The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-03-21

stop to inquire into the causes of an evil
which We have so much reason 49,
p!orc. The remedy is partly in the hands
Of Congress, and it is our provinces to ap-
ply it. But it is partly, also, in yours;
and we appeal to you to use it. Let
every good citizen frown down upon. and
indignantly discountensnoa n evasion
Of military duty-whether tenpolsry or.
permanent-no matter how plausible the
pretext or palliating the reason.
No duty, in this crisis Of our affairs,
can be moro imperative tNSa to fight for
ones country, family and home. Let NO
sknlkcr, deserter, or absentee without
leavs, from the srlny, be tolerated in any
community. Let the reproachful glance
Of cur women, between whose honor and
the brutal foe our noble army stands as
a flaming sword, drive him back to the
field. With proper officers, strict dis
cipline, and an elevated tone of public
opinion throughout the country, deser.
ton and absenteeism in the army can be
arrested, and all men liable to military
duty put into, aud kept in, the ranks Of
our armies. If this be effected, we can
maintain in the field force sufficient to
defy subjugation.
But it is in the character of our popu>
lation, especially, that we find those ele-
ments Of strength which impress us
with the conviction that we never can be
conquered. Our people are peculiarly
military in their characteristics. Better
soldiers than those in our army history
has never shown. They have endured
extreme hardships and suffering with
fortitude, and fought against constant
odds with a gallantry, that has earned
the gratitude of their country and ex-
torted the admiration of the world. But,
in addition to their military attributes,
our people are pre-eminently of proud
and naughty spirit, and deeply imbued
with the love of constitutional freedom.
1t belongs to their race and lineage; and,
as Burke long ago remarked, their rela-
ton to the servile race in contact with
them has intensified the feeling and in
vested this love of liberty with a senti-
ment of personal privilege. To suppose
thst people with such military, politi-
cal and social characteristics will ever
voluntarily submit to be ruled by any
other government than one Of their own
choice, is too insulting to their pride to
be entertained for moment. And to
doubt their capacity to achieve indie
pendence and maintain themselves as .
separate Power among the nations of the
earth, is to close our eyes to all the
teachings of history-to ignore the proof
which our own forefathere have stamped
upon it's pages-to believe that human
nature has changed, or that we arc de-
generate race, unworthy descendants Of
our revolutionary sires'!
/ The appointment by the President of
General Lee as General-in- Chief" has
done much to restore confidence to the
country and to reinspire the army. All
feel that we may safely repose this
weighty trust and responsibility in that
great soldier and devoted patriot. All
feel that wo may lean upon him as our
tower of strength. All feel that his
calm courage and steadfast purpose, his
military skill and wise judgment, will
enable him to WELD our armies with the
maximum efficiency and strength. May
God strengthen for the great task to
which a contiding people have called
himi
TO provide means for carrying on the
war, Congress has been compelled to
impose upon the country heavy bur-
then of taxation. But, heavy as it is, it
! is not too heavy for the country to bear,
and not heavier than our wants impera-
lively demand. 1t is impossible to
| maintain the mighty contest in which We
are engaged without vast expenditures
of money. Money can only be raised
by loans or by taxation. Our condition
does not enable us to effect the former.
We must of necessity, therefore, resort
to the latter. We appeal to you with
confidence to submit cheerfully to the
burthens which the defence of your
country, your homes and your liberties
renders necessary. 10 contribute ac-
cording to his means to that defence is
as much an obligation upon the citizen
as it is to peril his life upon the battle
field.
Let us, then, fellow -countrymen, tread
the plain path of duty. No nation that
has trod it faithfully and fearlessly ever,
in the worlds history, has stumbled and
fallen. Nations" says Burke. "never
are murdered-they com NIT suicide. ~
Let US not be guilty of the folly and the
crime Of selfdestruction. Let US show
the fortitudc, endurance and courage
that belong to our race, and neither the
brute force of OUT enemy's arms, nor the
subtle poison of bis lips, can extlngush
the life Of this Confederacy, breAthed
into it by the sovereign States which
created it.
The people Of the United States are