Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-15

SPECIAL Correspondents q The Chicago Tines. I
WAsHlNerox. De. 9
recent editorial article in the Times, en- 4
titled. viii Rebellion Cease when the Rebel T
Armies are Destroyedt" has attracted much at
tention here I have heard more than dozen /
members Of Congress speak OF il. in discussing +
the PRINCIPLES il involves. No one doubts that
the above question must BE- answered in tic neg-
alive, az long = tie present and past policy of
the Administration !, persisted IN. The reason
i plain enough. The Administration has uat
made against the rebel armies but against
the people of the Southern States. IL Is on the
people that all the horrors Of war have been
made to fall. IL was against them that the
atrocities of Idrchin, in Alabama, were directed.
1t Is against them that the cOnfscation act was
passed and the emancipation proclamation was
promulgated. II i against them that such saw
ayes rs Milroy. and Pope, and Schcnck, ami
Iurchin, and Higginson. and Montgomery, AMI
Jim Lane have been le9 loose. The effect of
these measures has been To inllict such wounds in
the breast of the Southern people time can
never heal, because the perpetrators of these
dcYilish atrocities were invariably afterwards
honored and promoted by the government
find that il is thought b. some members of
Congress that the Southern people are tired OF
the war; that they are exhausted both IN men
and means; and that, if the olive branch were
now held out TO them, they would eagerly en-
brace IT, Alas such are not nv convictions;
and they arc founded on more accurate informa-
ton than that enjoyed by those sanguine indi
viduals There was time when the simple, but
solemn guarantee of their riehts-ther rights as
States and their rights individuals; rights too
guaranteed 70 them by the Constitution Of the
United States-iherc a time when The simple
guarantee of their rights, made TO them by the
President and Congress, would have prevented
the war and preserved the Union. This was in
March and April, 1861 There was time when
these guarantees, offered to them IN good faith,
might have stopped the war and restored the
Union. Ihi. was in the winter of 1872, BE-
fore the had assumed its subsequent features
of fcrocity. Bur this time exists no longer. The
Sou hern people are now united as one man.
They believe thar the sole object of the war, on
the part of tue North, is the conquest aud subju-
cation Of the South, the coniscation of all their
property and the reduction of their States 10 the
condition of conquered territories. They he
licvc that under no circumstances would they be
received into the Union an equal footing with
the other States; and that the only way for them
To preserve their rights, their liberty and their
property. /, to tight for independence.
There Is one contingency III which we may OK
pect to see the Union restored, and only one. If
the people rise in their might, next fall the
Republican party will be hurled from power, and
a Democratic President will be elected-probablv
might cease even before the rebel armies are de-
siroyed, and the restoration of the Union might
be possible
There has been 10 change in the military stu
alton on the Rappahannock since my last letter
Our army still holds the line of that river, al
though the recent retreat was, practically, 10
Washington. But, on the 9Th inst. the army
threw heavy force across the Rapidan. and it
was supposed at first, that the whole of Lees
army about To- undertake campaign against
this city. Great excitement prevailed in General
Meadcs army; the tents were all hastily struck;
the baggage trains were all sent To the rear; and
combustibles were collected and placed in the
railroad depot, and in and under several hundred
ears, loaded with provisions, which could not be
removed and which, il was feared might fall in
TO the hands OF the advancing enemy. The OBJ
iect of the enemy at that time, however, was
merely to re-establish three of their signal sta
tons on three high peaks of the mountains near
Culpepper, which overlook an immense extent
of country. In this they were successful and
their signal fires can be seen burning on those
three peaks every night. Ii is a grand sight
From these three peaks they see far beyond
the Rappahannock. Our camps are spread out be-
fore them like a map, they can see, and do see,
/ all the movements of Gen. Meade. Ii alb
suul, ut any rate TO keep the armv so far from
| Washington as to the line of the Rappahannock
Blu, now that every movement of Cen Meade is
instantly telegraphed TO Gen. Lee, the army will
probably he Withdrawn TO Warrcnt0n. Manassas
! Junction, even to Centreville before it goes
/ into winter quarters.
Winter quarters IL is humiliafing thought
/ how much might be accomplished by this gal
/ laut army of veterans between now and spring
+ IL they we're placed under competent General,
AMI that General given carte M1.che for cam
! paign against Richmond. With the assistance
+ of the troops already in Gen. Buffers depart
-.
AGAINST Richmond which could not fail of sue
CO. We have complete possession OF the James
river. The Army OF the Potomac mi sht be en-
i parked on board of transports at Alexandra
and landed a. a point above City Point OH the
south side Of the James river, where they
would be only tw9nty miles from Richmond.
/ .it the same time the troops under Cen Butler
+ could advance from Norfolk and Suffolk against
+ Weldon, and IL. troy the railroad leading from
Weldon TO RiChmoud. Such an expedition,
+ properly organized, and lei BY a competent Gen
cral, could not fail Of success Bur the sublic
need no, anticipate ANYTHING Of this kind The
same maign influence that removed General
! McClelianj from the army, and tina; keeps tie
/ incapable Halcck in his place, will see TO ii
thar tic Army of the Potomac i, ke for a foot
bali
The fact that the President i, suffering from q
severe attack of smallpox, that his condition i
critical, and that II must b. some DAYS before b.
even leave his chamber viii probably pre-.
vent the nation from suffering tn disgrace 81
+ seeing our Chief Magistrate in a roe which might
hc parlonable in the Mayor of a lirtic town, but
which would scarcely compOrt with the dignity
Of the President Of the United State, Ia,
/ Russian fleet i here enI 1t ! Understood that
Sumner. Wilson. LovcJov. Trumhnll, Greeley
AMI Others of that ilk. hal devised a series o
entertainments. whi-h were To ;ake place on
board of the Admirals vessel and at the White
House: aud al which the great rails plitter wa.
10 he principal performer. The object Of ihes,
f.fes was 10 have tie Tvrant OF America concli
are and f.aternize with the Tvrant of Russia
And if the violence of Mr. Lincoln's disease SUB
sides sufficiently that part of the programme
which wa 10 take place AT the White House NAV
sill be carried out. Perhaps it i n well 10 IL
50: for II may serve 70 open the eves of tie
American people to the real character of the man
who ha> usurpe3 powers over them greater than
those exercised nv any European sovereign eN-
ccpt the Emperor of Russia. AMI Abraham Is
fast following in the footsteps OF Alexandcr
| Nou VIII rem mher that when Mr. Cameron wa
sent 10 Europe stated that il was done in orlei
10 bring about an alliance with Russia. in order
To enable Mr.. Lincoln TO conquer and suhiucate
the South And il looks yerv much a, If this
was now 10 be brought about Y.