, 1864-02-20

T. The inexo1able law OF public necessity, nov
Tug u9fino ratio Of the leaders Of the rebellion
When rebellion Is reduced to so Intricate
stss1.s as the confederacy now is, what cal
its leaders do, but to demand Implicit obedi
ence and the surrender Of ali the tights of Ii,
people intp the hands of single m9ns Tim
Is what the South has done, You mar the1
rest assured tEat whatever JEFF Davis chooses
to REQUIRE, tie confederates will either viii
lnGly or by force grnnt, '-@.7:
This nlay be Illustrated in different wava
~ me rapidity With which the rebel armie.
have been filling up their ranks; by the Lee
lsIaturc IN executing the blddings Of the Exc
cutlyc, by the BY the initiative which the
army has recently assumed in all milftary
matters. and ny the close intimacy which ex.
h1s generals In the field. Long before The
conscription bill wax discussed, JEFF. Davis
lad taken measures to secure the consent hi
The Governors Of States, and Of the majority
OF Inc Legislature on the subject Of enlist
ment; 50 that his agents would act in vari-
ready been passed. This accounts for the
lafge number Of recruits which have
recently have added to Lees and John
ston's armies, and for the immense pscpar-
! faaens made for the spring campaign; prepar.
anons "hc4 DO not consist in an increasing
o. the contingent, but which includes also
vast military works. the opening OF routcs.
the building up Of bridges, the erection of
ioTtffcattons, dc. Had not JEFF, Davis been
me uncontrolled master Of the Confedeucy.
az these things would not have been accom-.
pl,xasa 4aa9ss IN the same length Of time without
not revolution. Dut knowing as he did he
temper Of the population be had to deal with.
he succeeded in f@attcring the fa5oritc pas
slons OF the multitude, III crushing all seytous
resistance, and In obtaining what be wanted:
Stances Which forc;nn ayss,s ,ssita py efenm~
soldier. soon 1cnced tben l., .,'ten ate, 70 oe
siye obedience enninentiT favornh'o sSe ~ pas,
conquest Of absolute nower ma t. ~" ~ ,,n' eno
''1nc nf 1hc u 9hr.e s'ngle, nggae,na ma9: as
The reh"1 1esSor te,ot tonea " the arts Of
moment e~citaa ~. ~. n.en, . u. ue present
Ionestrsc,;a :Th,. ~ i.:, 4faa fses interest is
causes to The abiIity he ha s1o y sesesal
i've nnnn q,i.,nJ.a' ue u making his army
nns;t,o1i ~ t,, P.unuer 70 the formidable
i'm whfch ~ o;1s -s s9Geeeaea @ IN securing posi-
and virginia Ralload feS9 to 10 ihc tennessee
md 70 siv - tha rosae car9ina ln the north,
~ IN ,ha R W the caest saileys OF this coun.
ncct;ve ossantc, uut RIInciPallT to thc pros
nrorass,a atnsaM.agss ~ Whach such position
rs rnn rx,'f ~ sa1 .ne SCUM. 1he5e advantages,
The anestioo tt nafe TO- TO- oeen oes lost sight
eona1 IL INV w " h. ~ Longs..eets aa army fully
federacr aHd =, onI ino gEeaa armies Ct The Con:
has 80 ia' ..u 4oile " etuclent: II the thing ]
fhe meons 1r3'ins e.. & IL - uot tne WISH, but
TIC inst .,1rcs. fcc u,. ~, ,y1, besn waning In
re-enforce1ucnts. hay;nr , n;,nsalt ~ teAed 1or
sistaincc tn % hipn ieue9, ~ couia 4.a re OF no as-
changed. Iec h,yinn raoa,saa ens; Lungs nave
thiJfT n.v.es,7 ..a.'.;, 1eee.yeo nearly
bers are fncrcasinr ere,v "oee sa Annl-
street can he casI1v strSsetH SH to,.y aay. Long.
second plan, it IS Jet doubtful Wheti,er the the
Carter Station hr tha naia nnaitoaa. injured ut
rurpInr order 2be iotost on troops, ls IN
The Natan,ra i,riioe nItIa,n ns"s says taat
very fast. iiad not ~ baan bnoasa Progressing
bridge, :,]thouch not n1,sn1nta'tp ;.a; LUIS
1le e The increase Of the Tennessee army, IS
OF war, witi,ant Whic,, u 9Stas Snns ana
nm neither Law s}enc ~ Enn.si1s m4Gh LonssIIeet
he position he has selected M ihe uoi hns;s a";s
Ills future operations As lonr as # rsnna;ns n.1
unfinished he Will probably coadne his nnaros
IONS 10 eavalry raids and to the exploration
y the ground On which be Intends tn nner-
tc next spring. He is now In possession If
4e SIX fertile valleys which run between the
Aenlucky and North Carolina line, aufl. .sof
lea1ly all the avenues leading into these ]
wo states. These valleys arc secured nights
IL tey cn9 pS tSs;s Of hhn5 WHO take
heir predatory. excursions even as far south +
knoxville, In the vicinity Of which skir- 9
aishes are Of daily occurrence. +tl@'' Sl~A1 '
6nt Of all the forces Longstreet has rece1v- 6
!, the most important undoubtedly is that
I Breckinridge, who was detached not lone .
nee from John6ton's army and sent t5 q
outh+wcst Virginia, In order TO support him.
! first the importance Of that muyernent :.
as not appreciated. 1t was tbougi,f ti1at y
teckinzidge's men were an IsoIated and in. =
:pendent command. But when It became =.
1oWn tlat his and Lonsstreet's were in r.. !. =,
ity but the two wings of The same army -
ID that force Of about d6. OllD men IA =. =.
en-, in fact, gathered On thc East Tenn4ssco ~ ~
&c, and could at any momenti moye in - ~
estefn direction, then the policy OF fhe W,
ar Department began to be hettsr urdar. ~
bod The name Of Breclinr;5ae anu1, ,ra. sh a
mediately associated with thn 5Ja, "as -
invasion In KentucIv. WIat othor ,aea raae ~
1uld be assigned for his remnysI fra,r III
4? Was it not clear that prect;nr;dIa,a IUn D Rs
nee in the direction Of his avn atat5 I sa
an nothing but an cxned;tioni il f,,a ,nta S"aa
Kcntuckyy This snnnnsit;on n,ss @ stna'[t1' 7
ID By the presence il Ton@stractss attea1n coae 7
ckncr, kentncEfan hV 1f3etI 10 IGotps ~ VI tat
of tIe Stafe 'fsna-,d ano I'LL 1o4gs set
lin. Buckucr. II ia rnnored dsf ~ III ata
'c Of taking command n nf fha nrna 11r nne rn1 est
/. He and dEft, Erreft11,;ae ana 10 toE no other OBJ VII
~ - nu LIN ,o1ceAuf1age mad been appoint pre-