliation fer
the burning of the house of the late Postmas-
ter, General Blair. The letter Is interesting
as furnishing fresh illustration of that chiv-
aIrous spirit aud supreme folly that plunged
the shareholders into this gigantic rebellion
How oftsnwas it said that one Southerner
was an over-match for five Northernersi This
was the rock on which they made shipwreck
OF their peculiar institution" By such folly
they have been made the unwilling instruments
of sIavery's destruction. IS b 9tla
But let US hear some utterances Of Howell
Cobb in this letter, and we can then better
judge Of their folly and delusion in getting up
such an instruction against our Government.
Now be it known, Cobb was not quite SO rab-
id and iull of fight as Wigfall, Clancy, or
some others, yet he was under the influence of
the same delusion, and had no faith in North
ern pluck aud proves, although he says he
thinks but little of his own predictions, yet
gives utterance to the following: M
Still, am certain The 1ar iciH be short
one The efforts of the Lincolnites will be to
overwhelm us with their superior numbers in
a short campaign, and falling in that, as they
must fail, the war will soon come to an
end-that is, active hostilities, though it may
take some time for formal recognition and
settlement. 1t is impossible for the United
States Treasury to hold out for a protracted
war, and see that they begin already to talk
about United States Bank--that pandcea for
hopeless treasury bankruptcy. NN go
Again he says in order to keep up his own
spirits and fire the hearts of others, that the
planters will sell two-thirds of their cotton for
Confederate bonds and treasury notes and with
such spirit in the country sue can keep up
the soGr foreoerw Besides, he continues, the
people are absolutely demanding direct taxa
ton! There was never anything like it under
the canopy of the whole heaven in his opin-
ion. Such patriotism was never known
before. But the following MASSAGE from his
letter has a peculiar Significance about this
time. He saws:
I bsliepe honestlv that Georoia alone could
and acoald, If necessary, defend the achole
Confederate states. an about to go into
Tor R;cbmon it, ~ tan nSo ~ nsn;s raoimant
for the war n he accepts. and can give ms
arms, shall be in the field in few weeks. l
could raise 10 thirty days brigade, or even
.ho @ o, S ST. hs; 100, "as
arouse them that / but in myself. The result
is very gratifying.
True, "the result is very gratifying" to us
but not to him or the people of Georgia
that is, the real disloyal leaders in that State,
and the idea that Georgia alone could de-
fend the whole Confederacy now appears
somewhat ridiculous when that State is about
to come again under Federal rule and cannot
defend itself! --o4 i
That the rebels have displayed good deal
OF military power and have fought bravely
IN many battles we are not prepared to deny.
- snese hOtspurs Of the South, and slave
aoiu'ns ulAssAr's mad judged right in rela-
1lou 70 Nor'nern PUCK and courage, they
wonla nave gained their independence long
ago. paS unIortanately' they reckoned with
out their host. The courage of the North has
MOI oozea out az the ends OF their fingers
Inc leaders OF tne rebellion have made two
great Mistakes which have brought ruin and