Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-11-17
FROM LATE SOUTHERN PAPERS.


We find in the columns of our Northern contemporaries
variety of derived from late Richmond and other
Southern journals. We subjoin few paragraphs:
THE FEELING OF SECURITY AT RICHMOND
The Congress of the Confederate States meets to-day in
the city OF Richmond which Gen. Grant have taken
sI months ago. but which he has not taken 10 this day
There are very serious doubts indeed among the best
disposed of his friends and admirers outside of the city
whether he will ever take it at all while inside of il there
does not exist doubt upon the subject far we have
been able to learn The Congress of the Confederate States
at least must feel entirely upon that point they
would hardly have ventured within the sound of his guns
knowing what prize they would be should he capture the
city and make prisoners of them all The object Of the
present session will be- doubt to make every provision
possible for the prosecution of the That great duty
indeed comprehends every thing No question can arise
which is not in some degree connected with it. The
country expects from Congress that calm dguiled de-
berae consideration of public questions which belongs to
their exalted staton-Disyach.
While Gen. Grant with his vast army Gays he is hold
ing Richmond by the throat-while his lines of cir
cumvalstion and contravalation, as Yankee war cor
respondent declares, closing in around u.s. and the
inevitable Ulysses s only awaiting the day when his in
sructions will permit him enter the city and appoint
Butler its military Goyernorat this the Confede
rate Congress wends its way quite in the usual manner
by the usual roads and sits down calmly to attend its
ordinary business in this besieged" city The members
of this Congress adjourned nearly six months ago. when
Grant had announced that the siege of Richmond was
formally opened and indeed they did hear they sat in
their legislative chambers the deep Of his cannon
Cold HarbOr They return in half year and find the
city the Yankee newspapers declare, besieged still the
heavy guns still be heard believing, but not inch
nearer than before The Representatives and Senators
pass 10 by their several ways just they passed out
enemy. They find the inhabitants of this belea-
guered town very much at their hardly appearing
that they beseged and beeagured going
about their business and their pleasures altogether usual
and forgetting to listen to the ar-of of artillery,
which they now seem to regard no more than If il
distant thunder er-ErdmineT
RECONSTRUCTION IN ALABAMA.
oyuhat til haUa tha
OF the General Assembly of Alabama in relation to peace,
many editors, without intending it, hsye done great njus
tce to that body Sundry resolutions the subject of
peace introduced in the House of Representatives
but of them passed in that body No peace
ons were considered in the Senate at all In the discus
that occurred in the House gentleman svowed any
reconstruction sentiments the contrary every purpose
of that sort most unquslfedy dssvowed by every
member who participated the discussion Several gen.
temen expressed desire to negotiate for peace bat
far their declarations go willing make
peace upon the basis OF Charleston CoR
WHAT SAID ABOUT PEACE
We would be among the last to encourage a false hope
to lu people into that ethsrgy that naturally
suits from sense of security. We have maintained
that there was no hope OF peace except through the
cess of our arms. With the tide against u.s. there s no
party among enemies. not the most confirmed Of
" copperheads or slavery propsgsndss" the reason
able at the North termed dersiOn, that would
think for moment Of accedng TO any terms of adjustment
that we could accept with honor Victory is our sheet
anchor and the only dependence Our esons triumphant
and our flag floating proudly in the face of conquered foe
will be the only true harbngers OF peace The North will
never let go long there hope left of restoring
Union that has made them prosperous rch and nsoent
All men at the North, not thoroughly demented, must
see the utter hopesness of the struggle to subdue
back into unwilling with them. For nearly four
years they strved with all their vast powers and
limited to make recant the declaration that
we of right, and intend to be, ree separate and
dependent people and to-day finds successfully resisting
all their attacks and stronger by far than at the
beginning The campaign Of the present fall to be the
last throw Of the die and they gathered up all their
gs for the bloody task aud yet where stand the respect
i've armies to-day Sherman for awhile successful has
been compelled to abandon virtually all his conquests in
his army from starvation the hand and destruc
ton the other. Grant after months effort such
army made before, aud causing the soil OF Vlr
gna to turn red with the blood of bis nearly two hundred
thousand slain aud wounded s still before Richmond and
Petersburg baked and tbwated in all his plans and for
the first time confronted by force equal his own We
have doubt of the reelection OF Lincoln and believe
such result 10 the contest would be beat for u.s. Again
firmly seated in power be would have motive to pursue
contest that has grown hopeless and at the same time
runous to his Government and people. Hrs interests and
the interests Of his nation will be the path Of peace and
dsembarrassed second sober thought will likely lead him
to pause in his career OF madness He has already pub
cy intinated his willingness to make peace provided the
people will take the responsibility, and it is but step
further to take the responsibility himself The election OF
Lincoln will at least accomplish one valuable purpose
with it will set at forever all issues but onesub
jugshon or independence There will be other aterus
tive On the other hand with all the noble spirits at his
back, confess could contemplate the contn
gency Of McCleans without instructive shud
der at the possible consequences Of such an event
Savannah Republican.