Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-03-27

spare soldiers WITHOUT inviting attech ~
all kinds was wanting. If the garrisois Oh Z orr
Fisher 1rofting by the experience Of the first at
tack had supplied themselves with two or three
riied guns of larger calibre or had they completed
the earthworks where the eauseway ram tue river
ran into tlp, fort or had they obtained the services
of more officers acquainted with the works than the
two who fell wounded early in the AFFAIR, or hsd the
scanty garrison not been recruits then the lori
ought not To have fallen; hut In all these ms we
read the lamentable condition OF the Confederate
cause. The men. the guns, the officers, the isb"r
were simply not forthcoming, aud without
them forts cannot be held nor battles won:-
Energy and even confidence, il Is said, are also on
the decline. The Carolinas and their Southern
neighburS showed the true Southern temperament
atthe outbreak of the struggle, when virginia 4eid
back but it is she now that holds her ground IN
the very face of tue foe. History and military
criticism, however, will have u good deal to say on
the defence of Richmond when all Is over. Ii that
defence is now, as it Is said, maintained by ohy
thrty-five Thousand against thrice that number,
then the confederation cannot complain OF The cap
ital aud, whatever the object that force does well
which keeps thrice its number in check. But the
strength OF the whole Coniederacy has long been
drained for the sake OF the capital, when hcadquar
ters could easily have been established In less
assaable position. That, however, has been the
case on both sides, and 1t ~ very remarkable that
when the founders OF the Union madei it part OF
their plan 10 do as much a possible without cap
itsl at ALL except just for the convenience OF COM
mon deliheratiOn, the chief feature of this war
should he the obstinate defence of two capitals at
cost of blood and treasure beyond all proportion TO
their value.
The exhaustion we have mentioned is the point to
which specuations on the probability O6peace have
been most generally confined. The Coniederates
began with much less population of whites than
the federas and this disparity was practically in
creased 10y the great distance of some oil the STATES
and the want OF communication. 1t was enough II
tla - MI n cnnplpra-
ton could defend themselves. But as the war adj
yanced the Federal cause continually and large
Ia recruited by immigration-a res0urce entirely
wanting ON the other side Europe, therefore, saw
with admiration the gallant stand made by the Con-
federateS, their military genius and their personal
courage but i, saw also that the end was only
question OF time one side or of weariness on the
other. Ii appears as IL the South Is exhausted by
the war before the North rs wearied OF it, and that
the end is not far The is simply bleeding to
death The COniederates can make peace wifen-
ever they please by returning to the Union, and
they will find the way made easy. As To conditions
OF peace il is needless TO discuss more thar one,
and that is joint stock of grudges against this
country. As III many other quarrels, "A common
object OF hatred is the occasion and ground OF re-
Cancellation The treasures of the two sides VIII
not produce a large sum, but their grievances with
England mount up to something considerable. We
are prepared for this A bloody quarrel must leave
bitter remcmbranceS and mach Indignation. These
must have an object, and it the combaantS shake
hands the next victim that can be found is an nm
concerned and nnsympathetic byStander. Who
better, indeed, than the policeman himself if he
can be attack ed with mpuniiE
As the Federal Government maintains that it. has
Il quarrel with MS in the shape of claims which we
do not acknowledge, and it has great deal to gain
by Il successful With us, the question to which
we have To address ourselves iS simply whether
they can go Ia war with us with fair prospect of
success. lftiey can they certainly will. The first
consideration that occurs Is that II The ContederdeS
are exhausted, the FederaS only less so; and If
the latter only succeed by the exhaustion OF their
Southern foe, they are not likely to find success
easy hy turning against new foe with untUlIch-
ed strength aud resources. IL is true that
there is large army, many OF whom may
now be called veterans, and all in the hands
OK men with some experience of actual fighting
But the soldier in an ages, after a certain pc
rod Of hardship pines for reposc and longs for his
snug farm, even though after brief interval
he is again ready for fighting. Throughout the
whole of the States industry Is more OF less at
Standstill Tor men, and 1T offers wages that
pete with the enormous hOunties and pay of the
soldier The attraction OF peace will he Irresistible
after five years or more of this desperate work So
We must consider whether men will enlist again
Tor new war against u new and certainly not less
vigorous toe. They must be paid first On the old
account aud there Is not soldier ia the service
whose pay is not many months m arrears But that
will be trihc compared with the new bill. The
American Treasury, h"peiesSly insolvent will have
To iry conclusions with the treasury which gaid
hundred millions sterling for one war len years ago,
and has been reducing staNatIon ever since. Ii
wOuld have to- do this with crippled commerce, for
though both would play this game America would
have her full share of its l0rieilS. For every Ala
hanna that has Sneakcd out of our ports u hundIed
would steam out with the British c"lora. Now
NOrk, too, which has hitherto fought at q distance
aud given money rather than men, would have Ia
bear hebrunt Of the new struggle, and might happy
share the fate OF Charleston, Savannah, and few
other of it's victims. The Federal territory might
not be ihvOlale, aud il Canada can he reached 1t
can also strike home. Long wars, distant enter
prSes, familiarity with command, the exercise OF
procoBsular authority the mutual ieaIouses of
chiefs aud real dictatorship at headquarters, are
in the end t. break up republic. The states
men of that republic have lately had sOnereas %
survey their past policy domestic well foreign,
and to apply it higher aud truer principles than
those which satisfy the yugartests of every day
They may possibly have come to the conclusion
that States NOT to he founded on violence, az
erosion and fraud. They may discover hat, after
all, the new World is amenable to the same moral
code, the same political wisdom, the same laws of
providence as the Old. On comparing notes, they
may find that the men and the States that success
lively started with very reasonable hope of con-
qucring and anne King all Asia all Africa aud even
alto gether, did not SUCCEED, and had even to pay
fearful penalties, sooner later, for the very at
tempt. So, pnttng all things together, we are in
cmed 90 believe that the government OF Washington
iriu not attack immediately on the conclusion ofthjs
present cdr and that IL cH therein shOlo ats lrisdon
IL wonld hawever, be most ncnnveniont add costly
and disagreeabe To have quarrel hanging over our
heads waiting Tor American convenience and OPP
When the time comes our statesmen
will have to that we arc not placed under that
penauce. Ii that, indeed is 10 be our fate, and
we are to live in daily expectation of news that the
United States have marched upon our provinces for
the satisfaction OF some old claims vamped up for
the purpoSc then We may he excused ii We are less
IN 4ious tn the present war over than we other
wise should bo.
From the London Times March 81 ~
President Davis once said that ii Richmond
we've taken, the war conld still he maintained for
twenty years in Virginia alone, aud the truth of
the saying may soon he tested. 1t is even now re-
ported that the evacuation OF Richmond IS in con