Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-08-10
The People OF the south In Favor of
ReconstructiOn Of the UniOn-The
Army Disheartened.
ON the Memphis Bulletin, Aug, /

Prom the Memphis Bulletin, Aug, l.
During the last day or two we have been
favored with opportunities of conversing
With gentlemen who represent nearly all
of the seven seeded States. These gen.
tiemen were, as a general thing, intelll-
gent, rejecting men, who have watched
the course of events in the Southern States
with a hope of success. Several of those
with whom We converted had been eOgag-
in the military service of the Confederacy
for more than two years, thus proving how
sanguine were their hopes of establishing
the Independence of the Confederate States.
But recent events have dissipHted those
! hopes, like mist before the morning sun.
One of the gentlemen with whom we
couversed WAS from Georgia, and bad been
one of the first to take up arms il behalf
of what he deemed tbs sacred rights of the
South. he now frankly acknowledges
that he acted more from impulse than
| from mature judgment. He acknowledges
| that he was mistaken in another impor-
taut particular; that was, he had underes-
timated the character and feelings of the
people of the North, while he had overes-
timated the proves and abilities of The
| people of the So4th. When the question
| of secession was brought prominently De
fore the people, on the election of Mr.. Lin
coin as President of the United States,
current of excitement swept over the coun-
try with irresistible force, carrying every
thing before it.
They 1.-THE people OF the South have
measured their strength with the power OF
the Govrrnment. aud have found them
selves wanting in go many things essen
tial to success against great power, that
mauy persons who twelve months ago
reprobated the idea of restoration with
most bitter Indignation, are now ready and
willing for come proposals from the Gov
ernment looking to restoration of the
Union as being the best and only way of
allevistipg the DISTRESS of the people.
Ia the opinion of our informant, the
time for deludiug the people ny bOastful
claims of Confederate victories, is past
1t is hard to make them believe the reports
which are daily circulated By the news
pers press, of victories achieved by South
ern arms. So long as Yicksburg held out
there was hope, for theyFegarded it rs i'm
preguable; yet when the news Of its fall
became known, the people at once gave up
all hope Of final success. Nor was this
feeling confined alone to the citinens. 1t
was shared by the armies of the Coufeder-
acy. The veterans who bad fought the
advancing forces AT Fort DOnelson, Shiloh
aud Stoue River, and had seen all their
efforts prove to be vain, at once became
disheartened.
These events, continued our iufurmer,
have brought the people. both citizens aud
soldiers, TO reflect calmly upon the present
aspect of our political affairs. Patriotic
men who, although they were the most
ardent supporters of the Southern cause,
began to see the terrible error into which
they had fallen, and are now willing to
I Al, -
and are now willing TO do all that yet re
msius in their power 10 correct the polit-
ical mistake which they acknowledge to
have made. IT'S useless tn disguise the
TACT that the people of the South are ear
nestly anxious that the United States
should make some proposals of peace, OF
the basis of restoration of the Union
Nor will they be guided by the opinions
views, OF feelings of those who have LED
them sstray. The newspapers do not rep
resent the sentiments of the masses of tht
, South. On the contrary. they, 1.-THE news
papers) are ignored, and their sentiments
cHrsed by large proportion OF the people
Our informant has travelled through Al
bama, Georgia aud Western North Caro-
lima, and has come to the deliberate cou
ciusion that the people are ripe for q res.
toration of the Union 90 any thing like al
honorable basis.
The army is wearied aud worn. lTh,
men are hisheartened and dcsertiog by Id,
scores. The CONSUMPTION laws are ineffec
tive where there is not force to enforc,
its provisions The people are tired ou
with the contest. They feel that they have
been mistaken in their views, and the best
thing they can make of bad undertaking
is TO return to their allegiance and duty,
and thus relieve their country, as far as
possible, from the terrible cslamities under
which she is at present suffering.