Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-11

| We connot r,tr,af /, we wUrld- The bridges are
cut behind ats, aud there is nothing leh Tor us
| but 10 20 forward. There Is JUST ,'oa VINO luies
the destinics OF nations, and II We u" ot uuly, u
| we come mp TO ia requirements u inc houIi ouu
viii sureh give ns the victory &C.,.
| Hos. b. TUSsreN OF Va, wac next introduced,
He gratIiiedto Observe ne sald' tndt .ne Peo-
pie in the elasticity OF their pride aud THEN p"wer
wcre, at this iunctnrc, disclosing DISCRIMINATION
| of purpose which nothing human can fepress' IRIS
i was NOT unnatural. We have passed through a
night OF goou but on Friday night, the Sd OF feo-
nlary, circumstance ocegxed wien assured y
that the night was passing WAY Tue >eoihlui re-
cction OF the humane effort to restore peace ~ our
Needing country furnished the assurance that day
was bfeaking. Since then, the darkness has passed
! away, and
Behold how brightly breaks the moTningT
bright sun has arisen, and il is natural that W
should rejoice at the cheering beams shedupoii u.s.
The enemy has presented 10 Us the Issue; : sub
mission sl,lugation, ana We VIII meet II with
| the spirit OF ireemen.
Mr. r. referred To the declaration OF Jackson
that the 'U Mon must and shall be preserved, and
| reminded his hearers that Virginia and several OF
her sister States responded with defiance. Snail The
people who quailed not when the lion roared, tre
lie now when the hyena threatensy Our answer Is,
"lndependence or annihiatOn.' Applause. =
Who is there nit to wear the name OF Confederate
citizen who would survive the liberties OF his coir
tN1
Every link that bound us to the North has been
severed. ''Reconstruetion" You might as well
talk of recoustructing gunpowder which has been
exploded a. of restoring the political ligaments
which had been supposed to exist, but only exis ed
in name years before the separation occurred.
Mr.. \. next proceeded to discuss the means and
resources OF the Coniederscy lor prosecuting the
war to successful issue, and said that the contrae
ion Of OH lines which has caused SO mneh disquie
tide would in reality strengthenour armies, aud the
ex.INl laf.r
I" rabble and rebel"
Hon. JoHN b. BALDWIN, OF Augusta, was the next
speaker. lie commenced with the Remark that he
stdre Ssed Richpond audience about four years
ago lie was member OF the State Convention at
the time and was one ofthoSe who opposed the Sc
cesson OF Virginia from the Union. He felt that lie
was called upon TO give up cherished sentiment,
but he lad stronger attachment TOR Virginia than
for the Union, and stronger than his love of Virgil
mia was his love sof selfgovernnent and consiitu-
tional liberty. Since that time be has followed the
fortunes of Virginia it was useless to undertake
TO recount virgnians the history of the past tour
years lie took it for granted in view ofthc scenes
through which We have passed. and the sacrifices Of
blood and treasure which yirgnians have made, that
it would be conceded nothing had been left indone
on our part 10 secure the independence of the Con-
federate States aud the right OF selcgovcrnment.-
But there were other sacrifices yet to be made.
II was usual with public speakers TO encourage the
people by referring to our yastresources, and by
assurances that we can never be subjugatcd. lie
Thought that a false sense Of security had been en-
gendcred by such declarations. As prbiic. man,
speaking TO full grown and brave men, he would say
there is danger OF our subjugaton, and he sure
that this announcement would not excite fear in their
breasts, but rather determined purpose to meet
the exgcRcy. aud avert the horrible fate which sub
iugation implies. Il
we are in the midst of great struggle, and it is
right that every man, woman and child should have
Just conception of its proportions, and of the du
ties which il involves. He would not fatter and
lull them into false confidence. II were useless
to disguise the fact that we have fearful struggle
before us and it was the part OF wisdom to view the
facts as they are presented to us. Every army we
have is confronted by an army exceeding il IN num-
bers equipments aud discipline. We need men III
Ire led We haze got them in the country, but We
want them at the front. Whose fault is II they are
not rhere9 1t is the fault OF the people-of that
system Of aBsenteeism ffoniithe army which must at
once be rooted out A great deal is said about the
duty OF Congress in this emergency; but Congress
has done everything which it can do to strengthen the
armies 1t has passed laws putting every able-bo-
died white man IN the ranks between the ages Of IL
aud 50, except about 1000 eyempts preachers
doctors and others, who are believed to be more
useful in the pursuit OF these vacations than they
woud be in the feld-and of these, nearly one-half
have been recently deprived of their exemptions
So that when you see u man between the ages of II
and So not following some Of these professions you
will know that nc belongs TO the army, and if he is
not in the army it Is the fault Of the Government
which has not called him there, or his own fault
that be has not obeyed the culi Mr.. b. said il was
the duty OF this State Legislatures TO that all the
able bodied men were sent TO the auny, and he IN.
yoked the members Of the Virginia Legislature who
were present to ieaYe no expedent untried THAT
would contribute to the recruitment of our military
strength. Let every man and woman constitute
himself OF herself couscTipt officer. That will do
more good than attending public meetings and APP
plaudnp public speakers,
We want supplies, too. If the people are suf
heiently impressed with the Importance of indie
pendeuce they must at once practice sef-denial.
They must come down 10 hall ratiOnS. The army
has long ago been subsiSting half rations. Those
al home can live on bread and water; but the sol
ders Ia the trenches who have TO endure tuls end
exposure, and do the fighting, must he fed and
clothed. Don't let any man think he's doing MS
duly By appauding patriotic speeches and 'subsist-
ing mis- family on snmptuouS yiands, whilst the sol
der is lett hungry,
The supply VI clothing is abort. Some oil he
troops are Int half clad. You will have TO come
TO the resene. If you are in earnest, as you say
Won are you have got 10 come down TO the humblest
habilments. You must spare'the soldier an over
coat or your extra suit of clothes ii We arc wor-
thy of independence, that's the way TO get IT,
that's the path of duty. Are we ready for these
sacrifices Ii he had the power to talk to every
man and woman in the Ccnfederacy, he would in
cIleate these practical lessons, which bear diroc-
IN upOn the question of Independence.
NIB next adyerted 10 the management OF our
finances which he pronounced "a marvellous sue
cess but our credit had nearly given out. What
is necessary to restore it, 1t may he said that he
had established too high standard Of patriotism
but nevertheless, he believed ii was in the power
OF the people TO restore the financial credit Of the
Government in one day. If We oyerrun every
dollar the Confederate securities will be value
less as so munh waste paper. Why not let the peo
pie bring forward these securities aud sacrifice them
uDon Nhe altar of uafriotism For that cleap uu-
triotism which exhausted itself In running to hear
huzza speakers he would not give chew oftobacco.
If the people viii come nobly to the rescue in the
manner which he had indicated, he would not only
hope for success, but would feel that we deserved
TO be successful. Bnt il we go'on as We have been
1.-The government ignoring the cooperation Of the
people, and the people ignoring their plain duty,
you can be subjugated, and you will! II we would
be tree and independent, we must rise to the height
Of the argument. There is no other way.