Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-08-15

Every days report gives cumuleufe
evidence Of the decsying strength Of the
rebellion. The despotic sway Of the prime
eonspirators is not as absolute and un-
questioned as formerly. Distrust and
doubt, discOursgement and gloom, psrvade
the rebel stsles. Everywhere among the
rebels exists the oppressive feeling that
the rebellion is failure. Submission,
subjugstiOn and reconstruction are freely
talked Of in secession circles all through
the South. In many places the sweeping
cOnseriptiOn Of JEFF. Davis is openly de-
nOunced and defed. Were it not for the
division Of the North, caused by the erOak-
ing and deliberately lying misrepresenta'
tons of COpperhead leaders, and the as
surance Of Northern, traitorous sympathy
with the seoessionists, the rebellion would
not continue, even in the form Of guer-
rilla squads, three months longer, if in
deed for as many weeks. 1t is without
question, in fact that the bloody contest
is prolonged, BY the factious course of the
Copperhesd Democracy. Let the respon-
sibility be put where it belongs. In this
stage Of 5he contest, and in the present at
titude of affairs, they, equally with JEFF.
Davis and his cO-oonspirators are respon-
sible for keeping alive the rebellion. Were
it not for the hope, in some way, of de-
irving success, the hope that something
viii turn up through the efforts, influence
and sympathy Of Governor Seymour, and
wOuld-be Governor Vallsndigham, even
the rebel leaders, convinced Of the utter
hopelessless Of continuing the contest
would give up in despair-to say nothing
of the dispirited and discouraged people
Of secessia, whom civil war has despoiled,
and is crushing more and more.
It cannot be doubted, from all the indi-
cations daily and reliably coming to light
that there is a large and growing
party in the seeded States, favorable
to g reconstruction Of the Union,
or the best terms they can get, with, or with
out guarantees in regard to the prolOngs-
ton Of the life of slavery. Take an in
stance. A rebel correspondent of the No
bile News, writing from Tuscaloosa, has
the following in reference to prevalent
sentiment on the subject of reconstruction.
He says:
"'The games up. It's useless calling
- mo-, 20 F,rG-r 81 ,o,It
90. Reconstruction on whatever grounds
we can get, say l. These startling words,
uttered in q brisk, confident and shame
less tone, awoke me from my after-dinner
torpor IS l lay back in my chair in pub
lie house at Tuscaloosa. The speaker was
hale, hearty, old-young fellow Of forty
two. His auditors, numbering half doz-
en-, were mostly younger than himself, and
apparently ss it food for powder as any
class Of robust 'exempts' as have come
within my vision. The various replies in
answer to the speakers discourse we're
fattering enough to him. One of the sub
missiOnists exclaimed: You're right,
John. A id old Mississippi refugee,
with his family and fifty niegers, stopped
at my place yesterday and wanted sup
plies. Told him I'd see him in purgatory
first; TO 20 home and defend his own State,
not run of and eat us all up. If having
10 run of and leave everything to the
Yankees 'aint sObjugasion I'd like to know
what is. It's time this thing was stopped,
and now I'm ordered out, although my
substitute is with Lse-snd must leave
my property to take case Of ITSELF I'll be
d-d 6rstt
HSuch ideas as these have heard recent
ly so frequently advanced BY men Of prop
erty, who for various reasons are exempt
from military duty, and who have never
shoUlaeEed. a.m4sketv vpEs IssagEils1a gEils1a IaUsRhsEF.
tible. Now, when it becomes imperative
70 lend the aid Of their strong arms in sup
port Of the cause Reconstruction sing |
they all, sooner than expose their precious |
persons, or relinquish an acre of their |
cherished lands"
This is not a sole and solitary instance
Of like import. They are numerous
and increasing. They indicate the
growing weakness of the rebellion, and
show that it is tottering 10 its fall-and
fail it win, as soon as the fictitious
strength given it by COpperhead sympa
Lhizefs shsll fail to encourage hope. In
The present attitude Of affairs, therefore,
Ihe rebellion may be fought as effectively
BY opposing the msohinations Of the Cop
perheads, asin whipping Lees army.