If the North wins the war, subjugates the South, and replaces the utopian slave labor system, the country will become “a howling wilderness.” Despite a reported prediction by General Grant, there is no evidence that Richmond is about to be evacuated.
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch March 30, 1865:
Thursday morning…March 30, 1865.
It must be acknowledged that a territory like the South is worth fighting for. …
What country on the face of the earth, cultivated by free labor, can produce such a record? But the North was, after all, the chief gainer. The immense surplus of the South went into her hands, in exchange for Northern notions. The South paid the great bulk of the revenue, and, by her agricultural industry, built up the commerce and manufactures of the United States. It remains to be seen whether the cultivation of the Southern soil by the sword instead of the plough share will improve Northern prosperity. …
Several interesting points are suggested by the facts above. Such an extent of territory–eight hundred and fifty thousand square miles — a vast land of mountain and forest as well as fertile plain, and defended by a million of brave men, can never be subjugated except by the consent of its own people. Its huge dimensions may render it impossible to defend every point, but they render it equally impossible for an enemy to occupy every point with a force sufficient to keep the country in subjection. If we fall, it must be by our own mismanagement, discord and imbecility. Such a land is worth many battles and many sacrifices; not alone for its material wealth, not for the system of slave labor which has produced that wealth, but for the people — the generous, noble people — by whom it is inhabited. It is our land, the land where we were born, the land of our father’s graves. We do not believe, if it is determined to be free, that it can ever be enslaved. But if the will of God be otherwise, we shall have the grim consolation of seeing our oppressors overwhelmed in the common ruin. With the downfall of slave labor, comes the downfall of their own commerce and manufactures as surely as darkness follows the setting of the sun. If it be not our land, it will be a howling wilderness.
We cannot but admire the inextinguishable hopefulness and intrepidity of the Confederates abroad. …
One of the Senators of the United States informs his people that General Grant expects the evacuation of Richmond in ten days. It is almost that period since the announcement was made. But we see no sign at present of the fulfillment of the prediction. The evacuation of Richmond has been promised by the Federal doctors a good many times, but the patient seems incorrigible. It is the most obstinate case of costiveness recorded in the books, and might defy even Brandeth’s pills.
It is astonishing that a sagacious people can be so often and so long deceived; but “hope springs immortal in the human breast.” From Seward’s “ninety days” they have been led by the nose for four years, always believing that the end of the rebellion was close at hand.–Constantly deceived by the mirage, they as constantly believe that it is reality; and though the deception costs them rivers of blood and seas of treasure, they persevere with as invincible faith as if they had never been imposed upon. Happily, events are now approaching a crisis, when, if they are again disappointed, the most credulous and hopeful will lose faith and patience. They are so certain now of our destruction, that failure to take Richmond before the 4th of July next will demoralize the whole nation.
And shall they not be disappointed? One more mighty effort of self-defence, and, with the blessing of Heaven, our independence is secured. Let us feed the armies now in the field, let us gain time to make available that new military element so long called for by General Lee, and we shall stand prepared to defy any strength that the United States can hereafter put forth for our subjugation. …
To prevent the escape of Negroes.
The Georgia Legislature, at the late session, passed an act authorizing the Governor to establish a line of mounted pickets, of such number and at such points, as he may deem sufficient for the purpose of preventing the escape of slaves to the enemy at Savannah; and to organize the men into a battalion of cavalry, to be composed of such as will mount and arm themselves.
From the same issue:
Concert for the benefit of the orphans.
–A concert will be given at St. James’s Church to-night, at 8 o’clock, by a number of the most prominent of our musical amateurs, for the benefit of the orphans of the Female Humane Asylum.
