Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-01-24
From The Richmond Examiner, Jan. Ill

From The Richmond Examiner, Jan. III
The loss OF our last fort by the fall of Fort
Fisher will be no evil in the end, fit serves to
spur the country on TO decisive action. Nothing
can be more inglorious or deplorabIe than TO sit
still tremendously, resigned and hopeful, while
our resources and armies are gambled away in
full view by weak but presumptuous officials
Nothing is more absurd than make believe
good cheer and buncombe confidence in the face
OF manifest and fatal Encouragement All the
eloqueuce end all the blsther in the world will
not alter facts or prevent the people OF this
country from fighting for the glory OF Mr.. Davis,
from Mississippi, or defending their liberty. lives
or property. 1t they are doing the last named
business, they oanRot Justify themselves TO their
own consciences for intrusting their affairs any
longer to the unlimited. uncontrolled aud uncon-
tested discretion of persons who daily furnish
new proofs of unskillfulness and bad manage
ment and detective character. In the next lew
weeks affairs must be definitely arranged.
If the spring campaign fluids johnson at the
head of what Hood has left in the place of that
magnificent army of sixty-four thousand men
turned over to him six months since-if Lee is
com mander in chief of the whole military power
of the confederacy independent by legislative en-
actment, OF all control and restriction, and inter-
ference with authority to assign generals and
OtucT Officers ~ CoInuldlus lIduSitT dIulit-, anu
to give unity of plan and aim to the whole oper
tons of war, the full force of this people will re-
appear. If there shall be no real change of men
but only a sham alteration, only "A repetition of
the old dupllcity oy which the power has remain
ed in the same plny hands while the responsible
~ of all the misfortunes they have worked. has
been shifted over to Johnson, to Beauregard, and
lately TO General Lee; the struggle must still
continue, for neither compromise by the north or
submission by the south Is possible, and. in one
way or the other, the war must be waged; but 1t
is as certain that. under these last conditions, we
will enter upon the coming campaign with faded
hopes, diminished energy, aud forebodings of u
continuation to that series of disasters which has
been Uninterrupted since the removal of the only
general who has commanded with profit the army
OF the Central South. A change of men has be
come a public necessity. That any sacrifice OF
self eau be obtained 10y persuading or advising
Mr.. Davis, few will believe. They have not
the slightest probability OF Johnston's restOra-
ton TO the command OF his army, and If Hood
whose name has been sent to the Senate for con
frmation as a full general. Is ever relieved, he
will be forthwith placed 10y General Dick Tag
Tor. the presidents brother in law. There is
really no prospect OF n change in the executive
policy. The defects of mind and character
which have produced the past will continue TO
operate in the future events.
Whether Congress has the constitutional
power to interfere is not necessary 10 be ascer-
tanned until II has proved what il has never shown
"A disposition to be other than a registry oil ex-
ecutiye DEGREES. We DO not perceive how any
real alteration i to be made without an appeal
always contemplated in every American cousti
tuition to a constitution OF the states, legitimately
and regularly called BY constituted delegates
from conventions of the people in the separate
states. Theselast can be assembled only by act OF
the Legislature, and instead of leGislating for the
next spring election, the Leg stature OF Virginia
might be more properly Employed in assembling
that supreme body. So & body. representing
the people in their sovereign unity, is needed
now. 1t was a great error when the convention
OF Virginia dispersed. and the sooner II is recalled
the more useful il NAV be. And also. the great
mistake - this epoch, was the early dissolution OF
the convention OF states, and the hasty formation
ofthis same confederate government, with its Gu,
aud dried constitution, its president. its depart
ments. It's congress. its complicated political ma
%chinery. Ii might go well enough 10 peace. but
l. totally unfit for the prodiCious strain of brute
force directly applied in the struggle for life
not that an individual deSpotism, such as exists 10
the United States. would have suited u. but we
should have retained the fuH limit power OF
a nation ia the form of a convention, composed
% The representatives OF the people. declaring the
VIII VI ~ lcpptt IN butit cofCESiSu NaFASttf
limited by no constitution. With the execution OF
that will intrustei to a general in The field who
enjoyed the esteem Of the people and OF the At
mies under Dis direction.
Deep was the error of the southern states
when they surrendered their convention aud pat
in is place a species of wooden clock wound M
10 20 six years. and out of the peoples reach
during ell that time when they Identified their
cause with The name Of a politician aAd deprived
themselves OF the power TO st aside his u%nlucy
or his incompetent agents. until ne would be
frightened into permitting IL All admit the
error. but most are still unwilling TO take the
decisive step leading 10 the so many conse-
oueuces OF . sovereign convention. let there
i no other means so certain 10 obtain the force
of the nation. and put an end 10 what the nation
feels 20 be misrule.
AROUSE TTsELF pKsPoSDEScY THROUGHOUT
I'M soUTu.
The Richmond Dispatch Of the 18th of Jan,
has the following:
Would to heaven the congress Of the con