Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-09-02
TRUE CONDITION OFTHE SOUTH.
IMPORTANT LETTER PROM GENERAL
TRUMAN SEYMOUR.


TRUMAN SEYMOUR.
WtLLGAMsrowN, Mass, Aug. l6.
ny Dear Sir-You ask for my impressions
Of the present condition Of the southern con-
federacy, and you shall have them. For the
benefit Of orr cause wish they might be i'm
pressed upon every soul in the land hat the
confidence begolen Of my three months OBJ
servations in ihe interior of the South might
be shared 10y every man who has the least
connection with the responsibilities Of this
struggle; and | am sure that these opinions
arc not peculiar TO myself Every one Of the
fifty officers just exchanged will express the
same every one Of our men, whether from
the jails o. Charleston or the pens Of Macon
and Andersongile, will confidently tell the
same story
The rebel cause is failing from exhaustion.
Their two grand armies have been reinforced
this summer from the last resources Of the
South. From every corner of the land every
old man and every boy capable of bearing a
rife has been impressed, willingly or unwill-
ingly. and hurried TO the front. Lees army
was the first strengthened 1t was at the
expense Of Hoods. Gov. Brown told the
truth with piainness that was very bitter
but u was none the less truth. Let me ex-
tract few prominent statements from his
proclamation Of July O. addressed TO the re-
served militia Of Georgia
" A ate c1uc.pond nee with the President Of the
Cluedeute st4es s4ushe- my mind that Georgia is Co
be- It her own resources suppy the iurctments
10 Den Jn1 s1u's army which ind spcnsabe the
protection of Atlanta, aud 10 prevent thc state being
1vcrruu t} tlc yer0h fimius numbers NOW undsr tlt
mmAnd of ths federal general upln oar sou.
" But there is need oi further reiuiotoements, will
be by the mpan,iug letter Of Gen Johnston.
and 90 becomes nay duty % call out every
man ln ut state able n bear arms as fast as thsy
be armed 90 and u the defence of our homes AID AtaIs
and abe giaves q out ancestors
90 n fhe cuuffde atr guNti meni will not send the
large cavalry force ono tugagtdlL rAdinR aud repe.
ing RAID, o desuy tc lone ling of railroads over which
Gen saeruan brings his supplies from Nashville. and
thus com e him 90 cireat wih the 's Of most Of his
army, the people Of Georgia, whu have already been
drawn upon more heavily iu proportion 10 population
than thseo other state iu The enfederacy, must At
all haz rds and az any sacrifice rush the front.
II Gen. Jousiou army Us destroyed, he Gaf states
se thrown open TO the enemy, and we arc ruined
There must indeed, have been desperate
weakness when Georgia, and the southern
cause with 10, were SO neglected that Lees
army might be made equal TO the task of
holding Grant TO the Potomac or the James
and the people OF the South are int ligent
enough to understand and to appreciate the
fact, and they have lost heart accordingly,
The following Is from letter written by
one rebel to another, that accidentally fell
into the hands Of one OF my fellow prisoners,
and for the authenticity of which vouch
Very few ersons are preparing % obey the late call
Of the q veInur. His summons will meet with no re-
spOnse here be people ne soul sick and heartily
tired Of This hateful, hopeless strife.
They would end t n they could but our would be
rulers will take good osre that opportunity be given
The peo vote against H. By lies, by fraud and BY
chcanery this revolution vas inaugurated BY force by
tyranny aud by The suppression o. truth Is sustained
It nearly time that should end and Of sheer deple
ton it must end before long We have had enough Of
want and of woe enoughol cruelty and carnage enough
Of crppies and corpses There is an abundance Of be-
reaved parents wcerng widows aud orphaned children
in The and II can, let as not increase the number
The urn uho 90 appraudze themselves, or TO crafty
their own political ambition, brought this cruel upon
peaceful and prosperous country, will have 10 render
fearful account of their misdeeds TO wronged roobed
and outraged people Earth has no punishment suhi-
oienty for tncir yilany here aqd Hell will hardly
be hot enough Co seattle them hereaitef'
There is certainly no small proportion Of
the southern peope-despite the lying dec
larations OF their generals, as we had good
occasion to learn-that not only favor the
progress OF our arms, but that daily pray
that this exterminating war may be brought
to fnality by our complete and perfect sue
cess.
They have had too much of despotism, not
enough Of the triumph promised them. Many
intelligent southern gentlemen do indeed ex-
press stroug hopes of their ultimate indepen-
dence, but such hope is not shared by the
masses. disappointment from the first in
not being acknowledged by foreign powers.
more bitterly disappointed in their general
expectations that northern cowardice or dis
union. would secure their ends, but single
chance remains, and that is the result OF our
next election for President If Democrat
succeeds to Mr. Lincoln, they profess to feel
sure of negotiations and their coniederacy.
They believe a Democrat will be elected. In
Mr.. Lncoln's reelection they see only sub
liugation, annihllation; for the war must then
cantinue, and continuance is their failure and
ruin.
In military affairs it is an excellent rule
never to do what the enemy desires Is 1t
not equally true in politics Certain 1t is
that the remaining hope of the South lies IN
Mr.. Lincolns defeat.
! Nov. am not enough of nol'icisn 10