A long war has its advantages.
Many in the
South desire a long war. They will hardly be gratified by the
Yankees, who do not desire any prolongation of a condition of things so disastrous to trade as the war. The South cannot suffer a tithe as much as the
North from a long war; on the contrary, such a war will benefit her interest in many respects.
They may be enumerated as follows: 1st.
It weans the
South from Northern supplies and relationship.
2d.
It begets an independent manufacturing spirit among us. 3d.
It employs our abundant supplies of food and means for carrying on war. 4th.
It cultivates our military spirit, rendering our arms a terror to foes for all time to come.
5th.
It will beget peace with less actual conflict in arms, as no sooner than the next presidential campaign opens at the
North two parties will arise to crush each other — the
Democratic or Peace party, and
Lincoln's or the Abolition party.
It need surprise no one if this precious conflict opens with such men as
ex-President Pierce and
Vallandigham, on one side, for peace and recognition; and on the other,
Lincoln, or
McClellan, or
Seward, with some deep-dyed individual as
Vice President.
Already a peace party is forming there, and if the campaign was nearer we should have but little to do South but to keep our army in the field and await the natural result of party spirit.
6th.
Every one knows the quick subsidence of any feeling among the
Northern people, especially in the large cities.
They must have novelty upon novelty.
The war has already been a long war with them.
Hence the first volunteers are escaping homeward We may expect that the recruits will scarcely overbalance the returning soldiery, and that they have as large an army as they can collect.
7th.
The Yankee money, though plentiful in times of peace and prosperity, is scarce in war; and for several reasons--first, a $50,000 capitalist in New York,
Boston, &c., has his funds somewhat in this condition: $15,000 in a suburban villa, yielding no per cent.; $15,000 in city realty; $20,000 in bonds of various kinds — the two last paying scarcely any dividends just now. So you will perceive he can command no money for the war, if so disposed.
His situation compares badly with that of a Southern farmer who owns the like amount, his being in land and negroes, say $40,000, balance in notes, all realizing even now a good profit, and enabling him to contribute to the war, by taxation or donation thousands of dollars.
A long war, therefore, will bring ruin to the
North; and, should
England refuse to recognize, let her so refuse, and get up a war at home.
We can fight it out, if need be, without thanks to any earthly power.
