The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1861-07-18

the movement Of large bodies of troops,
heard the conversation of their masters,
and picked up at the public meetings
large amount of information, which
they communicate to each other. They
are now waiting patiently for their lib
GRAFTON, which they confidently expect
to take place very soon. They are care
fully watched by their owners, and
throughout the districts where the
slaves are most numerous, nightly pa.
trolls are out, leaving no nook or corner
une xplored 1t will in consequence,
be impossible for the Slave States to re-
inforce the troops in Virginia; they
now require their strength at home TO
keep down insurrection, and remon.
strances against any further call for
troops by Davis have already been made
from several States. Their whole dis
posable force is now in the field.
PUBLIC OPINION.
We were much and very agreeably
surpris ed to learn the favorable state
Of public opinion at the South on the
or eat question of Secession. The Un-
ion men are more numerous and ,pow.
erful than is generally supposed AL
ALBANIA was dragged from her allegi-
ance by a mixture of chicanery, vic.
lence and bribery, through which a
small majority was obtained There
are several counties in the northern
part of the State where people dare not
even now talk of Secession.
Mississippi is at heart for the Union,
beyond all question, and.was dragoon.
cd into Secession against her will. Our
informant knows the State thoroughly.
Arkansas is anything but unanimous
on the question. Kentucky is perfect
| ly safe, and so are Eastern Tennessee
and Western Virginia. There are
Union men enough in these States, if
they had money and arms, to put down
the rebels themselves. As soon as the
United States Government shows its
power to recover the lost rights of
these States, the "belligerents" will dis
appear.
TO sum up briefly our informans's
statements it appears that the Southern
States are overwhelmed with debt, have
no trade or money, no cotton on hand,
except in very limited quantity, and
will gather but half crop this year
They are without materials for clothing
either soldiers or civilians, beyond a
few months consumption. The usual
channels of trade, aud even of inter
nal traffic, are closed, as for example
the communication between Mobile and
New Orleans is all carried on by
round about and tedious railway lines,
and -four is now selling at the latter
place at eighteen dollars per barrel,
notwithstanding the good crop, because
there is no convenient way of trans
porting it. The Mississippi is effec-
tually blockaded. The population of
the most Aourishing towns is diminish
ing by absenteeism; as, for example,
there are at this moment one thousand
three hundred deserted houses in Mem
phis. The last and only hope Of the
Confederates is, that England will be-
come their ally without delay. If this
is not done, they confess themselves
lost.
The mind of the South has been sys-
tematically poisoned as to the North
The common people really believe that
the war has been commenced by us, and
solely to free or steal slaves. Stump
orators, for months and months, have
been traversing the States, speaking at
every little cross road'and courthouse,
till their audiences become frantic with
rage. The leaders knew we'll enough
what they were about. They wanted
slave holding, cotton raising republic,
where they could be graudecs in rank,
and Croesuses in fortune.
They expected an easy victory over
the North, and are now utterly con-
founded at their mistake. Our infor-
mant has again and againrecently been
asked, by intelligent and accomplished
women, this question: "Do you think
the North will ever fight usP Will they
not run away at the first shot?" These
opinions have been universal at the
South. A Southern man really thinks
he can whip ten Northern men, a piece
of conceit not yet abandoned, as every
skirmish has been proclaimed glorious
victory, ....
With regard to the number of troops
in Virginia, our informant says there
cannot be less than 100000, and the
largest body of them is at and about
Richmond. Their hope is to pursue a
system of ambuseades and masked bat
toaies, the mountains and defiles of the
State being we'll adapted to such plan
of defense. He thinks they will fight
desperately, at least one great battle,
counting on a success to help them at
homr and abroad.
Finally, our informant thinks if the
North could make known to the South,
in some unmistakable way; that it does
not make war to abolish slavery, the
war might be considered as almost over.
The Secessionists feel and know they
have entirely mistaken their case and
their remedy, and the leaders tremble
for their own personal safety.
NoBoDY has ever been able to change
to-day into tO-morrow---or into yester
day; and yet everybody, who has much