, 1862-09-06

It must be confessed tllat the present sit
nation Of the country is more threatening and !
gloomy than at any former period since the |
rebellion began. The grand army Of thu Po- t
tomac which marched on Manassas last
spring, and went to the Peninsula II April, Is
driven back to the entertainments around
Nashipgton-a skeleton Of its former self
The rebels hare penetrated through Eastern
Virginia to the very suburbs Of the national
capi,al, and have Won fresh victory on IN
old battle ground. They have overruu Ken
tucky, cut off Gen. Buell. from the Oaio River;
the railroads and telegraphs are in their
bands they hold the capital Of the State;
aud in few days they will probably be
se arning in irresistible force around Louis
Vile. Cincinnati lies: tempting prize to the
half.starved, i'll clad rebels. To gain 1t would
| be to storm Paradise, and plnnder its wealth
| at will. Burnside has left North Carolina
with nothing but a comparatively small gar
rieon. In Buffers department we see the
Union forces falling back from Baton Rouge
and private letters anticipate an assault
| upon The city Of New Orleans, which nothing
but Commodore FarTagut's fleet eau reptl
| In Tennessee Governor johnson is entrench-
lrg limte1f at Nashville -Clarksvi1le has been
| enrrendered-Fort Donelson and Bolivar Is
mcnaeed, and Kirby Smith is marching
! through Kentucky.
In the East, we 1earn Of the eyacuation
Of Norfolk and Fredericksburg, and the yir.
tnal abandonment of the Peninsula, except
as naval station, at Fortress Monroe, and
perhaps Yorktown and Gloucester Point.
Our gupboats are moving up the Potomac to
prevent the rebels from crossing into lower
Mar3 land; and all the positions on the upper
rotomac. in the neighoorhooa Of Hrpets s
Ferry. Point of Rocks, and PoolVllle are
s:rnDg]y held. :.
rebel leaders have changed their plsns- Here
; totore their attitude b as been demonstrauvelJ
defensive They talked of . soil invaded, aui
t the necessity Of repelling the Invaders. The!
:, only atked to be let alone.
It was no part Of the early plan Of the re6e
g leaders to carry the War beyond the bofde
States. They had early selected that BATH
ground. and they chose to retain 1t.
!, Their abandonment Of this passive pole,
4 marks new era in the war. The contest
j soil One reason Of this change OF measure
Y may consist In the enormous waste OF s1aV
= property, incident to the presence Of Unfo
- armies in the slave States, and to the desola
= tion which threatens to reign throughout til
=, South # the confice be permisted to rag
u without interruption from the Mississippi t
d. the sea- But stronger argument for a bolde
course Is found, no doubt, in the certafut
that the waning strength OF their military arr
IL will presently leave them no power wit
ID which to attack or defend aud that If ever q
IN impression is made upon the great Europea
~ governments, to whom the South looE
,ic anxiously for recognition. it must be made b
~ following up vigorously the successful repun
J. Of the Union forces from before Rlchmon
u To hare driven the invader back to his on
N. frontier, and then to pass that boundary, ca
ryipg var into the enemy's country, won
Is be al exhibition Of military strength we'll d
sg serving the applause and recognition Of &
~, entire world.
sh That recognition once obtaiusa; the #
an might be permitted to assume its former ps
np sive character; and against North demor
os ized and discouraged By the aeknowlede
lat ment accorded by the European po gers,
av would be easy to hold their own, and 10
end procure 8 satisfactory peace. And it q
Is force were needed to clinch these consld :
mr. tiops, The obvious fact that something mi
~ be done before the 600. 600 raw leyies call
are forth by the president sh Ill be converted IL
bv soldiers must have had great weight in pro a
r. ipg desperate resolve. Ga al Immediate
IL yasiou Of the North, at all points, the nh
th~ issue of the Eac vas to be staked.