The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-10-27
THAT LAST DITCH AT HAND.


THAT LAST DITCH AT HAND.
A grand and solemn convOcation of the
Governors of Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi
was held in Augusta, Ca, on the t7th instant.
1t was the point fhrthest away from the sound
of Yankee cannon or the dropping of Yankee
shells; and consequently, the Richmond
papers assure us that the council was harmo-
nious and peaceful in its interchange Of
thought on public policy and the public
necessities.
This gathering OF Rebel Governors is sig
nifcant, when we take into consideration the
resolutions which they adopted, and which are
now published to the world. Ii would be
absurd 30 suppose that these distinguished
representatives of Southern chivalry would
acknowledge, in so many plain words, that the
"Con(ederacy" was In an exceedingly bad
dilemma very close corner, at best
The first resolved" boldly announces
"that there is nothing in the present aspect
of affairs TO cause any abatement of our zeal
in the prosecution of The war to the accom-
! plishmeut of peace based on the independ-
ence Of the Confederate States"
But ito give encouragement TO their "sol-
diere in the field" II is deemed wise TO use
every excrton to increase the effective force
OF the armies. Then comes another resolu-
ton, calling upon the Richmond authorities to
4" "scnd TO the field every able-bodied man,
"wlthout exception, in any Of the Govern
meut departments whose place can be filled
" by disabled soldiers senior reserves or
/ = l..
When Il comes to so close a point as the
Withdrawal of the gallant young Southern
gentlemen who have all along considered
themselves safe from Yankee bullets aud
bayoucts in the Richmond departments, and
the putting Of their precious bodies in chat
fore front Of battle describedaby GEORGE II.
PENDLEToN, then truly does IL look az If the
"ConlGderacy" was tottering to it, fall. Nc
doubt these Richmond clerks will think so
and, peradventurc, they may indignantly sug-
gcsL that the six belligerent Governors, no
. one Of whom now rules over halr his original
territory, should themselves go to the front. II
= is a kind piece Of advice TO JErFEEsoF
|. DAVIS, and one by which he may profit.
But the Governors do not stop here, but
l.. continue their sage counsel TO the Richmond
: powcr7, urging the calling in "Of all provost
and postguards," save, oicoursc, in large citie'
=, or Important towns and locaiitics--say, for
o instance, the several points ut which these
!, several Governors reside. Here again is
>. confession of weakness entirely unexpected
y but this is q hint which DAVIS viii hardly be
u able to see.
That ~provost guard" is necessary 10 picl
% up those "innumeraDle desGrtero' of whom h
speaks 90 dospondingly on his Southern
10 Journey; and 20 Withdraw IL throughout tn,
IF South would be 10 encourage half the army
u 10 desert.
/" The ueXt resolution urges the Governmen
d and the States TO enact moro stringent law
Il regarding deserters and stragglcrl, so tha
a they may be speedily returned to tn
Il armies in the neld; but how in the nam
- OF coumon-scnse are they to be arrested
&c and returned to their commands, if all th
n provost guard is Withdrawn from the country
It Do they expect to employ old men, cripple'
lt inyalds, and women and children 10 periOrI
e provost duty? Perhaps so. These Governor
y are like Jou's counselor5-thcy neither Civ
substantial, praGf+cal advice, nor do they aiIor
i. the "Conledcracy' any special amount {
IA comfort. The truth IL, they are all ba u
70 scared, and their wit, are wool-gaChering.
IA Concerning their slaves tIey beTay unusua
solicitde. They are to be sent further bac
7e in the South--ncurer to that 'last ditch,
O. whose gaping mouth already yawns in th
,ir mce Of the Rebellion. To insure the safe II
w. novll Of the slaves, the Government is asbe
ea to assist their masters in this beneyoicu
gh movement; and the poor negro, who is threat
euedWith liberty BY the approach Of the Unio
te forces, is to be hustled away into the inJcrio
rs Of those States whose borders Gre already i
IA Federal possession,
~ Buff thought proper--and these Governor
he think II highly propeE-such portion Of thcs
he negroes as may be required are rendered l.
ly the service OF the Rebel Government. VIVA
7s do our Northern Copperheads think Of chat
On Does it shock their sense Of humanity an,
ed prOpriety? Probably, quite probably, II doe
u- not We shall see, whether this idea Of arm
B" ing negroes win be adopted, although we ar
as inclined to the opinion that DAVIS has tot
OF much regard for his personal safety TO nut
ch knife into hands which would cut his owl
nd throat
re Taking the whole question OF this guborna
~ torlal council into view, we draw this infer
enee irom its action That It's members Gee