Mr. Yancey on the War.
A number of citizens of Montgomery lately presented to Her. Wm. L. Yancey a beautiful horse, as an evidence of their appreciation of his services as a statesman and a patriot. In his letter (dated May 20th) acknowledging the gift, Mr. Yancey indulges freely in comments upon the great movement for Southern independence. We comment his remarks to the attention of our readers: I am somewhat at a loss how most appropriately to express to you my thanks for this munificent and patriotic gift. Though couched in terms of personal kindness, I shall perhaps best interpret the spirit and object of your letter, by considering it as expressive rather of a political than a personal idea.--of the idea of an indissoluble unity of the people of the South in support of the cause of the South--of a unity in resistance to its invaders, not only in the field, but by their firesides — of a unity in sacrifices — of a unity in endurance of suffering — of a unity as well under reverses as in the hour of victory — of that unity which the gallant Lochiel claimed for his clansmen: ‘ "Where swords are a thousand--Whose become are one"
’ Such a condition is presented by the people of the South to day — more united than any other people ever were under similar circumstances more united than even our fathers of the Revolution of 1776. Wide differences which once existed amongst us — often degenerating to personal hostility, have been utterly submerged under the tide of patriotism which has flowed so high over the while land — and are now remembered hot to stimulate us to a noble mutation an efforts for the cause of our beloved country. The progress of the war which has been so wickedly and unscrupulously waged to enforce upon the South a Government unknown to our rather and which our people have a empudiated had but intensified-- this reading. As it has advanced every leading which had been its object by the --every --of the law of It is no longer Constitution and the United State war to reduce the States of the Southern Garrison condition — to establish over military dictatorship, as in Tennessee; to disfranchise our citizens; to reduce them to adjusted with negroes. to confiscate our property, to subject our industry, for untold years, to exorbitant taxation to pay the enormous war debt of the North. In its conduct, robbery of private houses distinguishes the officers and soldiers of the enemy; unoffending aged, noncombatant citizens are seized and hold as hostages for the safety of their marauding parties, and pure, refined ladies it is officially proclaimed, are to be regarded and created as harlots, if they exhibit contempt for their brutal officers and men, who, in many well authenticated cases, have been guilty of the infamous crime of rape. No wonder, then, that in the South there is no longer love for the flag than waves over such a foe — no respect for the men that rally beneath it --that there is hatred of the cause in which it is borne. No wonder that an observing world has been astonished at the spirit and energy exhibited by a people so few in numbers, and so deferment in mechanical resources, when compared with those of the invader. Accustomed to case and indulgence, yet it is a literal truth that the whole community has arisen, men, women and children, to participate in the glorious yet hazardous struggle for freedom and civilization million of the young have volunteered the field of battle, the old men have engaged in developing and sustaining the industrial pursuits of the country, while the worker universally, and organized efforts to cloths the army and to nurse the sick and wounded Every luxury of life has been cheerfully abandoned — every privation has been cheerfully endured with eighteen the people Southern upon the principle . That Government, starting without an army, or navy of the country, was and equipped armies which have won at morning victories, and hold at only three-quarters of a million of armed invaders. It has built a navy, which, in its brief career, has astonished the naval world by its successes, and has revolutionized naval science. And yet, to high, so great is the spirit of the Southern people that even there dead do not them, the necessary expenditures of the year do to hardly tax their liberal patriotism. The enormous burdens and sacrifices incident to such a war, was commerce entirely destroyed, call forth no complaint, except the complaint that they are noticeable, to give more to their country both of life and property, than they have been called upon to give, and that the half has not been done which could have been done in our defence. The Administration and Congress, in spire of such a record, to day stand arraigned before their masters — the people — for not having fully compassed the measure of this mighty movement. I cannot better illustrate this spirit, than by relating the last words spoken to me by a planter of Dallas, as I passed up the Alabama, in March last, on my way to Richmond. ‘"Say to President Davis and to Congress, that they are not yet alive to the magnitude and importance of this contest. It is a contest for constitutional liberty. Tell them that the people are far ahead of their representatives — that we are ready and anxious to give, at their call, all we have of property, of blood — aye, and of life. But there is one thing we will not give, even to them — our liberties. Take all else, but save out liberties."’ History furnishes the example of no people superior to this people. I left you for Europe last spring and you were at peace with all the world. I returned just as the public mind had fully comprehended the great military disasters of Fort Donelson and Roanoke Island — and I been witnessed for the first time, in its full proportions — in all its grandeur, contracting to magnificently and significantly with these crosses in the East and in the West this indomitable popular spirit. Cling above all difficulties, trampling upon all reverses, and demanding victory as its faith right. It has been the certain theme of my admiring thought since. It has sustained and re-invigorated every hope for the future of land which I have ever reported at even in hours of most expects --and now say to you my country men, and I may I have not abated an of my of the South contracted now in its possession, are wisely used, we will win this battle for freedom. Trouble a decalcifies and suffering — perhaps greater than we have yet under one, may have to be endured the furnace may be already heating in which we are to be tried.--But it is to be a trial of the good, of the brave, of the patriotic, and we must come out of it, as the good and brave and the patriotic came out of it in the olden time, purified and refined, and in doing so we shall be but the better prepared to govern ourselves wisely and successfully as an established nation among the Powers of the world.
