Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1865-01-27

The RAGE or DESPAIR. The Chnrle,ton
Mercury Of the 18th inst. is remarkable for n,
slashing criticisms on the rebel army and the
rebel leaders, and bitter, passionate avowals of
the desperate straits in which the Confederacy
is placed. 1t wants "no more JEFF. Davis fool
cry" but linen, real men, earnest men"-not
"mepnaids with heads of monkeys and ishy at
tachments" Georgia and South Carolina are
in no mood for trhing. "South Carolina don't
intend to be conquered. She intends to fight.
She don't intend TO he hampered or turned
over to the enemy. When she is thus dealt
with there will be reckoning--a reckoning
where there will be no resDectors of person."
But even more heroically exclaims the Mercu-
ry:
1--WE stand to-day as gladiators stripped to
the fight we are ready and trained to enter
the struggle for life or for death. South Caro-
lima is ready TO become the arena of the repub-
lie. Her sons ready for the contest. Make
of her whole soil military camp-strip her to
the waist she will not shrink. But give her
her gauntlets and her sword, and she is ready
to stand or fail where she is."
The condition of the Confederate soldiery in
the coast department is declared to be disgrace
full. Lawessness and disregard Of authority
prevail everywhere. Most of he caamiies of
the Confederrcy are charged upon jeff Davis.
He it is who defes all law and so breaks down
discipline. Congress lies PROSTATE at his feet.
"Reckless Of the nsitution-regartless Of
hs relation to the legislative branch Of the gov
ernment-contemptuous of their authority, his
nerve is only eminent in resistance. where obe-
dence would be alike duty and honor. The
man that cannot otey, cannot command. Un-
fortunately for us at this time, our Executive
is most eminently conspicuous in both vices, is
impracticaLly obstinate and lomenta6ly weak:
Thus the Mercury runs on. "What Genar-
al" it asks, "has been cashered for incompet-
ency-What Major General for Incompetence
what Brigader for worthlessness-what Colo
mel or Captain shot for lawlessness in their
commands ?"
In its anger and contempt for rebel officers
and men, the Mercury breaks out into eulogy
Of Sherman, as the model whom the "chivalry'
should initiate:
1--WE want nerve in Congress-we want
nerve in our generals. 1t is nerve that has
carried Sherman TO Savannah-it is that which
is now carving him TO cut the Confederacy in
half. His is an army of discipine--an army of
soldiers-not mob OF ragamufins. He has no
generals with rolls of thirty thousand men, and
twenty or thirty hundred in the field His men
stand to their guns-not to peoples chicken
coops aud barn-yards His men are iull in
hand at their posts. He holds them there. He
is general"
Having thus vented its spleen at rebel gen.
erals by eulogizinS Sherman, it piories jeff
Davis in the same manner by discoursing of
Mr.. Lincoln, who, it says, has "run the ma
chine" with "stern, nfexible purpose, bold
steady hand, vigilanS active eye, a sleepess
energy, fanatic spirit, and an eye single to his
-ld-conquest-eman 1t adds
ale has called around him, in counsel, the
ablest and most earnest men OF his country.
Where he has lacked in individual ability,
learning, experience or craftsmanship, he has
sought it, and has found it in the able men
about him, whose assistance he unhesitatingly
accepts, whose powers he applies to the ad-
vancement of the cause he has undertaken In
the Cabinet and in the field has consistently
ard fearlessy pressed on the search for men
VINO could advance his cause, and has as unhes-
itatingIy cut of all those who clogged it with
weakness, ,imidity !mbecility or failure. Force
energy, brains, earnesness, he has collected
around him in every department"
The Mercury caps the climax by saying that
in Davis it finds ga contrast, appalling and
sickening TO the heart"