Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-04-02
THE BEG1Ns1NG OF rHE END.

11l condition. The defiant traitors who
once talked of bringing their conqueripR
iegIons up to our borders, and beyond
them, are now subsiding into more accu-
rate estimate of the relative strength of
north and mouth. "Help me, Cassius, orI
sink" is their piteous specification to
their former political allies among us,
whom, up to this point, they. were uccus.
TONED to acorn aud insult. The Richmond
journals imptore their friends in the north
western States to interpose in their behalf
and stay the further progress of this desc
lat'ng warfare. In return they would
guarantee the free navigation of the Miss
issiPpi, and trade as before with our west
ern people.
This certainly betokens enlightenment
on avital point. The rebels are gradually
coming to realize the power of that Gov
eminent which two years ago they utterly
despised, aud hoped to trample in the dust
They should have been taught that saluta-
ry lesson in the very beginning of the con.
test. for at no time were they able to cone
with US if our superior strength had been
properly directed; but, favored bya strange
ipIdisposition on the part of some of our
military commanders to act with prompts
tude aud energy, and few chance sue
cesses which determined nothing, the reb-
els were led to believe they were indeed
unconquerable, and could dictate peace
on asy terms. But as time wore on, and
the loyal States gradually put forth addi-
tional strength, the Southern leaders could
not but perceive the formidable nature of
the task they had so madly undertaken.
II is true that their editors still occasion.
any give vent TO those remarkable speci-
mems OF VltuPeration which characterize
their peculiar Journalism; but these lat
terly are infrequent and intermittent TnarSl
ing an abatement in the general Clistem nar
aud giving hope oietill further amendment
There are important admissions, also.
throwing some light on the actual condi.
ton OF affairs in the dark domain ruled
over by that fearful band o: Glemapopues
and Thugs who have clutched for a lime
the absolute way. Their conscription has
| apparently exhausted itself, after taking
from important industrial interests nanV
men who could scarcely be spared.
oVerseers whose presence was essen
tlal to the proper course of apricnl-
turaI, artisans whose absence in the field
lett necessary work at a stand still. and
families without protectors or sustaiuers-
railroad operatives whose work could not
oe Withdrawn without Gripping those iron
highways which have hitherto been the
malnstay of the whole rebellion. With n
| 9nRnnU n al had a. FL
impaired motive power and rottinp cross.
ties, these important works nresent an
appropriate symbol of the present contli-
ton of the confederate cause. There is M
recuperatiVe power TO remedy this marked
dectension. Manufactures are at SO low
an cob that domestic supplies even of the
most needed articles seem utterly unattain.
ablei whilst the consequent dependence
on foreigners is source of deplorabIe
restitution where competent naval force
keeps up strict blockade. A tbopsand
Indispensable articles are either entirely
nnprocuraoIe or else command so exorbi.
liant price that bat few can purchase
We may Imagine the consequent priyation
aud discomfort.
But be grievous to dispense with SO
many manufactured articles necessary to
civilized people, there are other needs
| 2QOnR
tEese is proper supply of food. The
rebels would have persuaded us that here
IN they were abundantly provided: hut
since their expulsion from great part Of
virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. thev
can ne longer disguise the fact Of their
dependence in this respect also. WarliEe
operations waste or destroy part of the
little remaining, while many women and
children pine in want aud misery.
The unlawful government meanwhile
sees all Its fiscal schemes fading into thin
mir. With currency so deprecated as
already to sink nearly out of sight, and a
total absence of credit for Confederate
loans, 1t surprises no one to find the un
Scrip atous @teaders resorting already to
terclole impressment of private property:
0ptortnnate Mexico reached that lower
deep alter many years of exhuustiye war.
our southern rebels have descended to
the same abyss with a more rand
contamination. We cannot wonder
that the desperate navigators who 0ni5sd
their rickety vessel into such dangers nre
now preparing to abandon her. II our i'm
formation from Richmond be true, the head
traitors are arranging for the inevitable
collapse by selling their property and trans.
terring thegprOceeds elseW6ere.N And this
leads TO a most melancholy consideration I
II seems by no means an improbable fnals
to this wofnl national tragedy, that the re-.
morseless villainsiwh plotted and enacta3
It will escape to foreign countries Win
pockets full of plumber, chiefly derived
from funds belonging to their unhappy
people, whilst these victims will be Ieft.
pspniless and broken down, to lament their
scquiescence in the false government whioh,
oeceiyed and despoiled them. Human re-.
ce'Ved his deserts, but much doubt exists
as 70 similar course towards the South
40 Preston oounty--OmcIoI.
k1So@oon, W. ". AIArchsI.