The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-08-08

ring the recent cavalry expedition into
North Carolina, and is sent 90 us by
Union officer into whose hands Il fell.
II is evidently the production ofa person
Of much intellig ence, and probably Of
high social position in the Rebel Com
federacy The views it gives Of Tho pre-.
vailing feeling at Richmond are deeply
interesting:
RIomoND, July IA, 1868.
Ny Dear Sir--Since the adjournment
l have been called here on business.
Much change has occurred in public sem
timent, a. well as in the condition of
the country since you were here We
have fallen on evil times Disaster on
disaster stuns the public sense, A deep
gloom oppresses the country. The des-
pondenoy does not proceed from the lack
of fOrtitude TO bear the ordinary reverse
of war, for the nation met manfully the
repeated disaster Of the spring Of 1862,
down TO the time when the great Jack
son scattered the gloom by the flashes Of
his victorious guns at Romny and through
the Valley. No, everywhere they will
tell you they are despondent, because
the conviction has forced itself on them
that past and present misfortunes are
chiefly traceable to a source they cannot
reach, at least in time, TO avert those the
future threatens that further offers of
blood and treasure will but go TO swell
the bulletins of the Grants and Rose
Grams for whom the same or other imbe-
Giles will be sent to prepare the sacri-
fee. You will find some of the papers
(mostly the official sheets), insulting the
Southern people by appeals to their con-
stancy under reverse, by invocations TO
strengthen the hands of the Government
and renew our confidence in it's wis
dom, by extenuAting our disasters, as
due rather to the ordinary vicissitudes
of war than to the fatal agency of per-
verse rulers and incompetent instru-
ments 1t is too bad to have the pub
lie intelligence and patriotism outraged
by such twaddle-our just complaints
and fears treated as the whims of chill
dren, with gentle rebuke With such
men there is no significance in the past
unanimity of all people of all parties ia
support of the cause-of their noble
sacrifices of life and treasure, continued
10 the point nearly of exhaustion--of
their gallantry and devotion through the
perils and privRtions of war, and, worse
than all, the sneers and arrogance of
power Confidence in a Government is
not so easily restored when once lost--
at first il was unbounded. Congress eh
dicated some Of its constitutional pow
ers, and shaped its legislation TO meet
the demands Of an imperious and ex-
acting President. Members of Cabinet
sunk from their high offices as constitu.
tional advisers into mere yoppets, regis
ters of his will, generally, il a spirit of
sincere, but mistaken, patriotism, to Sc
cure the unity and strength of the Ex-
ecutive for vigorous war, as was plausi-
bly, urged; and acceded TO demands for
doubtful powers rather than possibly
damage the cause by revelations of dis
cord in the Government. And all for
what, but TO make him irresponsible TO
any tribunal, and utterly defiant of pub
lie opinion. The man who, of all others,
should be most imbued with the self
sacrificing and ennobling sentiment
which underlies our effort, seems unable
to raise TO the level of its requirements.
If the cause were paramount with him
his agents would be measured sole
ly by tneir capacity TO benefit it. There
could be no room in a great heart and
mind, occupied and filed with the gran
deur of the issue, for vices monopo-
lized by weak and tyrahnical rulers.
Republican or Democrat personal
favorite or otherwise - Lincoln dis
misses agents who have lost the
confidence of army or people, and If he
retains Chase, stanton and H4lleck, IL is
because their measurable success in fin
anee and war iustities their retention a.
gainst party clamor. But no display OF
inoompeteney and consequent disaster
no public opinion, however general and
authorative--have as yet operated TO de-
throne one of Davis pets. Buell. was
court Haagfialed for not annihilating Bragg
after driving him from Kentucky, while
Bragg was caressea for defeating the Just
expectations of the country and preserV-
ed in command 10 receive another defeat
from Rosecrans. So with Pemberton, an
other instance Of rapid promotion with
out solitary display, in field or council
of ability TO Justify it. Removed from
Charleston for official recommendation
so perniciOus as 90 be rebuked by Gen.
Lee, he is sent, with another promotion, 90
a more important post, as If the President
/ expected inspiration frcn another star
10 the collar. At Vicksburg, when the
natural feeling of exultAtion at the en-
duIanoe Of the garrison has subsided,
the question will arise, how came the
disaster about ? The opinion 10 be just
must be founded on facts. lndiscrimin-
ate praise or blame will not redeem the
mast or secure as from the future reverses
From the very best statements Pemberton
had a force Of fully 10000 troops. Grant
moved on him from Grand Gulf with
only 10000 (Afterward increased to 3D.
600 when he invested Vicksburg) men,
because larger force, with the increased
impediments, would have inleriered with
the uelerity Of movement, on which his
success depended. The route OF Grant
offered many natural obstacles, rivers,
&c. which, with the aid of slight field
works, would have tended to neuiralize
the disparity Of force. Massing 10000
men 10000 being left in VicksDurg, as
sufficient garrison) behind such positions
would have delayed, If not repulsed
Grant. Delay even few days was
Of vital importance, for Johnston
would have been enabled 10 come
up with the reinforcements, and the
stores from jackson and the contiguous