The New York herald., 1862-02-04
signifeant Southern Revelations-Thc
RebclliOn i'm It's Dying Struggles.


Rebellion i'm Its Dying Struggles.
In the two very remarkable official docu-
ments which we publish this morning from
some of the principal managers of the rebel
Confederate government, We have the most
significant confessions and revelations Of the
utterly hopeless cause OF our beleaguered and
exhausted Southern rebellion.
The two documents in question are-frst,
the address of Howell Cobb, Robert Toombs,
M. J. Crawford and Thomas r. r. Cobb. mem
bers of the expiring rebel Provisional Congress,
"to the people of Georgia." and, second, the
latest circular of Secretary Memminges o. the
rebel treasury, in reference to the apportion-
ment and collection of the produce ioan Of one
hundred millions of dollars authorized by the
rebel Congress in August last. Tiss loau,
which, as it appears. has thus far gone begging,
without attracting the confidence, to any great
extent, OF Southern cotton, rice sugar or tobac-
co planters, is now to be reduced to forced
division of subscriptions; and so we dismiss this
branch of our subject.
The address of Howell Cobb and his asso-
ciates, under review, is the most extraordinary
and infamous document Of The kind in the his
tory of the civilized world 1t begins by pro-
claiming the unexampled unanimity of the
people concerned in this rebellion, as compared
with any other rebellion, and then come the
admissions, disclosures and recommendations
which betray the despair Of the rebel leaders
and the hopeless condition of their sinking
cause. Cobb and his colleagues confess that
the government of the Union has brought to
bear upon the rebels degree Of "energy and
perseverance and an amount of resources
which we had hardly expected, and disregard
of the constitution and laws which we can
hardly credit" In these admissions there is a
volume of information. Howell Cobb and his
associates of Mr.. Buch anan's Cabinet supposed
when they left Washington. that, having
armed the States in revolt by disarming the 60
vernment and having reduced our Treasury to
the verge of bankruptcy, Southern confede-
racy would be achieved by simple coep d'etot.
A secession league in Virginia and Maryland
would pounce upon Washington on or before
the 4th of March, seize the city the government
buildings, treasures and archives, the army
and navy and thus dictate at once, from the
capital of the United States, q treaty of separa
ton and Of peace.
Nor was this achievement altogether visiona-
ry. On the contrary, in several instances, the
country narrowly escaped its consummation
But failing in this coup d'etdt. the rebel con-
spirators next imagined that, while they were cut
loose from all the restraints of the constitution
and the laws, " Honest Abe Lincoln" even in
selfdefence, would be poweress to act without
the authority Of Congress, and that thus. with
his hands tied, he would fall an easy victim to
JEFF. Davis. 1t is needless here to remind our
readers how this calculation was defeated by
the energetic action of our new administration;
and hence this outcry of Howell Cobb and his
rebel colleagues against it touching its "dsre-
gard of the constitution and laws" Such inso
lence may safely defy parallel in all the an
nails Of treason.
These Georgia rebel Congressman next de-
clare that If the revoted States do their utter.
most they "cannot expect to cope with the enc
my in numbers, equipments or munitions Of
war;" but that the rebels % must look to despe-
rate courage, unfinching daring, and unSersal
self-sacriiice," to hold their ground Of indepen-
dencc. Here we have frank confession Of the
overwhelming military resources Of the govern
ment, to which we would invite the special at
tention of all those English statesmen, poiiti-
clans and journalists who affect to believe that
this rebellion can never be suppressed. Cobb
and his colleagues confess their inferioIity in
numbers and military resources; they recognise
the fact that our absolute control Of the sea
against them has enabled us to lodge the nucleus
Of an army in every revolted State; and in
their despair of foreign intervention they urge
upon their suffering people the necessity Of sac
rifces which would bring upon them starvation,
as preferable TO a return to the blessings of the
Union.
The people Of Georgia are thus cxhortcd TO
be united among themselves, from which we
may infer that they are not yet as closely united
in the work oil this rebellion as they might be-
they are required TO proceed to aggressive
military action" when according 10 the Rich
mond Examiner, the rebel armies are held by
General Mcclellan a. in vice. As a last re-
sort ''the foot of the oppressor' being upon the
soil Of Georgia and as this oppressor "comes
with lust in his eye, poverty in his purse and
hell in bis heart lie must be met at the thresh-
hold and "every woman is called upon to
seize torch and 'every child TO snatch up a
lirebrand. and TO burn their homes and make
their fields desolate. "Let every city," say
Cobb. Toombs and their colleagues, "be level
led with flame and every village be laid in
ashes" before the advancing enemy, and "let
blankness and ruin mark our departing steps
in desert more terrible than Sahara" and the
argument is that when thus resisted the enemy
will halt and give up the contest.
These are the last extremities Of despair, o.
wickcdness and folly. Whole communities Of
cities and villages, on the approach Of the
United States armies, are to burn their homes
and their substance. and take to the woods with
their old men, their sick, their women and chill
tc, ,aarish