Washington telegraph., 1864-07-06

count of his health. We are glad to an
nounce that he is improving, and hope to
welcome him amongst us on the fall cir
cult,
The true government of our State
working under our own proper constitu-
tion and laws is gradually reviving, to
put to shame and render ridiculous the
bogus affair gotten up for presidential
purposes, by few self constituted rep
resentatives of the people at Little Rock.
Outside of the federal pickets, the people
of the State repudiate it with proper con-
tempt.
Appropos of this, we notice that the
Ouachita Conference Journal is about to
resume publication. Bravo! for the good
brother REBEL That will make three of
us, and we may do a good deal to help.
RETRosPECTINow and then it is well to
look back over periods of time To discard the
excitement and fluctuations of feeling, dependent
on passing events, which so confuse the mind.
To calmly estimate results. Mariners are not
content to contend with the winds and the waves,
and perilous lee shores. Their bearings must be
taken at intervals. that they may know what
progress they making towards the destined
port and how their course should be laid to
reach it. By calm retrospect of our past for
tunes we can best forecast the future and read
our fate.
p The 4th of July, 1864. has passed 1t is the
middle of the year. 1t is fit epoch to look
back and contrast our present condition with
that of the 4th of July, 1863
About that time we lost Vicksburg, and as
most of us supposed, the whole control of ahe
Mississippi that vast artery which sewers the
Confederacv Lee was beaten back from his
invasion of Pennsylvania. The bloody battle
of Gettysburg, as well as that of Antietam
resulted in our retreat to the defences around
Richmond We claimed them both as victories
Neither of them were We felt it when we
talked most loudly of them. The mournful af-
fair of Helena cast a gloom over this whole de-
par:ment Succeeding events were worse. Our
fortunes seemed to go down by gradual degrees
The winter found the Arkansas river in possess
sion Of the enemy. All of Tennessee, North
Mississippi, North Alabama, and much of Flori-
da. Truly it was dark hour of our fortunes.
1t is remarkable that so few patriots quailed
A sustaining confidence in ultimate success pre-
vailed universally. No reverses could shake it
1t was, and will be in history remarkable
moral phenomenon. 1t was like the live branch
on the dead tree in heraidry. This confidence
in the justice of our cause gave us hope, and
motto was, "in hgc spe riro." And it has
been justified by events. We labored and
waited, and already have our reward.
For we can look back and read much that has
already passed into exorable history. Our enc
my, desperate from exhausted resources, from
imminent bankruptcy, from growing dissatis-
faction at home, and from intestine divisions,
causing their home government to totter in the
storm, have felt the necessity of concentrating
all their energies for last effort at subugation.
They planned campaigns for the summer, to
crush the rebellion forever" to make the South
desert and call it peace"
The first of these was TO take Mobile, by
movement down through Alabama to Join with
Sherman from Vicksburg, and to cooperate
around Mobile with a large feet in front. That
failed totally.
Another was the sublugation of the whole
Trans Mississippi, by two armies we'll prepared
ndequipped coming together from the North and
the South, meeting at Shreveport, pressing our
army back into Texas, down towards the Gulf.
there to be met and destroyed by another army
cooperating from the coast at the Rio Grandc.
We had commander here who took in all their
plan vast as it was, and made his dispositions
accordingly. By the aid of Magruder, Tavlor
and Price, and the brave and efficient generals
under their immediate commands, they were
disgracefully routed or bafied in every move
nent. That failed. THE summer draws on. the
days shorten again Time flies, and with each
day the mad hopes OF the enemy wither in ad-
vance of the frosts "The winter of their dis
content is already closing upon them.
For their two other prominent plans, in which
they trusted are evidently failing-the capture
of Atlanta and Richmond. They read it in the
future, and very near at hand They begin to
rend each other. Gold rises with rapidity un-
heard of in the world. 1t is sure prognostic of
national downfall.
Our armies are again upon the soil Of Ken
.ucky. They are driving flying hosts back into
Memphis from West Tennessee They are re-
taking Eastern Arkansas-and every where
through these States the people have imbibed
new hopes, aud new patriotism, and are every
where rallying to our flag.
From different quarters of the North from
Congress and leading journals of the cities
come cries for peace shrieks of horror almost,
at the snormities of the war. They are very
significant. Last summer they were not heard.
Vallandgham returns, and defes the power
that banshed him. No tyrant ever suffered that
and held his power Those who seize the reins,
and drive the wild car of desp otism info seas of
blood can never halt, or swerve or fal ter. Hesi
tation is destruction.
The verdict eff Europe is beginning to be heard
in our favor. 1t comes from the thinking men
of all parties, although not yet spoken by the
government. They see now and acknowledge
that our subjugation ia impossibie-they ac-
our heroism, and sicken at the brutal
light of impotent and useless hloodshed
Our bearings show rapid progress towards in
The haven is almost in sight.