Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-12-31
TW0 IMPORTANT WITNESSES ON
THE STAND.

he 1'hooh itnieS mas q cofrsS Sp0nde,lt in
R>Imontt and ia Tez--- -ToFifaa iSesh, in
their most recently published letters, speak of
the condition and hopes of the rebels Both are
notoriousiy favorable to the rebel cause. Both
bear estimony, though i'll different ways to
the prostration and exhaustion of the rebels
The Richmond correspondent, writing from
that city on November lItl, reveals, uuinten-
tionaIIy the feelings OF the rebels III their cap
ital:
The enemy, with as much pertinacity, and
far more sagacity than heretofore, hens in The
edges of the rebellion OIL every side. avoids
the frequent recurrence of pitched battles and
general engagements, pounces with hawk.iik
swoop upon Isolated and inadeq quately sup
ported bodies of men, evinccs possession of adj
mirable secret information, keeps the Con-
fedeI:tte generals constantly on the rack, and,
harIassed by ernptions Of cavalry, makes bis
superiority OF numbers, and still NOR. his
abundance OF supplies for horse and man, more
and more felt, and finally he is investing the
ports Of Secessia with a Gordon of vessels so
numerous as for the firss time in thirty months
to make access to the COnte derate coast really
dangerous and difficult On the other hand
in reteldom itself the Federals have a owerful
ally in circumstances which, TO my thinking,
have ii ON the beginning q quadrnrIed the mag
nitnde Of the Confederate task.
No one who has been couyersaE. with The
northern States during the last two and half
years can have failed 10 notice with astonish.
ment the 1alth stronger than death which the
nave fSnlDlttti Their star their
manifest destiny, their religion their Alpha
and Omega, their dream of dominion from sea
TO sea, and ito quote Mr. Everett's words)
from the icy pole TO the flaming belt OF the
equator No parallel faith has ever been ex-
hlbited by the Confederate States in tneir future
Six great southern victories in the field and
three drawn battles, exhausting the nine prin-
cipal collisions of the war, the entire absence
OF any such panic routs as Bull Run OF Chica
mauga. the tried netficiency of the Federal
blockade, the unmolested predatory flight OF
AlaSamas and Eloridas at sea, have altogether
failed TO inspire the masses OF the South W lth 4
uthe OF that confidence in themselves which
neither defeat. nor disaster, nor hopes deferred,
nor Illusions dispelled, have ever shaken out OF
the noItheTners. Deny il who may, there is
some thing sublime in this shadowy earnestness
and misty masnificence of northern faith and
Self-reliance. Would that l could see promise
of future and final southern triumph in any
corresponding qualify of the southern mind
In many fashions southern unfaith crops up
and recoils upon the Confederate government
making, tor instance, MIR. Memminger's task
though be takes his stand upon raw material
worth sixty or seventy millions of pounds ster-
ling herculean compared with MIR. Chase's
who issues vastly larger promises to pay on \
security of hreadstuff exports worth ONLY sixty
seventy millions of dollars
This comes from Richmond. and from one
who is in daily contact with the rebel leaders
Now let us hear the New York correspondence
He of Richmond tells England OF the superior
spirit, determination, yigor and strength of the
Government and tree States. The New York
correspondent admits that the Federal author.
ity is prevalent in the border States that nthe
disturbances in those States become less sIg-
nificant and less frequent'' that s.mors than
one.half the people of Delaware, Maryland,
Tennessee and Kentucky willing to vote
for the Union, is no matter of doubt;' that in
Louisiana ssconstant efforts are being made
by the people tor this ere. constitution of the
State" that" Missouri is quietar than il has
bs en- for the last two years; and he goes on To
say: sGE aa-if
SThat the prolonsation OF the struggle may
within five or six months wear out the South
!, candidly speaking, believe by no means i'm
possible Heroes of the Lee and Davis stamp
may chosse TO break rather than 10 BEND and
for Them death. or exile will be the more bear.
able lot. but ifTesistance in the field is oyer.
come, do really incline 10 believe that men
will be found III the Sonth willing To put for
ward or accept proposals either of submission
or comproInis e. and if the two fractions of these
disunied States can never come TO terms, and
the impIacable leaders OF the Secession nove-
ment are providentially removed, the paeiflc ca
non and conciliatton of the Rebel districts may
turn ont less difficult j task than people are
now fain to imagine The States OF Georgia,
Alabama, South Carolina, and especially North
Carolina, may eventually come uiider the man.
agement OF the Washington government With
no gre ater trouble than Maryland or Missouri,
u il SO bs that the Government nnds p.ansi-
ble solution 10. the slavery question: matter
which, to my mind, is not so very diaieuit
= In conclusion he says ae
..On the whole conclude that the South
seems 20 sxhiatt sigas ef WEAKNESS and des-