Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-12-23


handwriting on the wall, and their knees
are shifting together With terror. The
triumphant march of Sherman through
Georgia, like an AFeBging Nemesis for
the cFuslties perpetrated upon our
prisoners in that State the siege Of Sa-
vannsh with TIE certainty that il must,
in the end, surrender; the defeat Of
Hood in front Of Nashville, with a loss
Of half his army and three-fourths Of bis
artillery, wagon trains aud munitions Of
war; the defeat Of Breckinriigs in East
Tennessee, With the advance of The
Union troops TO WythsvilIe, Virginia,
and the destruction Of the immense salt
works at SalivIlle, which we have no
doubs has been accomplished; the daring
raid Of Col Osborn, ia which he de-
stroyed thirty miles Of the Mlssissippi
Central Railroad, over which Hood had
been drawing supplies from the rich
valleys Of the BlAekwater and YaEoo
rivers, as we'll as thousands upon thoas-
snds Of dollars Of public property; the
equally daring and successful foray Of
Gen. Davidson from Baton Rouge, in
whieh be destroy ed property to a vas,
amount and even alarmed the rebels for
the safety Of Mobile itself; the sailing Of
the immense expedition under Ad-
mirAl Porter and General Butler,
whose destination hes not yet
been definitely aseessained bat whose
armament IS Of 30 formidable : nature
that no dosbl Is entertained Of is sue
cess ct whatever point il may strike; all
Of these Disasters coming together
towards the close Of campaign whieh
has been prolific Of misforsunss and
defeat 10 the rebel eaass---it is not sur.
prising that despair is sbeginning TO man
ifess itself 10 spite Of the earnest efforts
OF The rebel authorities TO prevent il
from becoming visible. The shadow CT
Gods avenging wrath broods over The
land Of oppression. wieksdasss aud bar
barism.
The Southern people have been hope.
fal people. Thoroughly imbued, ., the
outset, with the idea that they we're q
superior race and could not be con.
quered, they have laughed every disaster
to scorn, and hoped on and or in spite
Of accident, misfortune aud ruin. Hope
has ever thrown bow around theis
many disassross defeats. Their armies
seldom were--but always 70 be-succesa-
iul Their cities we're impresnahle,
their soldiers inviueibIe, their command
ere iadomisable. Defeat Only seemed
10 eonhrm their faith In ultimate sue
cess; the fall Of one city or the roat Of
one army only increased their confidence
in the impregnability Of ali that remain
ed unto them Their courage has been
as tenacious as their hope buoyaus.
They haze fought with 3 despsratioa
that sxterts praise from their most bitter
oppouenta Had it not been for their
savage cruelty 10 their prisoners, the
Vietors, in the hour Of their overthrow,
wosld have houored them as foemsn
worthy better fate, and willingly given
them the hand Of friendship Bot that
dark spot-Andersonville-will forever
blackea their escateheon. Their cour-
age will be regarded by future ages as
the courage Of savages and basbarians
not the chiEalross bravery Of enlight-
eued humanity.
Bat Hope itself has at last plumed is
wings and taken its flight from the land
that is stricken on account Of its op-
pressiona The hsld is left to raven
hued Despair. The Indifferent manner
in whieh the rebel armies fght; the
quarrels and dissensious in the rebel
Congress- the insane rawlings Of the
rebel press, all indicate that the Demon
of DseOrd has established her throne in
the rebel capital, aud her enissaries are
flying through all parts of the South,
tanning the snouldsring embsrs Of dis.
content, dissatisfaction, aud despair into
flames From every part Of the Con-
federacy comes up the same story Of
despair, despair, DEsrAIRl
Oar dispatches, shis morning, give Is
sketch Of scene in the rebeI Con.
gress, in which Senator Foote Of Ten.
nessee formally withdrew from that body.
He briefly and graphically recited the
disasters that had befallen the Coufed-
crate arms during the past campaign,
and frankly confessed that be had nc
hope even of mach longer defending the
rebel cApitsL Mr. McMullen Of vir,
| ginis, taking up the despairing strain,
introduced resolutions asking for the
appointment of commissioners TO pro
eeed to Washington 10 treat fer peace
he said Gen Grant had promised .her
safe passage through his lines We
have no doubt the commissioners will b
received and treated Hospitality, but they
viii learn there IS but one way 70 obtain
peace, and that Is for those who began
the war to lay down their arms and quit
lighting. These are the only terms
admissible In no other way viii ths
var terminate.
In the meantime let the Goverumsu n