Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-26
The End at Hapd-An Engn.n view

"Midwinter," says the London Daily
Nss0s of January 3, "brings no pause in the
shock and hurry of war in the American
campaign" and the same paper adds:
"If the North still remains able to keep
up its armies to at least their present
standard, while the South cannot renew its
regular forces, nor rouse the patriotism of
its members to further sacrifices, it Is evil
dent that the end is at length coming within
sight. 1t must not, indeed, be looked for
suddenly. A great and tried army like
Lees cannot be suddenly disposed of by
any opponent less than Napoleon. Even
Hood may rally a portion of his force, aud
make stout fight still in the strong posi-.
tions on the Tennessee. But, on the other
hand, il is impossible not to see in the ac-
counts of the fighting that now reach u.s.
that knowledge of their fate has greatly
altered the morale of the corteudiug forces.
There is at once dash aud a stubborn
energy in the attacks of the federels which
were not traceable in their first encounters,
while the southernersr whose wilder man
ner of life, whose reckless contempt of
desthGand whose skill as shots gave them
in the opening of the war distinct supe-
riority, now fight as brave men do who are
they 6ghtin vain. And those who are still
with Hood oc Lee are, it must be remem.
oered, the heartiest who are left. They
are those who doubted not of success, and
who shCank not from the dangers and suf-
fsringS ueUe5SATy to ensure it. When these
begin to doubt the end must ba approach
ing. .4
"But the facts we have been reviewing
not only show us the end of the war, but
they open to us happier prospect of what
will be after the war The theory advanc-
ed by some of our contemporaries, that the
North could never hold the South even
after the Southern armies are beaten from
the field, is plainly unteuable. The fiery
spirits will be gone, and those who were
too Indifferent to fight will certainly not
have energy to resist when the fight is
over. 1t is to be kept in view that there
is, after all, no difference of race, or speech,
or law to maintain feeling of hostility.
There is nothing to prevent northern set
| tlers from amalgamating with southern
residents. The negro question being set.
tied. there will be nothing to maintain
distinction between the two sections
Engaged in the same pursuiis, resorting
to the same courts, electing members to
the same legislature, there will be moth.
| ing in this case resembling those in
Wnlcu naLlOn Is oVerrun and deprlV-
ed of its rights by alien power. South
erners will recover their rights by sub.
mission, they will stand on a footing
of perfect equality with the vIctors. We
all know how rapidly, when the Highland
ers of Scotland had been disarmed, they
became among the most loyal of their fell
low subjects. Yet their case was one in
which there were fundamental distinctions
between them and their subjugators not to
be found between Federals aud Confeder-
ates. No doubt there will be an interveu-
! ing period in which military law must
prevail till perfect order is restored. Those
who make the pretence of acting as guer.
rillss after the regular war is over an ex-
cuse for numbering and plundering, must
be repressed by the firm rules which in
every country, and under every system of
law, puuish individual crime. This will
be aninevitsbIe concomitant of the period
of transition from war to legality But
when the foul dreams of building up a
slave empire is over there will be nothing
left to fght about; aud people who have
nothing to maintain dissensiou about, and
who are in the enjoyment of common
rights, common liberties, common Privi
leges, will speedily unite to putdown those
whose disorders will be only a common
bane."