, 1863-01-08
Ul)ifaoo Gribr,nt.
HOW TO PVT DOWN THE REBEL

THURSDAY. JANUARY 8, 1853.
HOW TO PVT n91xN p.PHNs THE 1ent'H1'
Before tho re.ccnt SUCCESS Of our armies,
1hc political fly looked dark aud lowering.
Our soldiers seemed 10 hare lost their
power Of locomotion, and their combat
1iyencss: The rebels had everything pretty
much their own way. Whole regiments
guarding valuable stores and important
j,osts surrendered to guerilla raids almost
without firing musket, Thepcople were
growing discouraged and discontcuted, and
The copperheads taking advantage Of the
public gloom and discomfort, were busily
fomenting mischief and demanding an
armistice" for the rebels. ::
But the great victory at Murffeesboro,
the handsome one 1t Prairie Grove; and the
splendid raid into Arkansas ! the overthrow
Of Forests 1000 marauders at Hunts
Gross Roads, and the siege Of Vicksburg,
the promise Of its carly capture and withit,
the re-opening Of the Mississippi, have
lighted up the horizon and revived the
dropping spirits of the loyal people.
But there is q long and rugged road to
travel before the great rebellion is scom-
completely extinguished. There may be
bitter rcverses yet in store for the Union
armies before the tenacious and savage foe
is driven to cry for quarter. It has been
clear to US for long time, that in order to
make sure work of the rebellion, and to
preserve future peace, that the rank and
file Of the arny, officers and soldiers, must
be made personaAy interested in the result
ofthe war. They now fight for the Union
in. tue abstract; for moderate pay and the
prospect OF promotion or pension. These
are sufficient propelling motives to carry
them forward zealously in short soar, but
tor q protracted struggle, something moro
must be added to keep up the vim, vigor
and vigilance necessaryt to combat an enemy
ut once slceplcss, Ycngcful and "arlike'
For speedily putting down the reoelhon
and maintaining order and peace IN con-
o,,c, ID seccssfa, we propose three specifics:
First, cary out the Proclamation with
the whole power Of the army ind navy.
second, call on the freed men ns part Of
The loyal militia 10 defend their ncw-found
liberties and the: existence Of the Union,
under which only can they he retained or
enjoyed. 4 column Of 10000 soldiers, un.
der Hunter, Gun take Charleston, and with
the aid Of the freedmen, sweep South ca
rolina Of the last rebel. Another column
Of cqual strength under Hooker or Frc.
mont, landed at Mobile, would bc able with
the aid Of tho freedmen, 10 recover Ala-
banaa to the Union. Gens. Banks md
Grant employing tho blacks, can "clean
out" Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas,
while Blunt disposcs Of the rebellion In
Arkansas. Another powerful column
might be sent to recover Georgia and Flo
Ifda, with the assistance Of Rosccransfrom
the north. But not to dwell on this part Of
the "plan," as the Administration is actu-
ally pursuing one very similar to 1t, VIC
proceed to state the third and most impor-
tant specific:
Let Congress enact law at once, granting
a land warrant Of 100 acres Of land to
every white soldier, from the North or
South, serving in our army at the date Of
its passage, or who may enlist in the old
regiments after its passage; to every COM
missioned officer under the grade of Colo
mel, $50 acres; and to every officer of the
grade. Of Colonel and General, 040 acres.
The land warrants to be laid on any confs-
Gated rebel plantation which the holder
may select, us soon as the war is over and
the rebellion crushed 49,.
The lands might be graded into three
Glasses, according to their fertility, and
value as follows: Soldiers warrants, for
first class, 120 acres; second, 1G0; third
class, ,2240 acres; and for officers holding
rank below Colonel, 240 acres, $40 and
900 acres. and for the higher officers
best lands, $40 acres; second class, GAO;
third class, 1000 acres. There is plenty o.
land belonging to rebel Shareholders, (and
comprising all the good lands in secessia,
TO fill the soldiers warrants, without
touching an acre belonging to the "poo'
white trash" who were deluded and dragged
into the rebellion by the Shareholders.
But we may be met with the objection
that rebels estate can only be contiscatet
during the life Of the rebel: Wcrcply: 1st
That would average from fifteen to twent,
years. ed. The soldier, in majority o
cases, could obtain quit-claims from th'
heirs for reasonable sum-. Sd. Unde
Doolittle's tax forfeiture bill, the Govern
ment can sell rebel lands for taxes and &C
quirc perfect title. 4th. There is nj
certainty that the Supreme Court woult
decide against perfect title under the con
1iscation bill after b half million Of soldier
have settled down on their lands, bu
even if it did, the tax title would be per-
feet, and the confscation title, in najorit!
Of cases, would last twenty years. As t.
the effect Of such Inv on the army, VI
contend that it would infusc new spiri
into the soldiers and officers; thatit woult
1uadruple their zeal and activity. !Thcr
would he no more disgraccful surrendcrs Q
brigndcs and regiments to gueri1las. Sol
diers now fight for abstract Unionism an.
$13 per month. And many have grow1
tired, discouraged and homcsick. Bu
let. every. volunteer: high ant
low, feel that if the army wins he is sur
ola valuable farm Of improved land in
genial climatc where he can live the resi-
due Of his days in comfort, and new spu
is felt that will propel him forward. Th
amy feels that the Shareholders have justl,
forfeited their plantations to the Govern
n:cnt. Now let the, Government say to th
soldiers" You shall posses, those planta
tions when you conquer the 1cbels,' an'
then will be seen new style Of warfare
The army will find its legs. twill be abl
to travel on other than railroads. It vii
not want forty miles Of baggage wagon
when it moves. It will be interested in til
result Of the war. It will clamor fora cor
tinuanco Of the contest until the traitor
are vnnquished. ; It will care less abou
ray, rations, tents, stores, fuel, .clothin
and luggage, than now. :, Struggling an
desertion, and surtcndcring to. be parolct
will cease. : But this is not all Tens {
thousands Of men will volunteer to Il
up the ranks of the old regiments I'd fel