The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-06-26
The situation at vicksburg.
THE DECEPTION PRACTICED BY THE
YANKEE GOVERNMENT.
How the People are Fooledand Tri-
fed with.

The New York World takessthe Govern
ment at Washington severely tetask for the
many false rumors put forth i'd regard to
Vicksburg. Speaking Of the base deception
practiced upon the people in thematter, the
World says:
There was one point in the old Persian
training which it could do us no harm to re-
produce. A, jury in France has indeed re-
Gently decided that every respectable man has
a natural right to lie for his own good; but
we really do not see what can bs said in fa-
vor Of falsehoods which hinder instead Of help.
ing those who utter them. The present state
of public feeling in regard to Interpretations
before Vicksburg, for instance IS certainly
more eloquent than dozen sermons in praise
ST saying the thing that is, OF at least Of not
saying the thing that is not. NoEa week has
elapsed since person high in tho confidence
of the President telegraphed II the chief
magistrate Of the Union the newSlof the fall
of the Confederate stronghold on the Missis-
sippi. The, President, with trustworthy.
though, as the report has proved, unenlight-
ened considerations for the anxiety of the ma
ton, at once made public this imp6ftantintel-
ligence. Under the sanction of IBIS name it
was flashed all over the land The truth was
good enough for the hour. Butt was OFF,
cially determined that the people must have
something better than the TRUTH and SO, a per-
son high in the confidence Of the President
shakes down all the batteries ofPemberton
with single shock Of the potent wires, and
lnfolds the sstars and stripes tos the breeze
from the conquered bluffs Of Vicksburg, In
the wake of these kindling words i wave of
popular enthusiasm went from the East to the
West, rousing the most apathetid reviving
the courage Of the most Respondent Men al
ready saw the Mississippi once more reopen
ed to commerce, the cotton fields once more
white with their precious haryest, two great
States definitely reclaimed to the Union, the
heart of the rebellion sorely smittSn, and its
power irretrieyably on the wane.
A few days suficed to undo the work of
these few hours in the public. mind. Men
learned that Vicksburg had not been TAKEN,
and in an instant the clouds of alarm and dis
trust began to gather ever even 8be Shipping
and substantial features of the real situation.
Disappointment has borne its natural fruits,
and those who honestly exulted q week ago
over the downfall of the rebellion "a the Mis-
sissippi, have swung back from their uude
ception SO far that it is for the escape Of Grant
himself, rather than for the captur6 Of Vicks-
burg and the destruction Of Pemhertons re-
bellious forces, that they are now becoming
just as honestly and uneasily anxious.
The World, after some further tkrusts. con-
tinues:
Honesty, in this instance at least, would
assuredly have proved the best spplicy. As
things now stand. every hours dolay in the
trenches before Vicksburg becomes to tie Pc
pular apprehensions cumnlatiyeS argument
Of inevitable final disaster. For this the Pre-
sident and the person high In his confidence
are really much more responsible than the
facts of the case. 1t is possible, certainly,
that the Notifications of Vicksburchaay prove
impregnable to the most overwhelming as
saults; it is possible that in spite 81 deficient
transportation and incomplete Communities
tons, in spite of Federal cavalry hanging II
his flank, in spite Of Rosecrans, threateniAs
and watchful from his lines on the tennessee,
Bragg may succeed in so reinforcink Ger. Jo-
seph Johnston as to make him strong enough
for an advance and an attack uppn Grant.
But the evidence is yet lacking hS6rove these
possibilities probable, and until t6t evidence
comes before US in some more satisfactory
form than that of the confused and3oentrsdic-
tory play Of spasmodic electricity. which for
three days past has been killina generals,
blowing up redoubts, rolling shells down hill
and Strengthening whole regiments, IL will be-
well for patriotic and sensible nnen 10 remem-
Der that the most substantial reason we yet
have for doubling that Vicksbuik will be ia
ken by our troops, is theofficiel Telegram whicn
announced it's fall.