Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-01-03

will be necessary to dredge at that point before
the work can be used a. designed. We pre-
sumo that Gen. Butler will at once cause this
necessary dredging to be catered upon.
THE SOUTHERN PRESS UPON The
CONFEDERATE SITUATION.
Remarkable Admissis made and Desper-
ate Remedies Proposed.
The Richmond Sentinel (ths organ Of JEFF.
Davis and the Richmond Enquirer (the most
influential paper In the Confsderacy) OF We'd
nesday last, (2sth ult) both contain editorial
articles OF great significance, as affording evil
dence that the rebellious oligarchy have made
up their minds to veL ture the experiment Of
placing arms In the hands OF negroes, as last
hope OF being able to succeed in their effort to
destroy the Union. We learn through Mr..
Geo. ID. Prentice, who has Reached here from
Richmond, (where he recently spent five
weeks, having gone there to see his son, who
WAS in some difficulty on account OF having
killed some one not long since at Abingdon,
Va, In personal collission) that the public
men in that city, one and all, seemed prepared
for the experiment and its legitimate conse-
quenee-the initiation OF measures for the
adjustment Of slavery. They all propose to
set free the negroes in whose hands they may
place arms, and to donate lands to them, leav-
ing the question OF the liberation OF their fani-
lies In allegiance for the present.
We look for the speedy announcement Of the
commencement OF the experiment with re-
doubled interest, because firmly convinced
that the negroes OF the South will surely use
their arms against the olisarchy. We know
well that every negro with whom any portion
OF our armies has been thrown in contact SO
far has proved an enemy Of their cause, and do
not believe that they will fight the troops,
white or black, in our service, we care not
what inducements may be held ont to them to
do So
We believe, further, that the southern masses,
on finding that they must make choice between
two anti slavery Governments-that of the
Union and that of the oligarchy-wtll adhere
to the former, II but on account OF the suffer.
ings and sacrifices the latter have forced them
to endure to bring them only to a choice be.
tween the two. The oligarchic leaders and
their imm ediate instruments and dependents
(who cannot live in the limits OF the old Union
a day after the war closes without the success
of their rebellion) will do their best to
convince tho southern masses that with
slavery dead among them, and the South
become virtually an appendage Of either
France or England, their lot will be better
than az integral portions OF the free United
States. But In very brief time it will be as
generally known throughout the South as
here. that our Government aims but to restore
the authority OF the Union throughoutits whole
territory Invested of the sole element OF its
former condition which may at any future
period for generations to come enable able and
influential conspiring demagogues so to control
public opinion IN any section as to plunge Us
again into the horrors and miseries Of civil
war. They will all soon realize that our Gov.
eminent thus seeks but peace and its security
for the future, involving only the necessary
sacrifice of those in the South who are leaders
Of the rebellion and the few others who will
prefer exile and confiscation with them to the
opportunity OF re. establishing themselves in
oil the rights, privileges and immunIties en-
Joyed by the citizens Of any one Of the United
States, with the negro race holding the same
relations among them as they hold among the
citizens Of New York, Pennsylvania or Mary
land.
Despite the bitter hostility to the Union
essayed to be instilled into the minds OF the
Southern masses by their present masters, with
the horrors Of the war as their opportunity, We
do not believe that any Southern community
will listen for moment to the project of
becoming virtual subjects Of France or En-.
gland-rather than again citizens Of the United
States-for the sole sake Of keeping in power
over them the all-consuming despotism of
Jefferson Davis &c 20.
The article in the Sentinel referred to above,
after advertins upon the gravity Of the Con-
federate situation, proceeds In the following
terms:
1--WE think that our late advices have done
much towards preparing the minds OF our
people for the most extreme sacrifices if they
shall be adjudged necessary to the success OF
our cause. And, in truth, they are not sacrl-
oll yn0r or0dv wiSh nfk
II subjected. It is question simply whether
we shall give for our own uses or whether the
Yankees shall take for theirs. Subjugation
means emancipation and condscation. All
our servants and all our property yielded up
to assist In defence OF our country, would
mean no more. But it would be far moro CLIO.
to lose them as spells to the enemy. Our sit
uation, too, stripped Of our property, but
master OF the government, would be Infinitely
better than II despoiled by the enemy, and
wearing his bonds.
These views have long received the theoreh-
col assent OF our people. They are now our
prejudices, . thousand consecrated dogmas,
arc now ready TO be yielded at the bidding Of
necessity. Any sacrifice Of opinion, any sacri-
ee to d.fsst the
WsteaWord and reply ~" 'u'
We must not raise difficulties is no time
tSr 1 tse we our sons ana
Shall we send our sons, and deny our negroes
Shall we spend our blood and refuse our
money?
Let Governmentd determine what it needs, and
what 1t can use; and II 1t be our lands, our
housee, our negroes, our horses, our money, or
ourselves. 1t must have them.
Our authorities must do more: They must
take care, whatever befall US; to save US from
the Yankees II adverse gales ana devouring
pillows should constrain our storm. tossed ship
into some port, let it be no Yankee port II an
unpropitious Providence should condemn us
to q master let 1t not be q Yankee master. OF
all the people on earth, we should have most
reason to loathe and to dread them. Any terms,
with any other, would be preferable to subiu.
CATION to them. This Is the sentiment OF our
people. This is their conviction; and it is a
wise CON victon. Let our rulers remembe 1t
and heed it.
Our constitution was made as the develop.
ment of our national life. It may not provide
for all the various exigencies OF war. Cues
tlons of State may arise In our own experience