New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-02

smoke OF evacnnting this city with eqnnl fippancy In
epnsderato persons and newspapers we observe nth
pain repeat the same ideas; as If they poan ELY de-
rred the country 10 be Taught that the sDatoup ent Of
This vital position would not only be of no ir to the
Confederscy. but Of positive advantage;
Let not this fatal error be haI bored tskes root
in the Imagination. Tie eyac' stion Of Richmond
would be the loss of all respc" ard authority toward
the Confederate Goyernmer the di.ntecration OF the
army aud tie abandonp ent Of the scheme Of indie
pendent Southern Cor federation. The war would. after
that speedily ues neraie into an IRREGULAR Contest ~
which passion '.ond have more to do than purpose
which would nave no other object than the mere dccnse
or present saiety Of those Immediately persishg IN IT.
Inc hcP Of establishing Coniedr,aey' anu securing
It's rec guton among nations would be gone forever
The ommon sense OF the country the instinct OF every
nn' and In the land, conraaets the luea .hat
" possibility Of an independent South would remain
after its capital abandoned Its Government SET
adr and it's Amy withdrawn into the soliudes OF the
interior. H.
II is idle TO pretend that Richmond Of no more I'm.
nortance than Savannah, Atlanta Mobile or Norfolk,
and that it's fall would not be ftal TO the Coniederncv
II 1t had not been vital point WY hss 80 mmcn rIo
been the great objective POINT OF tie enemy thfouah
four successive campaigns. The Conicderacy Las
shared no pais or exetoD cost OF blood or treasure
70 good lis defense IS the capital OF tne s.
OF the border States commanding the entire portion OF
Virginia Of the Aneghanies, and tho most I'M I'M
norant division Of North Carolina 1t Is situate lao
miles from the sea- yet large ships can unload htm lis
wharyes The occupation q Richmond In strong force
by the enemy would necessarily drive the Cohle9eras
I
Carolina untensbe and, once gained by power having
CON uan OF the water It could never. under any con
tiugency, he recovered by the Conitderaey
| Each contestant in the war has made Richmond the
all plans and all its exetlons III
has become the symbol Of the Conederacy. It's loss
would be material ruin to the cause. and IN moral
POINT Of view absolutely destructive crushing the
b,art and eYtinguishing the last hope Of the country
Our armies would lose the incentive inspired ny great
| and worthy object Of defense. Our military poicy
would be totally at sea; should bs WITHOUT hope or
an object without civil or military organization; WIN:
out treasury or eommissurat wthou, lne msn "
keeping alive wholesome aud active public sentiment;
without any OF the appliances for supporting cause
depending upon popular faith and enthusiasm; with
out the emocms or the sembiance 81 nationality.
| The withdrawal OF the army n,m Richmond into the
interior would so narrow tie of conscripion as
greatly TO reduce our military strength As tho army
would windle in numbers, II would move more anu
more rapidly westward and before reaching the banks
q the Mississippi would have dcgencrjed into mere
body guard for few officials From The hour ot CIV
ing up the seat Of government, our cause would sihA
into rebellion in the estin alton OF foreign pow
ers; who would cease to accord TO MS tie rights OF
beligcrents; while the enemy would be free treat
our officers and soldiers traitors AID criminals; so
| that every Rebc would fight henceiorward with
/ halter about his neck.
Virginia though slow 70 come into the Confederacy.
has been throughout the contest ts main stay and sup
port II has borne the bruni Of every campag1. IL has
suffered the ravages OF severely than a the
other States together. Every county In the state has
f,t the hand OF the enemy Its richest and best dis
trcts have been utterly desoGted Its suterings have
only been beyond descr?tion bat continuous
camping and battle ground Tor the largest mics and
boodiest conflicts Of modern times. No country the
fate with herusm OF fortitnds. The evacuation
of Richmond would be The abandonment OF virginia
forever and without any rational hope OF return is
Is possible that snch desert0n could be contemplated
sfer The events Of tits wari Even II the act
suicidal In policy. could tie Confederaey now consent
10 cast away this and devastated but still power
fl Commonwealth as oil old shoe that could DO pus to
no further usef
Aside from tn. disrrnce thu, would attach to such
ingraiudc the Conf deracy could not afford 10 put
en-. Grant into pos9ession q: Richmond depot and
base 40 miles ON thosea, ard In the midst Of South
ern Virginia yet With w-carTiag. to tie door. aud
thus Tehnqnsh It's last hold gpon the lat Of the border
with any hope of success. sfiT abandoning States
whence its meet numerous IecLlf obtsined. soi
which IS arms have been unif y7Iy Victorious ana
Withdrawing TO States where deisai has constantly
| attended them.
The abandonment Of Virginia would - equivalent to
together with Tennessee aud North Carolins. Two
lines Of railway radate otn here Into the most popu
.ous and Influential districts Of this latter state sub
jcctng its best portions TO the control II any con
siderable military power having lis base at Richmond
L. the Confcderacys wealth In population and territory
aow so great that i can adord TO maso voluntary
donation OF ell this territory restricting its iursdcton
tho Gulf States, and south Carolina already
OF the Confederacy viii have been fsvorabiy decided.
The people will cling 10 the rs long rs the sest Of
Government 10 secure Recent msfoTtunes viii have
aw akened foreign powers 10 the danger which would
]
ard pacitoaiion o! this continent now possessing
trained sodiery more numerous and formidable than
any army In Europe. SO long as Richmond and Vir.
nia ours the very which have been sus.
tanned will people Ia renewed eIeftion, aud
begue the enemy into false confidence. The war
csi not be carried much longer against US II We
prove bat ourselves and the single test Of
will be determination and ability TO hold Rich
moni. Other cities fall the rest Of the Confedera
cy may succumb; but the still rem1ns safe
long as Richmond aud Virginia are held
We have nov before Richmond the best army which
the COnfederacy has ever possessed, impregnably
posted accustomed TO victory and success Al ita
iIumphs have been won In the defense Of the Con.
Tolerate capital. Ii has continued through every Trial
IA make gOd that defense and 10 honorcd throughout
the ConfeJeracy and the world for the proves which
II has exhibited IN the successful effort. We have not
tie slightest bctef or expectation that tboughtless
ficnds eager enemies win ever BIZ grntfed by the
sight Of such national suicide the evacuation Of
Richmond will be- while that noble army exists In any
part but with the hope of putting end 10 the talk of
The idle and short sighted this matter throw out
these hints @ 20 the consequences u tho act Of which
they speak 20 lightly.
Frsss The RHe6frsS.