The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-03-31

Wv "a shaSS ooyc ~ ANSW = va
correspondent made strange development
concerning Lee and Stephens aud peace
We have waited, but confirmation has no
come nor any further discoveries.
1t were an easy enough matter fo
the New York revelator of the hiddeI
things Of the Confederacy to vouch TO
the truth of bis own statements. News
paper correspondents have happy fer
tility in that, and the crudest conjecturel
and most absurd and erroneous slatement
have repeatedly been sent forth under sht
most solemn asseverations of reliability
D. the facts establish the revelator's ac
curacy? And here of course there is nc
answer for us.
The one hundred and seventy thousand
marching men that the correspondent
found upon the rebel records at Richmond
exist only upon paper. A large amount
of this force have fed the ranks. The
rebels conceds that they have taken to the
swamps. Gen. Lee, himself, has return
ed many of them, rs did the Sheriff
who chased his fugitive offender into an
impenetrable swamp and up stump
".Seei6as an swompiJus up stumpiJus
non comatd6us."
Such an interview as The one reroTted
may have taken place between Gen. Lee
and the rebel Congressional Committee,
but it must have been some weeks tgo.
And it may be fully expressive of the cal
views of the rebel central. We have 10
doubt that it is true that the rebel arm
is not sufficiently strong to maintain
show of defense longer than midsummer
at the farthest, and. also, that Lee is
thoroughly impressed with the stubborn
ness of this fact. He may also think that
two hundred thousand negroes would en-.
able them to prosecute the war through
another year. There would be good
grounds for difference of opinion with
General Lee on this score, but none what
ever with his assumption that despite this
additional increase Of the military forces
of the Confederacy, it must prove fail
ure.
The dieta'orial powers rendered Lee
and the New York correspondent and
maker Of astonishing revelations, is not
responsible for the annuuciation of this
fsct-are of significance only as illusirs-
ting that the locks of Mr.. Davis are
shorn and that his ascendancy is over.
After all his efforts 10 consummate In deed
the ful6llmeat Of the imperial dreams of
the rebel leaders, they would leave to him
barely the possession of title, which
promises only halter, and give to an
other Chief the powers and honors of pre-.
carious eminence. Davis, more than any
of his compeers, has won the right to add
the title of dictator to the title he wears
1t was only Grumio's 'tmustard and beef"
"a poor meal at the best, and now the
unfortunate JEFF. is aunted with the mean
offer of mustard while Lee shall get the
more substantial part of the feast.
We do not doubt that Mr.. Stephens
views are pretty correctly presented in
the plan as given. If it's guessing. it has
the merit Of shrewdness. When Mr.. Ste-
rhens ard bis attendants, Hunter and
Campbell, returned from the interview
with Mr.. Lincoln in Hampton Roads, Mr.
Stephens and Mr.. Campbell were posted
to speak at the Indignation war meetings
which we're holden in Richmond, at the
instance of Mr. Davis, but the two gen
tlemen never filled the bill Mr.. Stephens
has not been heard with "his voice still
for war; He has been studiously silent.
Conjectures. however, will soon be ren-
dered unnecessary. They will be crowd
ed out by the issues, real, practical, tan.
gible issues. that bayonets aud the ad-
vance Of the Union hosts shall work out
Thank Heaven that result cannot long be
delayed; and however peace may come,
or whatever the processes by which it
shall be established, we are certain that o
conservatism scarcely less criminal than
the radcalisn of proslaveryism can not
make vain the sacrifices Of four years
contest Tor freedom; but that the peace
that will surely come, and that shortly,
will be shod with liberty, and wear the
pure garments of universal cmancipation
@The Fourth Army Corps, under
General Stanley, it is said, is moving into
Southwestern Virginia from Knoxville
1t numbers some $4,000 or $4,000 men
+ A cavalry force, some 6. 900 strong, un.
der General Stoneman, is moving in tbt
same direction from the same place. L
10 evidently General Grants intention Il
close all the channels of approach or de-