Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-11-16
DAILY LEADER.
WEpNEsDAY, novEaI RER ID.
The mebel Secretary Of War attempts
the PorsrRyaI OF the Kei'elifon'

james A. Seldom, the rebel Secretary ot
War. has sent in his annual report to the
Rebel Congress. 1t is q remarkable doou-
ment which viii attract widespread inter-
est not for its picture. of the pros
perous condition Of military affairs in
Davis Empire, but as an illustration
of what a willy pen can do fora very
bad osuse. He opens his manifesto by re-
volving the efforts of ''their eaemies' dur
ing the past four years, for their suRjusA-
ton. Ever Sthing, to the eyes OF Seaa0n' seldom
looks charming and swimming
The rebel freebooters have had
snlendid series of victories during the past
wear. In Florida beyond the Mississippi,
in Louisiana and Missouri, in Virginia and |
about Richmond, in Northern Alabama
and in Tennessee, the rebel SeddOn sees
moth ing but Confederate successes, max
ing out for the benefit of his European
readers who understand but partially the
facts in the case, quite rose colored pros
peritv. BE agrees with the very ssnguine
Davis that the fall of Atlantis amounts to
but little, although Governor Brown, OF
Georgia in his message TO the State Legis-
lature, says "Itis tie pery heart and rail-
roaS centre of the COnfsdsraey,- and
Il, loss ,0as Severe 5Iot0-" sed-
dom is not talking with view 70
what is really thought of the military
condition Of the rebellion either North or
South, but IS a brawling brsggar putting
on airs before European audience. Even
the repeated defeats Of EARLY that have
sent him awhirlings up the valley repeat
edlv. have not sobersd the buoyant imag-
ination of the wsrliks SeddOn. With q
shout of e1ultstion, equal to any OF the
lsbored efforts of Mr.. RcKwick himself
seddou closes his review oithe military
situation thus:
1--WE have resisted the mightest of the
efforts of our enemies. We have encoun-
tered and defeated his largest and best ap-
,,o;nted armies. We have thwsrted his
best laid plans. We have shown ourselves yes
ODE worthy of that separate and equal
place among the nations Of the earth
which is cur birthright, and which hsS
been u1juslly Withheld from Us"
MI. Seddon thus discusses :he question
of maintaining ths rebel armies. He sd-
mits TO begin with that the forces and re-
sources brought to besr by the North HhaVe
eomoslIed the Confedsraey to pat its entire
resources into the field. He is satisfied
with the manufacturing s1d agricultural
resources of the rebels The railroads, by
means of government aid have been able
to move their armies. he poceeds to re-
Wow the workings Of the rebel oonscriPt-
iag Act and its various amendments. By
that Act sn men able to bear srms are re-
gsrded as in the army, and details are
made from it for the various industrial
pnrzufss Of life. All details and ozemp'
lions. aereept skilled artisu'ls, experts a7rc
znea of seiesscs, and a felD Others actually
iaasspsnsi6le for the 1nasntenancs and sup
,ly Of the armies have been stopped II
view of the large force brought agains
them blythe North, ~.
We are, therefore, to understand that th'
,ntire fehtng capacity of the rebellion il
in the field up to the last man, with thu
exception of the large army OF deserter
that are banded together among the noun
tsins. and WIS esunOt be brought back
seddon, after every white man that eoul'
be reached has been, says their onl,
chance for re-enforeements is from the ne
gro population. He suggests the experi
msnt Of employing 10000 Of them to ire
Teye teamsters, cooks, and the like" ou
evan with that addition he Is in trouble
He says:
GTbese various measures, sanctioned b
existing legislation, must materially II
e crease and reinvigorste our depleted al
tnies: but II Is not TO be disguised that the
qa,sst still Leavs those armies relatively yea
a, s,,couater the hosts being summoned 3
the ezensy for oar sa6jHgat'O''.
- The only suggestion for remedying tn
condition Of things is to abolish every e
euption Hexcept such as are needed to ca
ry on the Confederate and State goverI
ments,p and put in all men, t05t'o'a d
t,letioys o.. DISCRIMINATION. This Propos
tion wiz raise a fearful howl among u
wealthy slave-lords that have kept awa
from the smellsof gun-powder, by reason
theirsafteen- slaves. The proposition Is
utterly despotic that it must excite gre
dissensions among the rebels.
Having shown the military status as
the white men, he turns to the question:
srming theslaves. Though Shis judgme
does not, ssyst, approve of the policy
necessity of arming the slaves" yet
professes great satisfaction in Knowf
that the blacks are reserve force on WIFI
Eha1- may call in the last extremfi
longs, says Seldom, tothe States, and ii
consent must first be obtained. The rel
-.a Governors recently decided that i
should be done, and hence the prospect
an attempt in this direction grows strong
and stronger. It is evident that this op
will be the absorbing one during the CO
ing winter.
seddon then reviews the condition
the rebel cavalry, but our readers are
ready sbundsntly informed as to the {
moralized, thieving rsbble the rebels lc
cavalry. After declaring it necessary
consolidate the feeble regiments !
yet remaining, he turns his ste
ton to the belsprisoners in our han
He indulges in the usual denunciations
the North for not exchanging prisonefs
the terms pleasing to the rebels, and