Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-02-19
Preparations for the Closing Cam.
pai9n Of the War.


Occasional" the able and intelligent WASH
lngton correspondent of the Philadelphia
Iress, speaking of ths last call of the Pres-
dent for troops, has the following word Of
encouragement for the speedy close of the
great contest in which we are engaged
Thanks to the progress of pure and health
full public sentiment in the land, the Govern
ment is taking advance ground in the prose-
cution of the war, and we are to have no
more Of the temporizing and indecisive policy
that marked the early history Of the contest,
on our part. The conservative men Of the
Border States, who so zealously labored to
crush the rebellion and save slavery, have
had their day-their policy has been tried and
failed-and it is now giving way to mors
vigorous and effective one. Hereafter the
blows are to fall thick and fast, and this boast.
ed rebel Southern Confederacy, with its twin
sister Slavery is doomed to speedy and
terrible overthrow. But here is what "Occa-
sional" says about it
The five hundred thousand additional troops.
which includes the recent increase of the
army, and with this will render necessary
new levy of about two hundred thousand, is
the notice of awful, and believe decisive
preparation. l would not delude our people
with false hopes, but am confident that this
call, promptly responded to, will be the last,
and that the term of service will be BRIEF
That the rebel leaders will themselves make
desperate onset at an early period, is evident
from the signs; but they will be met at every
point Behind the rebel armies is despair
ing, and indignant, and disenchanted popu,a-
ton. They have seen the utter failure of the
promises of their hard-hearted masters,
and they hear, as if it came like voice from
Heaven, the invitation of the grand old Gov
eminent to return to their allegiance. These
oppressed men and women have, at last, tired
of fighting and starving for a fantasy of
theory. They want rest and peace, schools
for their children, employment for themselves,
and Gods holy word for their spiritual guild
ance. Already they are catching at every
opportunity to show how eager they are for
the end of strife. Arkansas, Tennessee, Mis-
souri,, Florida, and Louisiana, are willing to
give slavery to the winds. so that their people
may be really free. The Presidents amnesty
has gone forth to these sections with healing
on its wings. 1t has stirred the rebels in their
Richmond conventicles, in their rugged
camps, and in all their borders. Every rem
sdy resorted to by President Lincoln and the
American Congress has succeeded in the face
Of the double assaults and traitorous predic-
tions of sympathizers at home and rebels in
the South, and not only has it succeeded, but
is now, in moment Of terrible desperation,
initiated by the rebels themselves. Our fnan
cial triumph is envied and lauded even by
those who were first to denource and ridicule
it. Vide the fierce attack of Robert Toombs
upon Memminger's miserable management of
the Secession money chest. After two years
Of objurgation against MIR. Lincoln for en-
ploying negroes, the rebel Congress has at
last taken ground in favor Of using the slaves
to defend slavery. Nothing is needed but an
extreme Northern sentiment, and full and
fighting army, and rapid movements by land
and sea, to give all these elements of disaffec.
ton in the seeded South such momentum
as will hasten the whole system of rebellion
and slavery to its universal and eternal over.
throw. e