Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-07-11

| II only Tor e. .DB II nb DeSC JOKE OF Cne War
He referred to the Dutch Gap Canal, consid.
cred as a.war measuref for as commercial
one, improving the navigation of the James
it was full of advantage. 1t was task i'm:
posing great hardships upon many thousand
soldiers, and must lave been inspired by
Grants similar attempt to change the course
of the Mississippi at Nicksburg. IF success
full, the canal. only afDided one battery, Fort
Hewlett, which might have been carried by
resolute effort moi, could any of us under.
stand what adequate object could be gained
Eby it when completed. The James, from
Dutch Gap to Richmond, was too shallow for
gunboats; was payedWith torpedoes, and OBJ
structed in every conceivable manner. Besides
the works at Chagin's and Drury's Bluffs
would still remain. 7sss.
Commercially, theEcanal might be ofgreat
value to Richmond.a The loop of the river
which il cut off-abput seven miles in length
formed the shallowest and most intricate
part of its navigation, from Rockets to the
sea. By making q lock of the Dutch Gap
Canal, and throwinga dam across the river
just below the higher lock, the water up to
Richmond might be permanently raised two
feet and placed beyond tidal influence, thus
allowing vessels Of ten or eleven feet draft to
reach the city in aifstages of the tide, while
at present vessels drawing even eight or nine
feet can only, with sextreme difficulty, be
brought up at high tide. Commercially, the
canal was good; but as war measure, OF no
value.
Mr.. Davis said il. was contrary to reason
and the law of nations to treat as rebellion
or lawless riot movement which had beer
the deliberate action of an entire people,
through their duly sorganized State govern
ments. To talk oftreason in the case OF the
South wos to oppose an arbitrary epithet
against the authority. of all writers of inter-
national law. Vattal deduces from his study
of all former precedent-and all subsequent
international jurists have agreed with him
that when nation separates into two parts,
each claiming independence, and both or Ell
ther setting up new government, their quar-
rel, should it come to trial by arms, or by di-
plomacy, shall be regarded and settled pre-
cisely as though itawere a difference between
two separate nations, which the divided sec
tions, de tacto, have become. Each must OBJ
serve the laws ofwarin the treatment Of cap.
tives taken in battle, and such negotiations
as may, from time to time arise, shall be con-
Quoted as between Independent and sover.
eign powers. Mere riots, or conspiracies of
lawless objects, IN; which only limited frac-
tions of people aresirregularly engaged, may
be properly treatedzas treason, and punished
as the public good;may require but Edmund
Burke had exhausted argument on the sub
iect, in bis memorable phrase, applied to the
first American movement for independence: {:
81 knnw not how an indictment against a
whole people shall be framed"
But for Mfr. Lislcoln's ,tntin,ely death, Mr.
Davis thought, there could haze been no ques-
ton raised upon tie subject. That event
more calamity tosthe South than NORTH IN
the time and manner of ats transpiring--had
inaamed popular passions to the highest pitch,
and made the people of the section which
had lost their chief now seek as an equiva-
lent the lille Of the chief of the section con-
quered. This was.nn impulse Of passion, not
conclusion which judgment or justice could
support. Mr.. Lincoln, through his entire
administration, had acknowledged the South
as belligerent nationality, exchanging pris-
oners Of war, establishing truces, and some.
times sending, sometimes receiving, PROPOSE
tions for peace. On the last Of these occa-
sions, accompanied by the chief member OF
his Cabinet, he had personally met the Com
lnissioners appointed by the Southern States
to negotiate, going halt way to meet them,
not far from where Mr.. Davis now stood /; and
the negotiations of General Grant with GEN
eral Lee, jus; preceding the lattep's surren.
der, most distinctly and clearly pointed to the
promise of general amnesty General Grant,
in his final letter, expressing the hope that,
with Lees surrender, "all difficulties be-
tween the sections might be settled without
the loss of another life," or words to that
effect.
To my question what he thought Of g enc
raj Grant, Mr., Davis replied that he was
great soldier beyond doubt, but of new
school. If he had not started with an enor-
nous account in bank, his checks would have
been dishonored before the culmiuation was
reached. At Shiloh he was defeated the first
day, and would have been destroyed or COM
peiled to surrender next morning but for
Buell's timely arrival With fresh and we'll
disciplined reinforcement, the strength of
which had teen variously stated.
When Secretary Of War, he thonght Nc
Clellan the ablest officer in the army, and
had employed him on two important services
AS Military Commission in the Crimea,
and to explore route for the Pacific railroad
-hoth Of Ehieh. dR.ies heaf bsaa dissahaFggd
in manner to increase his reputation. be
organised the army Of the Potomac admira-
bly, but it required commander of more
dash to WELD the weapon in the field. Nc
Clellan's caution amounted very closely to
timidity-moral timidity-for he was person
ally brave On his first landing on the Pen
ineala there bad hefa only segep thousand
troops to meet him, dthese he should have
rushed upon and overwhelmed at whatever
cost. Cautions, and wishing to spare the
blood of his men, he commenced o. regular
siege at Yorktown, giving his enemies tipe
To concentrate sufficient numbers aud drive
him back. As o rnagnanimous enemy he
Fealppeotea Mcclellan, but thought he had been
promoted too rapidly for his own good-he-.
fore he had ripehed in command and gained
the ey,erience requisite for the supreme 20.
sitiou. Had he been kept in subordinate
capacity the two first years Of the war, rising
from division to corps, and thence to eom
mand in chief, he would have been the great
eat of our soldiers. Ho had the best natural
gifts and highest intellectual training, and was
lust becoming fitted for his position when re.
moved, Had he been supported by the Gov
ornrpent, he might Asve taken Richmond two
years eafler, aid it Rss With JOY Afr. Davis
heard of his removal after the battles ol South
Mountain and Antietam. Such sacrifices Of
officers to the ignorance Of an unwarlike peo
ple, anxious to find in him q scapegoat for
their own lack of discipline or endurance,
wers wei" aaayoiaablsin in the early stages of every
popular war:
Pope, while Secretary of War, he bad nsy
er been able to make service BILE. and Pope
held his own gallantly. His mind was not
less inflated than his body. He was a kind
Of American gaseop, but with good scientific