Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-02-14

There is profoupd and powerful spring
of TeTiviied passion, wrath and resolve IN
our Confederate people. It will be Of no
use; will lead to no good; will subside again
into deeper apathy aud dependency uTtsSS
stroHg and iseiSiUs nIeGIurES be at once taken
to render il available, and to convince the
people that those who govern this move
ment know how to give it the right impul-
siou and drive it on to its legitimate end
with a strong and steady hand. The peo-
pie of the Confederate States are this day
ready for anything that leads straighttor'
ward in the right direction-that is, 70 in
dependence, and tWhy not say iI2) to re-
veuge. There is keen and craving buR-
ger TO visit With stern and bloody resribu-
ton that hateful generation which has
dared TO propose that We, the Confederates,
who have bs ed and routed their hosts on
80 many bloody fields, shall crawl to their
feet now, With halters round our necks aud
ashes on our heads, and crave their mercy
and pardon like gang of thieves smoked
out of their den. The high and keen mil
itary epirit of the wars FIRST year flames
up sgaiu; ADD that tide is rising which,
taken at the food, leads on to fortune
What is needed now is some msnitesta-
ton ihat the Confederate authorities are
also up to the mark. Heretofore there has
been grieTous dissstisfactiou-sndf far more
suppressed and devoured in silence than
has ever been expressed in words-at the
timid policy OF our government with
respect to retaliation, which has, in fact,
given to this contederscy the appearance
of accepting the position of rebels and,
criminals resistisg the execution OF &C.
knowledged Law; and has encouraged our
enemies to assume the insoient airs we now
see, By permitting them so long to commit
outrsges on the persons and property OF
our citizens without the fear OF punishment
in kind. At some exhibitions of this sort
the hearts of brave aud proud men have
sunk down into their boots, and they have
been forced to ask themselves, are We reb-
els ard criminals after all? This, for one
thing, must be amended, if the coufederacy
is to stand; and the present temper of'the
people is precisely the occasion for that
amendment. We are willing to take the
risk of going to any eXtremities in vindi-
cation of our equal rights as belligerents.
The enemy must not be permitted any lon
ger to decide at their pleasure that partisan
confederate soldiers, who turn out to de-.
fend their homes and damage the public
enemy in Kentucky and Tennessse-two
States represented in our Confederate
Cougress-are robbers and brigands, whom
it is lawful 10 hang upon the next tree
Oue OF the first and most essential meas
ures Of reformed Confederate policy must
be TO visit, and that with aggravations,
upon such adherents of the enemy as we
may get within our power, all seventies
exercised upon Confederate citizens and
soldiers.
The present excitement and fierce re-
sentiment al the carefully prepared and
elaborated outrage put upon us by Lincoln
and Seward must not be allowed to eyapo.
rate and pass away in the rhetoric and
cheers of TWO or three public meetings.
The business before US is of the most prac-
teal, earnest and vital kind. Its success
ful issue depends mainly upon restoring
the confidence of the people, and making
them feel that the government, in all it's
branches, is fully committed along with
them; that the alternative for us all is to
establish cur independence, or else to die.
To produce this restored confidence it is in
the first place desirable, that Congress
should, with all convenient speed, deal
with the military bills now before it, and
deal with them in such a manner as to
convince the people aud the army that our
Legislators and senators mean to go
"thorough." Several of these measures
dation of regiments aud companies, and
that other for the employment of negroes
as teamsters, cooks and laborers. AS to
the first there is considerable difference of
opinion amongst experienced officers about
the details of the measure, as it is now
presented to both houses. They believe
that old organizations and denominations
should be retained as much So possible:
and that where regiment numbers as
many as three hundred aud twenty men, in.
stead of being consolidated it should be
reduced to battalion. This, however, is
a matter of detail; and which way soever
it be settled no doubt the army will acuu nj.
esce and make the best of it. Even an er.
ror in matters of arrangement and detail is
not so important this week as it was last
week; the important thing now is to get
through with the business, and let the
army and the country feel that there is in
our legislative bodies both will and capac.
ity to direct and impel the good work now
remaining to be done.
With respect to the employment of me-
groes for work connected with our defence,
1t is mainly essential that there should be
on the part of slsveholders no manifesta-
ton of gFudgiug parsmouy. Nor can we
suppose that there will be any such feel.
not know before, what would be their rela.
ton to their negro property in the contin-
gency of any possible or conceivable re
construction, reunion or submission. They
know particularly we'll how it would fare
with them in that respect in case of subiu.
CATION, and will scarce be guilty of the
suicidal economy of restricting within a
two closo percentage the numbers of their
servants whom Gen. Leo can make useful,
according to their capacities and to the
ezigencies which may possibly arise.
The speedy restoration to the army of
absentees without leave is a matter which
will require decisive meas ures, and at once,
We cannot trust for this altogether to the
force of public opinion, even in a season Of
the most sublime excitement. Doubtless a
great many of these absentees will now
come iookiug to their commands when thew
hear what a gallant game their comrades
have on foot for the coming mouths; but
there will still remain many skulkers, who
will have IN ha lnoI-n1 - :,