The New York herald., 1863-07-20

~ L w OhA III HEhALlJ,
The Opening or the Mississtppi-Grent
Popular i;ejoicings-Pe.ce Progress in
the sSuthwesl.
One of our attaches, who has Just returned
from the Southwest, makes an encouraging re-
port Of the condition OF affairs in that region,
aud OF The gradual return OF its people to
sense OF the utter folly and madness OF the re-
bellon. Missouri, which at the breaking out
of the secession movement was as much com
mitted to it as Virginia was. is now almost as
loyal as the State of New York, and the people
OF ST. Louis, strange as 1t may appear are ac-
tualy astonishcd at the conduct Of our own
metropolis. The citizens of ST. Louis have
cheeriully yielded to system of compul-
sorry service which takes from their homes and
peaceful employments not merely certain
proportion OF them, but every man canabie of
carrying arms. So inevitable is this duly that
it is matter OF frequent occurrence to see the
provost guard arrest even strangers in the
streets and march them out to camp. No ex-
cuse is taken. The law is peremptory, and is
most strictly enforced And yet, harsh as it is.
and intolerable as it must be in many cases, this
has provoked not single instance OF collision
between the people and the military authori-
ties. The inconvenience has been yielded to as
a matter Of necessity.
/ The devastation to which large part of the
State OF Missouri has been subjected for the
last two years is almost forgotten in the gene
raj rejoicings over Ae opening Of the Mississippi.
That event seals the loyalty Of Missouri. Many
who were wavering before have now become
steadfast in their support of the government.
The Fourth of July was celebrated in st. Louis
with as much fervor as in any city of the loyal
States; but the celebration Of that day was cast
into the shade by the demonstration which took
place there on that day week-the llth-in
honor Of Grants gallant army and its conquest
of Vicksburg. The public buildings, hotels,
business houses and private residences were
Illuminated, the city was decorated with nation
al flags and emhlems, all business was sus-
pended for the day, and general rejocings
and congratulations were indulged in. The
fall of Port Hudson was to be celebrated
in q similar style in the suburban town Of Ca
rondeiet, and last Saturday was probably the
day fixed for that demonstration; so that for
three Saturdays in succession the people of
Missouri were testifying their loyalty to the
nation and their joy at the downfall of rebel
lion. New Orleans Memphis Evansville, and all
the cities and towns whose prosperity depends
on the commerce Of tie great river, have been
manifesting their delight at the progress Of the
Union arms by similar demonstrations: and we
have no doubt that the people Of Vicksburg
themselves are as much gratifed as any other
community that their long night Of agony is
over. When Charleston, Knoxville and Rich
mond find the national flag once more floating
over them, their people will also thank God for
their dciverance.
The free navigation of the Mississippi is now
secured. 1t can never again be interrupted by
rebel strongholds erected on tho river bluffs.
All favorable positions for batteries are in our
hands. There may be some attempts to annoy
and interfere with the commerce of the river
by guerilla operations Mt various points along
the vast extent of its shores; but such attempts
will be but weak and transitory, and will soon
be discontinued. The constant patrol Of the
| river by iron eunb oats will complete tie great
work which the armies Of Grant and Banks, in
conjunction with our feet, have performed; SO
| that now, from st. Paul to New Orleaus. the
great water highway Of the continent is open,
and, let us hope, will ever remain 80. With
that Highway under our CONTROL the rebel con-
federacy Is cut in two. The region west of the
Mississippi-Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana
have no longer any connection with the rebel
States east of it, but are bound fast again to
the republic; and If peace were to be made to-
morrow it would bave to be on the basis of
the trans Mississippi States remaining incor-
porated with the. Union. II we were to con-
suit our material interests alone we might well
be satisfied with such an arrangement; but
there is more than material interests at stake
in the contest The unity and permanency Of
the republic is the issue for which our gallant
army and navy are struggling, and while a
rebel column exists in any part Of the United
States the work is incomplete. It must be
finished, and until 1t is all men will evince
their loyalty to the republic by strengthening
the hands OF the national. government. 1t is
the surest, quickest, and only way to bring
peace and to avoid conscrirtion.
TIE REASONS FOR THE DRArT.-One of our
Washington correspondents states that the
main reason for the enforcement of the draft
at this time is the threatening aspect Of
our relations with England. The govern
ment at Washington looks upon the speeches
in Parliament, the hostile attitude of the
press of London, and the decision made in
the Alexandra case, as an intimation of war, and
therefore pushes forward the draft, to be pre-
pared for 1t. Another reason assigned is the
complication growing out of the French war
in Mexico; but this, like that of England. we
consider rests entirely upon contingencies vet