The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-02-12

the first The rumor OF the capture 81 Branch
vile which was prsvai.c.at at Richmond on tho
f, 9Th inst, was confirmed on the 10th, and accom-
panying the confirmation was q rumor Of the
evacuation Of Charleston. We trust and believe
that the rumor Of the 10th will be confirmed by
the rebel reports Of the 18th instant At any
rate we may congratulate the country on tho
foil Of Charleston as natural result, sooner or
later, Of the admitted fall of Branchville.
JeH. Davis and tho Southern People
What Will They DO With HINT
The real designs Of JEFF Davis in the late
peace conference we at length fully exposed
He did not expect peace, he did not intend
peace, his object was o distinct issue ON the
peace question, upon which hs might silence
the peace clamors around him, and stir up an
other revival Of the original Southern war fever.
He has tried his experiment he has apparently
succeeded in Richmond in raising universal
clamor for war to "tho last ditch" but it is vio
lent efervescence, which will speedily subside,
and be followed by decisive Southern reaction
for peace.
The most radical Of tho Richmond lre-eatcrs
have alrcady betrayed their fears Of collapse.
The Ecamiacr Of that city, f1r example,
says:-"There il profound and powerful
spring Of revivined passion, wrath. and
resolve in our Confederate people," but
lit will be Of no use will lead to no good,
will subside again into deeper apathy and de-
spondency, unless strong and decisive measures
be at once taken TO render it available" and
that the present excitement "must not be al
lowed to eyaporate and pass away in the rhe-
toric and cheers Of two or three public meet
ings." Here the danger Of evaporation is
fatty confessed, and the fear OF sleeper apathy
and dependency" 1t must be so, for the in
evitable consequences Of all violent stimulants
are apathy and exhaustion. The public mind
of Richmond has bcen infsmed into q state Of
moral drunkenness by the fiery war concoctions
Of JEFF Davis and his satellites; but this un-
natural excitement cannot long be kept up.
Hence, while the 0t Is on, advantage must be
taken Of it, or, with returning soberncss, the
Confederate people" may turn upon theirrcbel
masters and send them adrift
This is the special danger which threatens
ton. lie will consent to nothing in the shape
of reconstruction. He will not be party to
q restoration of tho rebellious States to the
Union on any terms. He will have his con-
federacy or he will have the people thereof ex-
terminated. He will fight it out But will tho
people concerned thus consent to their own de-
s.ruction, We are sure they will not They
have been deluded all along with the absurd
idea that the North is so ANXIOUS for peace, SO
nearly exhausted by the war, that Ii brought TO
tho diplomatic test of peace, on the basis of
separation or q continuance of the war; they
would come to compromise that would open
the way to Southern independence. Now that
dclusion is dispelled, and the rebellious South
ern people have the issue distinctly presented
them Of peace by return to the Union, or war
to tic extremity OF subjugatisn.
What course will they takes Their rebel
leaders have nothing more to lose, and nothing
to hope for in return to tho Union. II freely
pardoncd for their great crimes they cannot
hope to remain among their people il restored
to the Union. They will be driven by the iorcc
of public opinion into exile, and they know it
Hence their purpose to fight 1t out to a. the last
man and the last dollar" This Is the position
Of JEFF. Davis He must have his confederacy
or die, or 60 into an ignominious exile. But the
masses OF the people Of tho rebellous States
are not in this position. With their submission
to the Union, excepting their institution of
slavery, they stand as they stood before the
war, with their rights, lives and property under
tho protection Of the constitution Of the United
States. We are fighting for their rights against
Jeff. Davis, and he Ia the usurper who 10 fight
ing 10 overthrow them. But still the vision Of
- Southern confcderacy might tempt them to
further sacrifices Of life, rights and property
wcro there any hope for Davis But taere h
none. Not one thinking Southern man In Q
thousand can longer entertain any such hope.
On the other hand, the Southern planter, whose
estates remain untouched by tho war, must SEQ
from lie continuance that his houses, lands, ne
groes, cattle, cotton, corn, everything, will
probably be swept away by firgor sword, and
all for nothing bui submission at last And so
Of every man from Richmond TO the Mexican
border who has anything 10 lose or 10 save.
The issue, therefore, between JEFF. Davis and
tho Southern people still under bis control, Is
whether he or they shall be sacrificed TO secure
peace. This question will be soon determined.
General Leo has been promoted TO the COM
mand Of all tho armies Of The rebellion. Tho
military combinations convergng upon Rich
mond will inevitably compel Davis to leave,
and reduce General Lee to . oapituation or
has.y uclrcat In this event DAVIS will become
q nero automatou, and Lee will possess the
power over Tho question Of pcsoe or war. Nor
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