Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1865-02-03
Southern Matters.


been negotiating with the Emperor Max
imillian for transferring nearly the whole
of the rebel army west Of the Mississippi
river to Mexico, to fight for the French.
Ths denuncialions which have appeared in
the Richmond journals against Kirby
Smith have proved sufficiently bis unpop-
ularity at the rebel capital. 1t has been
known quite generally to cotton spectators
along the river from Cairo to New Orleans
that Smith has repeatedly permitted ship
ments of cotton through his lines. The
validity of the cotton contract entered into
with Kirby Smith some time ago, has
never been questioned, and his cupidity is
SO notorious that he is believed to be capa-
BILE of this or any other act. The only
discount on the whole story is The ability
Of this rebel general to control is army.
The discomfort manifested in Georgia,
North Carolina and Virginia is but speck
compared to the volcanoes of dissatisfaction
raging in Arkansas, West Louisiana ard
Texas.
Gen. Breckenridge has been appointed
secretary Of war. Gen. Lee had not been
appo nted general-in-chief on the 28th.
Gen. Dick Taylor had superseded Gen.
Hood in command of the rebel army Of
the Tennessee. and the latter had issued
brief address to his soldiers, in which he
assumes the whole responsibility for the
conception and execution of his late cam
paigp. Davis has telegraphed to an Off
cial at Columbia that he shall use every
effort to protect South Carolina against
Sherman, and that he loves her as much
as the Yankees hate her, The rebel SER
ate passed bill increasing the number Of
mdshipmen, but taking the appointing
power from the President by two-thirds
vote over the vote Of Davis; but in the
house the bill only received 50 yeas against
Sc nays, which was not the requisite two
thirds. Davis also vetoed bill for the
mailing of newspapers free of postage.
The Sentinel, Davis's paper, denounces
as among the most dangerous Of factous
propositions the calls for State Conventions
being made in several quarters - Though
some true men are entrapped in it, it is
essentially a scheme of the extorfioners,
the time-seryers, the uemblers, the cow
ards, and the disloyal to get possession of
the great seal Of State, the august symbols
and prerogatives Of sovereignty, that they
may berray US to the enemy while our men
are away. This convention movement is
a conspiracy of disloyal demagogues, got
up solely for the chance they suppose it
may afford them to betray the confederacy.
We certainly are unwilling to trust them.
We doubt not we should be sold TO Con-
necticGt with the utmost speed Of steam
aud telegraph. We doubt not Lineoln's
heel would be placed on our neck in less
than week. These conyenton-callers
have no object in view with which loyal
man can sympathize, and our good citizens
will scarcely deem it wise to obIige con-
spirators with opportunities for mischief
The Sentinel also calls for repressive
measures d" We need more >igor, more
sternness. Castle Thunder has its uses
as well as guatd-houses in camp. Bad
men should no more be allowed, in times
| Of excitement and peril, to run riot Trough
the country, like madmen with blazing
torches in stack yard, than TO teach revolt
in camp. We have some who are daily
| employed, through the medium Of the press
10 openly instigaling sedition and revolu.
ton, and reactionary movement in favor
of the enemies that have invaded our land
with every circumstance of outrage aud
atrocity. One of the parties so engaged i:
fresh from the enemy, and has probably
not even in form renowned his citizenship
with those whose cause he is promoting
| We seem to think it wise to allow such
without restraint or hindrance, to SOW tares
among the wheat; to attack our govern.
menl from day to day; to denounce con.
gress, to denounce the executive, 10 decry
our prospects, 10 insligate the people t,
resistance, and to advocate return to tn,
/ Yankee yoke"
| The Sentinel is alarmed at the want 0
preparation for the pending campaign ant
the .upineness of congress January ha
almost run its sands, and spring approaches
The war which farther south has shown NJ
pause will soon wake again in Virginia
Grant is gathering his forces around US
his own army is iutrenched near at hand
Sheridan is in the valley; Thomas is il
Tennessee; Sherman is menacing on
southern connections, and with his fac
hitherward. All the signs Indicate al
early combined and vigorous movement VI
our great line of railway and upon tn
capital of our country. These months 0
winter were precious months of prepare
ton. Two of them are gone one Of then
, remains. Has our work been accomplish
ed \? Have cur plans been formed Hav
our measures been taken ? Has our polio
been agreed upon !? Has the army bee
reorganized? Has it been strengthened