The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-05-11
NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, MAY II, 1868.
important Revelations from Rebellion :
The End nj Hand.


important Revelations from Rebellion
The End at Hand.
For several months past indications have
been creeping out that the rebel confederacy
has been approaching that stage Of exhaustion
in which nothing short of stupendous military
uccesses could save it from collapse Ac-
cording to-the admissions of its own journals,
the food question had become capital one;
and if doubts about their ability to supply their
armies operating at distance from the food
supplying regions had filed the minds Of the
rebel rulers with perplexity, what anxiety must
they not feel now, when at all points they find
their railroad and water communications inter-
rupted or threatened with severance. The pre-
fearfully aggravated by the success which has
attended our extensive cavalry raids in Virginia
and in Northern Georgia, North Alabama and
through the heart of Mississippi, as we'll as by the
seizure of the fertile districts of Western Louisi
ana, by which Vicksburg was in great part sup
piled with its means of subsistence. They now
not only find their movements, on the rapid
ty of which so much depended defeated or i'm
peded, but they are threatened with the moro
formidable dangers arising frem the sufferings
Of the starving populations Of their cities, and
which recently found vent In bread riots, that
most significant and menacing Of all the evil
dences of popular discomfort.
Under military despotisms ordinary iadics-
tions Of dissatisfaction and characterization can
be stilled by measures of repression; but when
starvation is superadded to the popular griev-
ances the sword and the rope lose their terrors.
Women and children cannot be sabred or hung
like male maloontents, and, unless their mouths
can be stopped in some other way, ruin must
infallibly overtake the power built up on their
sufferings.
The evidences that have thus manifested
themselves have not been lost upon observant
minds in the North; but, owing to the efforts
made by the rebel journals to weaken belief in
them, they have not been productive Of that
encouraging effect which would otherwise have
been the result. The contradictory accounts
Furnished by rebel deserters and returned
Union prisoners have no doubt contributed to
increase this feeling of distrust. All further
skepticism on the subject is now, however, re-
solved by recent evidence of the most conclu-
sive kind, and its effects are rendered still
more suspicious for the federal cause by the
important successes of our cavalry and naval
officers, who in cutting Off the railroad and
water communications of the enemy. have done
more to weaken and cripple him than could
have been effected by year of such campaign
ing as that of General Hooker.
OF the eliminating importance Of those ope-
rations as we'll as of the reviving loyalty Of the
populations Of the rebel States. the statement
which we published on Saturday from our
correspondent, Mr.. J. H. vosburg, who has
just returned from short captivity in Rich
mond, will. we think, bring conviction to the
mind of every one. Having been treated
with greater indulgence than usually falls
to the lot OF federal prisoners, and
being besides trained to keep his eyes and ears
open, the testimony of this gentleman is In
valuable just at the present moment. 1t offers
the most cheering, as it Is the most reliable,
view of the condition Of things amongst the
rebels that has been as yet furnished to US. 1t
| shows that not only are they reduced to the
direst straits in connection with their food sup
plies, but that widespread feeling of dissatis-
faction with their rulers exists amongst the SOL
diery from the different States. II ia o general
Saying amongst them that "this is the rich mans
| war and the poor mans fight" phrase which
pithily describes the true character of the con-
test, and which shows how little their feelings
are enlisted in it, This view is confirmed by
the evidence of Mr.. Bennett. Chief Engineer Of
| the steamer Columbia, who was exchanged and
returned from Richmond on Friday. He says
that the Southern soldiers make no secret Of
their disgust with the war and Of their anxiety
to see it brought to an immediate conclusion
The conviction of the existence Of this feeling
once established, our government should strain
every effort to profit by it. The first steps
towards this have been accomplished by the i'm
portant operations Of our cavalry commanders
in Virginia and the Southwest Nothing but
the sheerest Incidence and imbecility on the
part of the heads of the War and Navy depart
ments can Illustrate the results of these brilliant
and timely achievements Let Mr.. Lincoln see
to 1t that the sanguine expectations excited by
them are not again disappointed. The oppor
tunities to which they lead lost, the last chance
of the administration recovering itself In the
eyes of the world will have passed away, and
1t will be hunted from Office amidst the execra
tions and revilings Of justly incensed people
Judge Edmonds and His New Religion.
We have received letter from Judge Ed
monds denying the truth Of the rumors that he
has had any connection with the recent spiritual
manifestations in which President Lincoln l.
said to have INDUCED. We very cheerfully give
the Judge the benefit Of this denial. The letter
also requests us to publish the Judges Intro
| d,,cf;on IN thu forthcoming Autohiooro phv nj