, 1863-05-20

The news from Gen. Grant has an en-
courag1ng look. he has hand task be-
fore him, and tue enemy are evidently in |
strong force in that part Of the theatre of |
war. The rumor comes that Vicksburg is |
cvacuated, and the rebels moving north
ward 10 join in IN attempt to crush
Rosecrans. Simultaneously with this our
dispatches from Mount Vernon and Muir
trecsboro lay stress upon increased indi-
cations Of aggressive movements on the
part Of the rebels A few days will de-
eide what ut best would be till then but con-
lecture. The rebels in the Southwest are
certainty oorral1ed and bagged, but the
co1all is large one, and the bag must
needs be Of strong stuff, or it will be vio-
1ent1y rent. The situation cannot retain its
present aspects without something in one
direction or the other.
If the stories Of rebel destitution still
continue to be retailed for the purpose Of
disclosing the beauties OF the rebellion, it
is perhaps well enough. But if they are
circulated to win credcnce in the earlier
subtluing Of the rebels from that reason, all
such tales deserve to be stamped as idle
and ridiculous. The Chinese wall might
be stretched round the insurgent
Statcs from now until the close Of :.
this century and find them in the
year 1900 tolerably wcll-fed people. 4
Territory Of such vast agricultural resources
cannot be starved out. We shall conquer
them l,y hard knocks, by the disruption Of
their domestic institution, by armed inva-
sion, by subjugation; but if there be a sit
ting-down to wait until they arc starved to
death, Mr.. Macauleys New Zealandcr on
lis way across the Continent TO take
steamer for London will be among the ad-
1niring spectators Of the failure in that
respect.
The discussion Of the construction Of
the 18Th section Of the Conscription Law
sill occupies much space in the news
channels. Our Washington correspondent
in another part Of tins issue, presents full
and careful view Of the various phases Of
The subject. 1t is confessedly unfortunate
that this feature was incorporated into the
bill at I'LL; but the matter is not irremedia-
BILE. Even should the opinion Of the At
torney General sustain the close construc-
ton Of the LAM, and allow exemption to be
purchased with $500, tho plan Of 800
bounty thus secured 10 volunteers would
doubtless bring forward large numbers OF
volunteers and substitutes The draft will
soon he here.
Surgeon General Hammond has come in
with a timely order, which will destroy
ahe occupation Of hundreds of military
Sangrados who only know enough 10
weigh out calomcl and tartar emctic,
Hcnccforth it is the salvation, and not the
salvation, of our brave boys' that the army
Surgeons must seek, and the white powder
which has wrought our army nearly as
much harm as the black powder Of tht
rebels is dismissed from the service in dis
grace. Tartar cmetic is also dropped from
The rolls. These two features Of medico
military reform, reflect honor upon tht
Surgeon General. Some Of the worst enc
mics Of the army, incompetent Surgeons
are thus disarmed Of their dangerous
weapons.
We devote 4 share Of space none o1
cur readers would desire to have lessened,
TO the detailing Of tic noble achievement
of Col. Grierson, in the cavalry raid, Which
will stand shining spot in the history o
this war, whatever may come after it. Th'
account VIC publish will be rendered nor
intelligent by the accompanying map Q
Mississippi, upon which is traced the rout'
taken By our gallant Illinois troopers, VIII
have shown themselves daring and dash
ing cayalrymen. Happily sustaining tn
same illustrious credit, the report Of Lieut.
Col. Hasbrouck Davis, Of the 18th lllinoi
Cavalry, reviews the share Of his command
in the late Virginia raid
Fan account Of the great Union mee'
ing at Dixon, on Monday afternoon an
evening, (which should have been in ou
yesterdays impression) will be foun
among our dispatches The occasion III
the dedication Of new Union Hall, whic
ID to accommodate the truly loyal men
Lee, Whiteside and Ogle. The Union mi
of Dixon know how to do a thing Of tn
sort right. Over four thousand perso'
were in attendance
The work Of enrolling the blacks pr
cresscs arace. Come to think Of it. o
once ssuennish friends do not see that it
so bad, after all, to be helped BY neg1
# two hundred thousand more men
wanted in the South, and we can pick
: one hundred thousand strapping fellows
7he manor born, and not afraid a. q
thing but slavery; and If we find that I'll
can fight, and forage, and stand the bru
Of campaigns, and become the dread
foe Of rebel masters, why, now that all Il
is being rcasized by black regiments nj
in the field, the work Of organizing
African lcgions will progress apace. 4
jutant General Thomas is to be larg
credited with the most important steps
progress in this direction, following il
direction IN which Gen Hunter and 9th
were pioneers.