Newspaper Page Text
THE COUNTRYMAN.
129
To my Fellow Countrymen :
Nothing less than the deep interest |
which I feel in the history, and wel
fare of my native state, could induce
me to interfere in matters usually,
more appropriately, committed to the
care of others. I do not propose
any intermeddling with official acts, or
authority, nor do 1 enter any protests
against what has been done, or any
complaints for what has failed to be
accomplished. Days of darkness aie
upon us—the tide has been setting
against us, and gloom, and despon
dency have, very naturally, resulted.
The cloud which has arisen upon our
political horizon is so dark, that it is
difficult to look through it.. Signs of
quailing, and fainting are beginning
to be indicated. The queston of ‘seek
ing to have peace, by laying down our
arms,’ is, I fear, being entertained ir.
some minds- It is time, therefore,
that we -counsel together ; that others,
than those in official position, should
ihelp to think, and, in their proper
sphere, even to speak. These are
questions for the people, and upon
their proper understanding depends
the co-operatioa, and support neces
sary to success- We are one, our
cause is one—our interests common.
United, we may succeed; divided,
we cannot. Look, therefore, and
look carefully, before leaping. Esti
mate the cost—calculate the gain, or
loss, of any move which you may
make. Our sufferings, it is true, have
foeeu great; and it is due, in the histo
ry of these times, that it should be
said, to the credit of our people, that
we have not only suffered much, but
have borne it like true patriots. But
have we yet suffered ail ? Are there
not yet some sacrifices which could
he made, and which could be boine ?
A«<d what are to be the gains of ceas
ing to contend ]
Settle these questions, ponder them
-well, -eottnsei over them, and then, if
you are wise, renew the fight. This
is the best we eau do, with such a foe,
and in no other direction, humanly
speaking, is there hope. It is a fatal
delusion to think of sulTtaission, or
reconstruction, and this is all which
our enemy has to offer, now.
Are not any of the sacrifices which
the prosecution of the war may cost
us—even the lives of ourselves, our
families, the loss of property, homes,
and all—cheap, in comparison with
subjugation, or reconstruction ? The
atrocity which has characterized the
conquests of the enemy, in the past,
has hut feebly typed the degradation,
.and ruin which would be heaped upon
ps, if once under his unbridled con
trol. Think you that it is simply fo
step back into the old union, and say,
•let bygones be buried,' and it is done;
that you cau he received into the em
brace of those who have been your
deadly, unprincipled foes ; that there
will be hearty forgiveness, and recep
tion into full fellowship; and if so, is
your heart base enough to^allow the
embrace of the murderers- of your
brothers, and your sons, the robbers
of your Homes, and of your property,
the desecrators of your churches, and
the tombs of your dead, ar.d tB* fiend
ish violators of the most sacred rights
of your family ?
Are you prepared to forget the
noble, slaughtered dead, whose blood
has been spilled, aud which cries for
vengeance on every battle-field, on
which they have fallen in defence of
these principles, and rights which J'ou
ai : G now asked to surrender ? 1 re
peat, are you ready ! If yea, then
go, aud reap a traitor’s reward. But
let not the southron despair. With
the consciousness that you are right,
still stand by your country. Do your
whole duty, aud then rest in the assu
rance that ‘ the Judge of all the earth
will do right.’ But what, think you,
would be the fate of the conquered—
the submissionist % At the first shak
ing of hands, there would doubtless
be a day of feigned congratulation,
and smiles—of fair piomises, and
pledges of protection, respect for
rights, and all that. But, beyoml
this, there comes a day of reckoning
—of settlement- Who, then, is to
prescribe the terms—who to define
the political, and civil rights 1 Who
is to hold the titles to your houses,
your landb ? And who to pay the
expenses of a four years’ war 1 Who
is to be the arbiter, and who holds the
power ] Think of these, and many
more questions, which mast come up
for settlement.
Be not deceived, my countrymen.
Better die in the struggle, and fill a
patriot’s grave, than be reduced, by
feigned piomises of pardon, and re
storation. If overpowered, your ex
ample will be a rich legacy to poster
ity, when the history of these times
shall be written. If successful—aud
successful you will be, if true to your
selves, your country, and the confed
eracy—4)ren you will be doubly bless
ed, reaping the reward in your own
day, and giving to those who succeed
you, the rich legacy of a free govern
ment. We may be tired of war—who
is not]—yea, sick of it—praying for
peace, but only an honorable peace,
based upon terms recognizing our
rights, and conceding to us a separate
national independence. We have al
ways been, and still remain, willing
to negotiate upon this basis. Of this,
our enemy has been repeatedly ad
vised, and needs not now to be told
again. These offers have been treat
ed with contempt, and the order is,
• crush out the rebellion,’ ‘ utter anni-
-liilation,’ and all that.
An old Georgian, one horn on its
soil, reared amid its institutions, iden
tified with her people, and her for
tunes, through life, desires now, in
these days, when our hearts are being
•tried, to speak to you from the walks
of private life, and ask you to stand
firm, to be united, and reconsecrate
yourselves around the standard of
your country. Strike with your own
strong arms, and commit your cause to
God, and whatever may betide.you,
or whatever else you may do, never
go back—never ! NO, never!
Your fellow-citizen,
James M. Chambers.
Richmond, Feb. 7.—“The follow
ing was received, today, dated the
6th, at headquarters:
Gen. <S. Cooper—
The *enemy moved, in strong force,
yesterday, to Hatcher’s run. Fart of
his infantry, with Gregg’s cavalry,
crossed, and proceeded on the Vauglia
road, the infantry to Tail creek, and
the cavalry to Dinwiddie court-house,
where its advance encountered a por
tion of our cavalry, and retired in the
afternoon.
A part of Hill’s and Gordon’s troops
demonstrated against the enemy, on
the left of Hatcher’s run, near Arm
strong’s Mills, but finding the enemy
entrenched, they withdrew after dark.
During the night, the force that ad
vanced beyond the creek, returned to
it, and were repealed to he recrossing
this morning.
Pegvam’s division moved down to
the right hank of the creek to re
connoitre, when it was vigorously at
tacked. The battle was obstinately
contested, several hours, hut Gen. Pe-
gram being killed, while bravely en
couraging his troops, and Col. Hoff
man wounded, contusion occured, and
the division was pressed back to its
original position. Evans’s division
was ordered, by Gen. Gordon, to sup
port Gen. Pegram’s charge. The en
emy forced him hack, but, in turn,
was compelled to retire. Mahone’s
division arriving, the enemy was drjv-
.en rapidly to his defences, on.Hatch
er’s iun.
Our losses are reported small—that
I of the enemy was supposed to he
* great. R. E. Lee,”