The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-01-07

NJ. z ID ~.
NASHVILLE, TFyS., Jan. 1861.
Lee 60 be Presented TO the COnfedcF
acy as a Commander-In-Chlef Oh
Dictator.
From the Richmond EysuI.ne-, Tee. ~.
II the armies Of the Coniederat,
States are indeed about to toe presented
by way Of Christmas gift with Genera
Lee for their Misunderstanding il
will not only be q most appropriate and
agreeable present 10 them, but to the
country IL will be such relief as viii
enable Ia all 10 breathe more freely
aHd TO the enemy terror and warn
ing Both COniedorates and fedeTais
will feel at once that a hand both
strong and steady is laid upon the
wheel, that il means business and bat
tie, and will make their arrangements
accordingly.
This IS oa the ,pyoatiga that Hr Dl
,.g ls capable Of 0u oF so sane and leiss,
sak.rh may be greatly aoaJhL 10 is also
based on tho -uppOsitIon that the order
appointing General Lee 10 the full
command and control OF al military
operations is real complete, uucondi-
tionaI that lac Is 20 plan campaigns
and arp0iut generals 10 conduct them
that he IS 10 decide what places are to
be evacuated and what held 1t Is not
probable that lac would accept an APP
poiutment Of the kind on any other
Kind of terms: that would be charg
Ing himself with a responsibility and
perhaps an odium without The means
aud authority needlul 20 achieve sue
cess. lie would scarcely consent TO be
set up as q stalking horse, or 10 be used
asa generals cloak.
The first and most obvious OF the
wholesome effects OF this measure
would be the firm issuance which
would at once grow up in the minds Of
our own people that the strength and
resources of the land will now be ap
piled in the wisest and most efficient
manner, and that each separate COM
mand will be placed in the hands best
able to wi,ll IL, without favor or alice
ton. We shall know, then, at least,
that our independence Will not be tri
fled away 4. that the cause viii not be
treated as a secondary alEiir-the prim-
airy business being the qualification OF
some personal piqne, or jealousy, or
spite Many good citizens who have
sustained their part in this struggle
from the first have yet, of late, had mo
ments OF misgiying and dependency;
not that they doubted OF the Justice
and vitality Of the cause, or of the en-
ercv and self sacrifice of the people,
but they have said to themselves, What
is the use of it ALL May not these
very armies that we have toiled TO raise
and cduip-these armies thathold with
IN them the life and destiny Of the
country-be sent on some tOcl erTand,
and placed under command OF some
fourth rate officer, who must be made
into a great general and cOnqueror
whether nature viii or not, and 80 all
be ruined and undone We say only
what many a reader will feel TO be sad
w true, IN affirming that dark doubts
and surmises like these have sometimes
brooded over enterprises Of great plth
and moment. and caused men 10 shlyer
with premouitOry chill Now, ltGen-
eral Lee consents 90 take the leading
staff of command into his hands, and 20
charge himself with the duty of seeing
10 it that the republic suffer no detrl-
ment. there will be an end Of those
painful forcbodings, and the popular
heart will beat higher and sit more light
ly on its throne
Needless 10 saw that tho armies, not
merely this army of Northern Virginia,
which has so long known and and fol
lowed its trusty chief, bat all the forces
of the cDnfederacy everywhere, viii
eagerly hail such an appointment The
way he bids them 30 they will tread It
with assured faith the leader he tells
them TO follow they viii follow through
blood and fame Armies are iniallibie
Judges of their commanders, sud feel
when they are under the right man 10y
sure instinct
Perhaps the most marked effect Of
all, however, would be the effect upon
our enemies, OF this new power vested
in General Lee They wall understand
from il that there Is 70 be no child
play-that this experienced and irwin
chile soldier does not take our affairs
IN hand without full power and stern
determination 10 bung out all the fight
ing force OF the country, aud MAKE the
rufliaE foe dearly rue the day when
they made this struggle war of ,x-
termination General Lees uame Is
specially connected with one measure
of military necessity, now before Con
gross. which he las strongly urged
should be passed we trust that il viii
be passed after being iifs. enlarged
and amended 10 AIS mind The very
conception of that measure implies
grim resolve When he demands ne
gro soldiers be assured he means 10 90
" through
Therefore upon every ground we shall
rejoice, and the whole coutederacy with
Hs, If General Lee should De charged
with this high duty The enemy Is
now certainly pressing u hard, and at
many points. Destruction and ravage
are the settled war policy OF the Yam
KEGS, and each march or movement is
held 10 be a grand success If 10 leaves
behind broad track Of dt sslaJion
The burning OF houses which might az
ford shelter TO rebels he desiruc-
ton Of food, which might feed rebels,
and thus feed the rebellion the starya-
ton Of children. who might else grow
up into "Tebs. s this Is the utterly
fiendish system Of warfare which has
been deliberately adopted, directed in
general orders, complaccutly narrated
In bulletins, and which Is now in actual
course OF application 10 our country
where ever our fell invaders plant their
foot Sherman, after turning a wide
region Of Georgia into q naked aud
hrsEu I5eafr III ].