Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-03-06

Significant Speech In the Virginia
Senate on sAturday-TerrIneC Char
ges Against Jen. Davis.
Mr. President: A discussion of the reso-
luton might properly include the whole
conduct of the confederate civil admins.
tration and the operations of the army
The civil administration has been 30 signal
a failure, and is SO dead in the popular
affection, that l shall forbesr to drag the
lifeltss Hector around the wallis of our
Troy. The chief characteristic of that ad-
naturalization is, that it has separated the
government from the people and has
made more vigorous and effective war on
the resources Of the country than il has
made on the public enemy. l do not be-
lieve that such was the design OF the men
in authority. do not doubt their patriot
ism or earnest desire 70 succeed. Such has
been the effect of the public N easures, to
the deplOrsble extent seen in the we'll.
known fact that in this agricultural coun-
| try-oue of the richest on eAFth-Ihe pro.
| duction of provisions is SO reduced that
| the public sentiment. most conspicuousIy,
is painful anxiety for continued subsis.
tence. The atrocious sentiment expressed
10 the African Church by Hon. Judah P.
Benjamin, that the people have no rights,
and all belong to the government, is the
| exact exponent OF the administrative policy
which has Gliensted the people from the
government. That other idea, express
sed at the same time by President
Davis, that Richmond might be captured
and yet no remediiess i'll ensue TO our
cause, is another phosPorescent emanation
from passionate imbeciIity which can float
and fare only 10 the socket ola disordered
Imagination, and such delusive light ought
to be put out. On the declared policy that
we desired only to be let alone, and from
fear of rousiug the enemy, President Davis
declined going to Washington when our
army was flushed with victory and the
enemy were routed. Afterward, when the
balances in the chances of war we're hang.
ing in equipoise, and a peace party, to all
appearances, was gaining in the North, be
went with his "offensive. defensive" into
Maryland and Pennsylvania, and reused
the enemy and united the North. When
the people were lending all the labor of the
country, and abstracting it from the pro.
ductiou of tobacco and cotton to produce
subsistence, scheme of improvement to
supply the army was inaugurated, which
has annoyed ana irritated, and discouraged
the producers, until they have been forced.
most reluctantly, to discover that the Con.
federate authorities do actually believe
that the community-Unrewarde ade.
quately for their labor, and not allowed SUBJ
sistence for themselVes-will nevertheless
contiuue to produce subsistence for the
army. Space fails to tell one tenth of the
sad story Of the loss of confidence BY the
people in the administration. have but
one suggestion to make. see no other
way OF escape. With spirit as free as nv
heart is oppressed with sorrow, l will de.
clare 1t boldly. Ii is that President Davis
will resign his high trust land Vice.P resi-
dent Stephens will follow the noble example
| am sure) in order that the administra.
| ton may pass into-if not more competent
most probably q more successful direction
Of the public affairs. Our military opera
tons have elected the admiration of the
world. Our army has gathered to its flag
extensive reuOWn, and to the field of its
CALAMITY immortal glory. But that army
canuot be sustained without civil admin.
istratiou of wisdom as sagacious as compre.
heusive, and which small display its en-.
larged and well-directed exertions with
quickly effective energy. We have moth
ing now LETT OF any life to assure hope, and
kindle and keep expectation alive but
that army. That atmy, courageous
and uncouqueTed, as 1t is, If supported sd.
equately by the civil administration. "a IL
might be, will ind in the extent of onr
country and unfailing resource, affordiue
all else that is requisite to give il a victo.
| rious career to q triumphant treaty of peace |
That extent of country, if the civil admin.
istration can be got into competent hands.
will be au inyuluerabIe shield against nny
force the public enemy can bring apainEt |
US 70 subjugate us. l will say no more
If Whist have said shall have success
"hereuuto It is addressed, We will win the
great success of independence aud self.pnv.
eminent. If it fail, clouds and dark5ess
wiz still hang about US; and how lone. or
how to be dispelled, do not perceiye-l
The resolution, Mr.. President, l ask the
senate to observe, does not necessariIS
embrace the designations suggest The
principal object OF the resolution is to piTs
t gso@'nenSe 70 the tact, and the cOntempIA-
uons resulting from it, that the extent If {
our country is most powerful shield for
our protection. t't !