Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-01-21
The Failing Moral Strength of the South
Military Dictatorship.
Prom the Richmond Examiner. ]

Mliiafy dictatorship.
Prom the Richmond Examiner
Several persons have employed themselves
lately in preparing statistical tables of the
wealth, food and fighting men, remaining in
T: the COnfederacy subject to the commanded
/ the Government. They prove concusively
| that the amount of all these things is still
very great-enormoas-s to support
| far greater efforts than the Confederacy ha7
| yet made. To question the accuracy of their
facts is far from our purpose; indeed their
/ truth has been so long and so well known t.
all who have examined the subject, that the
| proof and tabular exposition seem to them
quite superhuous, and even uninteresting
Material exhaustion is not yet felt by the
mass of the nation; not felt in the slightest
or most distant degree. 1t will never be felt
But he nation may soon suffer from moral e.
haastion. The country will never. be unable,
if willing, to supply the wants of its Govern.
ment, but it may easily become unwilling
and then no pressure of legislation WILDE Of
much value. Pressure will obtain only those
few drops which trickle from the squeezed
orange, and soon get nothing at all.
These Southern States are Lands of Go
shen. A hot Summer and fertile soil will
always produce a superabundance of bread
and meat. They contain five millions of the
most fighting people IN the world, and can
always supply three hundred thousand arms
bearing men in the prime of life. The ex,
tent of their territory is so great that its real
occupation by the armed forces of two or
three such nations as that we are fighting is
inconceivable. The enemy is perfectly
aware of the fact, and does not base his hone
of subjugatiOn on the practical application Of
main strength, bat upon de submission Of The
,VW and consequent inability to contend IN tie last
extremity, which he expects to see at some
time spread over the land.
That is, in fact, the only contingency on
which the subjugation of the South is posi-
bic. The Southern States are in no danger
so long as the spirit of the people is what it
has hitherto been; Jlt let as not be blind to tie
tr.th there is such a Thing possible as dscov Of
national confidence aud death of national spiylt
There is such thing heartbreek for IA
tio1ts, as for individuals. There are such things
as hopeessaess aud despair, letlargu and apativ.
a co1yict,on that all that 1t scH do must come 10
noagbt, all sacrifices Il can make bereudered vain.
By an wennaediat cauSe--a convictiol resting on
rational grounds, both Of reflection and exDeri.
nse,at, sOiR produce tbs state Of feeling in ana ma
ton, h0lUeUer heroic and h0a0eUer obSttnete.
No people have ever or anywhere displayed
more patient courage, more constancy in mis-
fortune, or greater aagnanimity towards It's
Government than the Southern people
Neither Sidney Johnson's evacuation of Nash
vile, nor Lovell's of New Orleans; neither
Murfreesboro or Missionary Ridge, or Vicks-
burg were sufficient to damp their energy Or
their hope. Armies lost have been replaced
by other armies Resources squandered have
been only the signal for the production Of
new treasures. No single calamity win dis
hearten them, nor twenty, nor hundred, if,
~ l.
selves they are the chances of war and acct
dent, and not the necessary consequences Of
unfailing causes, which must produce the like
again and again and again forever.
But il is impossible to bear atp under such
insight as that pai,afR CONNECTION; and The con.
duct Of The Government IS likely enough 10 pro.
d,ace II IN tie end The unparalleled absurdity
of that management which sent Hood 10
Nashville and Sherman to Savannah, has pro-
duced certain gloomy impression upon the
public mind, too deep and strong to be re-
moved by an Ordinary anndyne. Words arc
now useless. Eloquent appeals, manifestoes,
high spirited resolutions, theories. rostrums
of all kinds, viii now be thrown away. Moth
ing will remove the cioud-or rather the ILL.,
omened light-which now rests on the future
but measures that touch tie root of our evil.
= such measure there is. a remedy for all
| discomfort has suggested itself to the mind of
every man who thinks, and has been advised
by thousand mouths in the same breath.
1t IS the creation Of q aeso obicey.--a 1asc Com
naarader- IN Csiet-a1ho shall exercise surems
control 0Uer the armies and aaiItarv afdirs Of
the Co1yederacy, and the appointment of Gen
Lee to be that officer Such an act, if made
IN good faith, and solemnly guarded against
comteracting Influences, would restore pub
lie confidence, and give the country heart for
new effort equal TO that which it has hither-
to made. 1t would do more to bring down
the price of gold and restore faith in the cur
rency than any law Mr.. Trenholm can devise,
however wise in principle and however inge-
nioHs in detail.
The people would be satisfied that their
means would not be thrown away: that the
best use of their blood and property would
De made that could be made The adoption
OF such measure would be the new birth of
the Southern -Confederacy. But it must be
the real, substantial measure, guaranteed bT
the representatives of the nation; not a
sham, not duplex general order, creating
another BeauregaFd or johnson "Depart-
ment, under the control of the President"
And 1t must be adopted in tine-that is to
say, now. We utter the general opinion, bus
confess that we see little announcement to
suppose that this present Congress has the
decision of character necessary 70 give il
force.
5 --..-s2z-- a @
The Richmond Enquirer suggests the hang
ing of certain merchants in Wilmington who
refused to take Confederate money while our
aeet was before that city.
The Washington Republican says it has
the highest authority for stating that the an
nouncement of Gen. Fremont's being ap-
pointed minister to France is untrue.