Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-08-06
The Rebellion SubsidSag.

Secession was ''contagious disease ~
Local at first. it soon became epidemic
1t ragged violently and spread rapidly
The virus Il at was generated ct Charles.
ton. diffnsed its fatal essence throughout
the entire South From the coast and
the river banks, it penetrated into the in.
terror: from the towns it spread over the
country. 1t reached the wilds of the
forest and prairie, and tainted even the
mountain air by its noisome breath.
Bat, like all epidenics, it promises to
be short-lived. Its rage is already nearly
spent. The crisis of its violence is past !:
it will henceforth grow weaker and weak
er every day. There ere indications on
every side that it is subsidlng. The
events OF the hour are crowded with
proofs that it has well nigh run the length
of its rope.
The Rebellion is reduced to q mere
shell. 1t hes little OF vital substance lett.
An army of few thousand men is able
to traverse over the entire length and
breadth Of the insurrectionary country
The Confederate hosts are everywhere de-
feated and demoralized. The rebel
strongholds are one by one falling into
our hands. A succession of victories, IN
parallel in the annals of modern warfare.
are browning the valor of our arms.
Better still: The people are beginning
TO abandon their false gods and return to
their old faith. They are beginning to
see the folly and madness Of secession, and
to sigh for the return OF the coed old DAYS
when they dwelt within the sheltering
folds of the old flag. The honest masses
of North Carolina are already discussing
the question of returning to the Union
The planters of Louisiana are petitioning
looking toward restored allegiance. The
people of Tennessee. disguised with the
corruption and tyranny of the Richmond
leaders, are trampllng the rebel flag under
their Ieet, and hosting the stars and
stripes in its place.
The movement for the Union in the lat,
ter State is Enthusiastically significant. 1t
means business and not child's play. A
Convention of loyal citizens met at Nash.
vile few days since. Almost every
county in the State was represented, and
no less than two hundred delegates pre-.
scented credentials. The sittings lasted
seven days. A series of resolutions were
adopted denouncing the acts of the Rebel
StatelLegislature as unauthorized and void
approving the appointment of Andrew
Johnson as Military Governor, and re-
questing Gov. johnson "to issue writs OF
election, and appoint such agents as may
be necessary to hold elections Tor mem
bers of the Legislature On the first Thurs
day in August next, or as soon after as
may be expedient, and that he provide
such agents with the means of carrying
out the purposes OF such appointment. >
They also expressed wish that the new
ly elected Legislature meet at the State
Capital "on the first Monday in October
next, Or as soon thereafter as practlcable.'
The rebel Gov. Harris is said to be
greatly alarmed at this movement, and
has been making desperate efforts to Sc.
cure the election of a majority of mem.
bers OF his own disloyal faith. But the
recent successes of Rosecrans, and the rap.
id Generalization of the rebel cause in the
Southwest, have given a death blow tc
his hopes.
With such ''signs of the times" as these
greeting him Oh every hand, the patriot
may well take heart. The rebellion i:
tottering. The horrid superstructure
threatens to fall upon and crush its build
ers. If we do our duty it WILL tall-an(
that speedily.-Al6any Journal.