National Republican., 1881-06-14

Mr.. Davis unfolds to the world the
rather important historical fact, which
we do not remember to have seen clearly
stated before, that he never consented to
the cessation Of hostilities. He comedies
| that Lees army could neither retreat nor
longer sustain itself in battle, and that
therefore its surrender was compulsory.
But Joe Johnston he charges with dis
obeying orders, and thus bemoans the
| consequences:
The show of continued resistance, then be-
| lieved rs still do, would have overcome the de-
preston which was spreading like starleSs night
over the country, and that the exhibition of de-
| termination not to leave our political future at
| the mercy Of any enemy which had for four years
been striving 70 subjugate the States would have
led the United States authorities to do Ar. Lin
coin had indicated-give any terms which might
be found necessary speedily to terminate the ex-
isting war Had General Johnston obeyed tine
order scntto him from Charlotte, and moved on
the route selected by himself, with all his cavalry
so much of the infantry could be mounted, and
the light artillery, he could not have been Sue
cessfully pursued by General Sherman. His force,
united to that had assembled al Charlotte, would
it was believed, have been sufficient 10 yanquish
any troops which the enemy had between us and
| the Mississippi River.
Had the cavalry with which l left Charlotte
been associated with q force large enough to in
spre hope for the future, instead of being dis
couraged by the surrender in their rear it would
probably have gone on, and, when united with
the forces of Maury Forrest, and Taylor, in Ala
| bama and Mississippi, have constituted an army
large enough to attract stragglers and revive the
dropping spirits of the country. In the worst view
of the case it should have been able to cross the
trans Mississippi Department and, there uniting
with the armies of E. (. Smith and Magruder, to
form an army which, in the portion of that coun-
try abounding in supplies and deficient in rivers
and railroads, could have continued the until
our enemy, foiled in the purpose of subjugation,
| should, N accordance with his repeated declara-
ton, have agreed on the basis OF return to the
Union. to acknowledge the constitutional rights
of the States, and by convention quasi treaty
to guarantee security of person and property.
This passage will not elevate its author
in the estimation of mankind. The idea
that a powerful and victorious nation
could be harassed into compliance with
the demands Of the vanquished by a
guerrilla war waged in the enemy's own
country, to the injury of his own people,
WAS DIS great d PieCe VI ioily dS loI d pas
sionate child to punish its nurse by beat
ing its own head on the floor. This be-
comes more absurd when we consider
that the demands thus to be imposed
were that the United States should "a ac-
knowledge the constitutional rights of
the States" the chief and most valued
Of which rights was, as claimed by
the enemy, the right of States to
secede at will without resistance by the
General Government. We think the
work of Mr.. Davis will not take its place
in literature as aheroic or philosophical
model. Il will the rather be generally
regarded as the peevish and untimely
complaint against destiny of man want