February 28, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
In the last few days we have glanced at the objects which the United States have in this war, and at the different measures they will attempt to carry out, in arranging terms of peace with the Confederate States. We have sought briefly to point out the dangers to which the Confederate States will be subjected in closing this war. With vigilance and energy of preparation on the part of our Government, so as to prevent any serious disaster during the coming Spring, the signs at the North and in Europe are strongly indicative of the cessation of hostilities.
When the Confederate States shall be recognized, and the illegal blockade of our coast shall be removed, we shall rise from our attitude of difficulty and unfair depression in full power and with great resources, having earned unwilling respect for our courage and character, and having impressed the world with the practical importance of our products to its comfort and prosperity. The United States will be let down under the moral effect of the recognition of our independence. Those immense advantages they have hitherto had, through the unmolested command of our communications by our want of a navy and the one-sided neutrality and tacit acquiescence of foreign nations in a paper blockade, will be ended. The markets and workshops of the world will then be accessible to us. And it is not likely that our opportunities will be thrown away. The difficulties about keeping up the numbers of the United States’ troops are already almost desperate. The disbandment of three hundred thousand in May, the small prospect of recruiting them, and the demoralization and dissatisfaction throughout all their forces and in the Northwestern States, portend disaster and failure, and a termination of the struggle, if we but do our part. When, from internal and external causes, the North begins to collapse, then the Confederate States will be plied with terms for closing the war, and the fearful and weak kneed and short sighted amongst our public men may jump to obtain the boon of present peace on terms fraught with commercial dependence, growing inferiority and certain trouble.
In the history of the two sections of the old Union, the South credulously put her interests in the hands of her public servants with small accountability for their conduct. The North, on the contrary, had a sectional policy, and brought her public men to a strict account. Northern men who compromised to the rights or interests of the South, even to save the Union, were marked and doomed to political death. Southern men, who staunchly defended the assailed rights and interests of their endangered section, were accounted abstractionists and factionists at home, while denounced at the North; and compromisers and trimmers bore the pain of patriotism, sacrificing their people. The policy of the North prevailed in the councils of the country. The men of the South had the advantage in official position and popularity. Northern men were unable to be popular at the South and sustain themselves at home. Southern men were able to be strong at the South, and strong, too, at the North. We mention these facts of the past to show the virtuous credulity of the Southern people and its bitter fruits at Washington. Lead not into temptation. We desire them to be more vigilant and exacting of their public men in the future.
The system of secrecy, plausibly adopted and acquiesced in, shows that there is little improvement so far. We are satisfied public opinion and free discussion is wholesome, and will help both the heads and hearts of our representatives in all departments of the Government. The moral support or power of the people is potent. The time is coming when our cause is to be again jeopardized by fatal propositions of peace. In our judgment, we are amply strong enough to get the terms we desire in terminating this war. Energetic preparation in military matters now, coupled with persistent nerve and statesmanly views, are only needed. But compromisers may wreck us in the future, as they have depressed and endangered us in the past.