The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-01-09

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Va There is no doubt about the fact that
the Rebellion is about ''squelched. y
Nothing can now avert the result which
they themselves plainly perceive is newt
able. Cur armies will open the spring
campaign largely increased in numbers
and filled with the spirit which goes SO far
towards ensuring success, even when OPP
posing ranks approach equality. The sue
cesses Of Grant and Burnside have obtained
for us a standing point far in advance
Of any hitherto in our possession. They
will be able to strike the very hardest
blows without going far to do SO. One or
two more steps successfully made will cut
the pretended Confederacy up into parcels,
destroy all possible military connections,
and leave the severed part, completely at
our disposal.
OF course if the leaders of the Rebellion
hold out and can manage to keep their ar
mics together until the next campaign
opens, there will probably be one or more
battles. But though there may be battles,
there can be little doubt as to the result.
Let the rebels exert themselves as they
may. they cannot do more than keep their
armies TO their present standard. 1t is
doubtful if they can do so much. With
their armies SO much less efficient than
they were last Spring, and with ours more
formidable in numbers, and animated by
the successes Of the past, there can be no
presumption in assuring ourselves Of VIC
tory wherever the debate of arms may be
contested.
These considerations alone should induce
the people OF the North TO unite heartily
in the comparatively little work there IS
vet to do The SCORER the rebel armies are
dispersed, the better it will be for US, and
the better it will be for the rebels them
selves. Those of them who are not in
arms do not intend to go in and cannot be
forced 20 Join the ranks in sufficient mum
bers TO affect the aggregate. There can be
little doubt that the mass of the people,
out Of the army, are sincerely anxious for
peace and for quiet aud for liberty once
more 20 pursue their usual avocations and
again enjoy the comforts of home. They
arc satisfied, as we are, that slavery has
stabbed itself to DEATH" They see that
nothing IS left to them but speedy return
to their duty and obedience to the law.
The leaders, the army, and their hangers
on, are really all we have to fight and over
power When we do that, the Rebellion is
ended.
This encouraging prospect, if it should
have the proper effect upon us ofthe North,
should induce us to put forth our utmost
energies to speedily drive the rebels from
the field. Whatever may be u mans opin-
ion about the war, or its conduct, or the
Administration, he ought to be able to see
that his best chance to secure any purpose
he may have in the reconstruction of the
South, is to be found in the speediest possi-
BILE overthrow of its military power. The
sooner this is done, the sooner opinion
will succeed to the influence of arms, the
better will varying purposes coalese, and
at last decide upon some plan which will
operate towards the restoration of good
feeling, which is at last to make us a truly
united people and the most powerful on the
face CT the globe. A little further effort
and the work will be accomplished. All
ought 10 labor in that direction till it is ac-
cOmpiished. After that, minor matters
may be discussed. And we shall be able
to discuss them then more calmly and
only useless but hurtful.