The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1862-07-03
WHAT NEXT!

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WHAT NEXT!
Already, threc-fourths of the work Of
conquering the military power of the rebel
lion is accomplished. 1t but remains to
vanquish Davis army at Richmond, and
regularly organized warfare, on the part of
the rebels, will virtually be at an end.
The insurgent armies will scatter demoral-
lied and hopeless, and their leaders will
find it impossible to gather up a force in
any part of rebeldom large enough to give
reasonable hope of impeding the progress
of restoration. This will be great acbiev-
ment towards the reinstatement of the
Federal authority; but, are We justified in
regarding it as the conclusion of the rebel
lion 1t rather seem to be but the first
phase of the. instruction, leaving much
important and difficult work for accom-
plishment in order to the complete paci6ca-
ton of Secessia. We are not to expect the
war to end with deGnitive conclusion of
peace. That, in the nature of the case, is
impossible; as We must demand of the
rebels conditions more humiliating than
those usually accepted between separate and
independent nations. We cannot accept a
peace from JEFF. Davis by which be con-
sents to bring back the seeded States of
the Union, even if he could be supposed
capable of concluding such treaty. To
treat with him on any such matter would
be to recognize in him an authority which
is usurped aud in contravention of the au.
thority of the United States. The only
capacity in which We can recognize the
rebel leaders is as State criminals, to be
pursued and brought to justice, and not to
be negotiated with upon equal terms
There can, therefore, be No such thing as
treaty of peace. BY which rebel official act
will restore the South to the Union. We
shall have to conquer all We recover. This
work of subduing the rebellion in detail
may be easily nder-estimate6. 1t cannot
be otherwise than a slow, vexatious and
destructive process. The opposition will
not consist in mere passive disloyalty. We
may expect considerable portion of the
rebel army to scatter over the South and
organize into formidable guerilla bands.
The rebels have openly avowed this to be
their policy, in the event of their armies
being generally defeated; and there is good
reason to expect the threat will be in a
large measure fulfilled. There will, of
course, be large proportion of the rebel
army that will quietly return home. The
impressed, the large numbers weary of the
strife, the hopeless, Of whom there will 0e
very many, aud the half secesh and half
Union, of whom also there are not few
these classes may be expected to return to
their homes, in peace, and keep there
But the most fanatical, the desperate and
'evengeful. and the horde of villains who
have no home or interests TO care for, and
would prefer life of Brigandage to any
other-these may be expected to betake
themselves to guerilla marauding, led by
daredevil spirits ef the rebellion. The
hunting down of these men will involve the
employment of considerable cavalry force,
at heavy cost to the Government. Their
exploits will keep the South in q constant
ferment. Many of the Loyalty disposed
will be prevented from heartily yielding
their allegiance through fear of being .isi:
ted with vengeance from these terrorists.
Their rapid and sudden movements will
keep up reign of terror in the district
they infest, and greatly barass the admins.
tration of the Federal authority. Their
peculiar method of warfare will enable
them to withstand for considerable period
the means employed for their suppression.
Being chiefly mounted, aud living BY levies
upon the neighborboods they infest, they
cannot be defeated by cutting off their
supplies, destroying railroad bridges, or any
of the ordinary means of military strategy.
They can be subdued only by being sur.
rounded and captured, which, with men of
their habits, will not be matter of easy
Achievements. Probably the chief aid to
the suppression of this marauding will arise
from the people themselves, who, tired of
constant danger, may be expected to organ
'1e and arm for their own protection.
Should the people of the South sympa,
thize with this system of warfare, and
obstinately sho" their resistance to the
Government by aiding the guerilla., thew
will bring upon themselves terrible retri.
button. Their plantations will be devast,.
ted, their homes desecrated, and all the
horrors of Mexican civil war will marx
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