The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-12-25
Late southern News a..

Late Southern News
Among the passengers on the steamer
Courier, on her last trip from Cairo, were q
couple of gentlemen who left Nashville on
Thursday morning last. One of them was
formerly resident of Pennsylvania, but
for the past eight years has been living in
Southwestern Texas, engaged in the prac-
tice of law. This gentleman, Mr. Dana by
name, finding that he was regarded with
suspicion, and having received frequent in
timations from his friend that not only his
property, but his life, was in danger, if he
remained, concluded to leave for his old
home in Pennsylvania. With much eau
ton he commenced winding up his bust
ness affairs, converting his property, as he
could, into money. But notwithstanding
his care, he became convinced that he would
have to resort to strategem in order to get
out of the State. Accordingly, he began
purchasing fat cattle for the New Orleans
market. In making purchases he was ena-
bled to work off considerable property and
claims. Having collected large drove, he
started for Louisiana, arriving in New Or
leans, after enduring many hardships, and
with his cattle sadly fallen off in weight
A sale was effected; and by giving the pur-
chasers time, they paid him in Louisiana
money, at that time worth FIVE per cent
premium. After remaining in New Orleans
for several months he started North, and
succeeded in reaching Nashville only with
the greatest Difficulty At Naai4aiIlA h. -
Joined by gentleman residing in Louis
vile, who agreed to pilot him through the
enemy's lines, which was done successfully,
both arriving in this city without hindrance
or being interfered with.
Mr.. Dana gives most deplorable account
Of the condition of affairs in the South. The
blockade is depriving the people of many of
the necessaries of life; their currency is in
the most wretched condition and daily
growing worse, while the sugar and cotton
planters have already mortgaged their plan
tations in order to raise means of subsist-
ence for their families and slaves, and gold
and silver have almost entirely disappear
ed-the former not. to be had at 35 per
cent. premium and the latter not in the
market at any price. A system of printed
tickets has been resorted to. Omnibus lines,
bar-rooms, shaving Saloons and even the
merchants, issue tickets varying in value
from five to fifty cents, which pass as money
wherever the parties issuing them are
known. Everywhere else they are worth
less The bile Of the Louisiana banks have
been cut into halves and quarters to supply
the place of change, and thus mutilated, of
course many Of them are lost. The banks
have ceased issuing any money of their
own, transaeting all their business in Con-
federate script. They have Systematically
called in, and cancelled, their outstanding
circulation, thus increasing the stringency
of the money market. All that have the
ability are buying gold even at the enor-
nous premium and concealing it for future
use. This causes the premium to steadily
advance and adds to the general perplexity
and gloom.
Many ofthe most intelligent and infiu-
entail of the cotton and sugar planters
frankly acknowledge that their ruin is seal
SN Aul0SS eAO hASSAauo ID EdlStds anu OF mat /
they are beginning to lose all hopes. |
Many Of them boldly assert that before |
they win be hopelessly ruined they will |
rebel against the despotism crushing their
interests. Already, in the city of New Or
leans, a large and formidable organization
Of Union men exists which are ripe for in
surrection when they are satisfied that the
federal army is in condition to sustain
them.
Dir. Dana had the pleasure of wit
Messing the great review of Southern troops
In New Orleans of which the city papers
contained such glowing accounts. He esti-
mated the number in ranks at about Is, 900.
of whom over FIVE thousand were without
arms. Among the latter was full COM
pany Of negroes. The troops presented the
appearance of large mob, were totally
without discipline, and not at all formidable
looking.
There was not much apprehension of an
attack at New Orleans when Mr. Dana left,
while with many it was evident an attack
would not be disagreeable. ;
At Nashville the greatest excitement pre-
vailed. Troops were constantly arriving
and departing for Bowling Green. A large c
number of their troops were sixty days a