Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-03-30

iii WAsHIssros, March %.
THE RrrsRflrlx rKEss AND me zxBEIrIoS.
The news Of the resignation of JEFF. Davis,
given by some newspapers, If not as an accom-
plshed fact ai least as fact to be soon realized,
il, am afraid. one Of those reckless assertions
used By Mr. Lncoln's supporters to encourage
the timid and the wagering. and infuse new
spirit among the partsans Of the cause To the
eyes Of sensble people, the success Of cur arms
everywhere would seem amply sufficient TO pro
euca such an effect Bat this is not deemed
great enough by the friends Of Mr.. Lincoln, who,
not satisfied by the most satisfactory reality, in
dulge also IN the fancful. and invent all sorts OF
stories about the weakness Of the rebels and of
the rebellion. This is an example which do
not feel disposed 20 follow. Let The Tribune
and The Times. and HATlequin's Journal. The
Herald indulge TO their hearts content in all sorts
Of c2pers about the last leg, the las, ditch, and
the collapse of the rebellion. Fortunately, ridi
eule is dangerous only 10 those who willingly eX-
pose themselves to it, aud who have, by four
years false predictions lost all credit in the eyes
Of the people. The great masses, if | am not
mistaken, do not believe. as do NJ. Lincoln's
friends and supporters, that the rebellion is 80
near at an end They don't think that Mr.. JEFF
Davis vii. resign. and that his presidential man
tel will fall upon the shoulders Of Gen Lee
As told Won IN one of my last letters, the
ruling spirit of the confederacy has been, and al
wars viii be. JEFF Davis, not only on account OF
his special knowledge in the art Of politics, but
because of bis grasp Of mind, of his fertility Of
resources, OF his influence upon men, Of his abil-
ity to steer the ship Of state safely under the
greatest difficulties, and OF his 6rmness OF char
acter-a frmness which borders sometimes on
obstinacy. bdt without which he would not be
the great leader OF the rebellion. General Lee.
with qualities OF his own, with great good sense
an excellent judgment. most brilliant military
talents, the character Of a scholar, Of a soldier
and of gentleman. is, perhaps, wanting in fore
sight, invention, and determination. Besides, he
does not command the same amount OF political
influence as JEFF Davis does. and has not been
brought up by experience TO the difficult task OF
managing the wheels of complicated
chine as a government newly established must
necessarily be. Southerners instinctively feel
this. and hence it is that the resignation OF Nr.
Davis is not even dreamed of in Dixie.
DrssoLvISc VIEW or THE cexrKDERAcr
Anarchy is not the only cause of weakness
which, according to Lncoln's supporters, threat
ems the south with speedy dissolution and ruin. A
great many Others might be added to the cats
logue: the want of men. the destruction OF their
interior lines OF communication, the scarcity of
provisions, the difficulty OF raising them. the
abandonment OF their seaboard cities, their Sc
qucstTation from the old world the impractical
bility of procuring in such a condition the am
munition. and army supplies needed-all these
causes, and several others which could be men
tioned, are quoted by the same parties az many
evidences OF the approaching downfall Of the re
bellion. as sure symptoms of surrender.
| have, during the last twenty four hours,
heard from the lips of the men high in power
several stories concerning the surrender OF the
rebels within the next two weeks; the first was
that oil the secessionists in Baltimore, Washing
ton, and New York had said so; the second
that the two factions, Davis and Lees factions
would come to blows pretty soon. and that Davis
defeated on his own ground. would resign; the
thru, that Mr.. Hunter, of Virginia, and Alex
andsr Stephens were taking the stump in behalf
of the restoration Of the Union the fourth. that
General Lee was not last ditch man, and that
as soon as he sees, as he must now that the con-
test cannot be carried on any further, he will
place his sword in the hands of General Grant,
and surrender with his army at discretion. All
this is said and believed among officials and
transmitted over the wires, frat to the specula
tors who make money upon the news, then to
the newspapers Who, enlaIging upon these TOPICS
are preparing and manufacturing public opin-
ion favorable 20 the policy and to the designs of
the administration.
OFFICIAL WAY Oh ShNUFAcrrRINe oASARDs.
An officer OF the government approached me
to day, and, taking me aside, said TO me, in
confidential way, +" have Just left Mr.. Lincoln
who showed me letter from high parsonage
in Richmond. with whom he corresponds regular
ly. That man, whose name cannot mention
here, states that, should Mr. Lincoln approach
the leaders of the rebellion with the same terms
as those offered at the last peace conference at
Fortress Monroe, they would eagerly accep.
them. and come back into the union" Startled
at the news, i asked bin what was Mr. Lincon's
intention on that subject? Mr.. lincoln says
he does not take back anything of what he has
already offered; his proclamation and bis pres-
Dental message are there; whenever the rebels
choose TO accept the terms contained in them.
they are at liberty to do so. Z" But THE, said
1, a must be made in some form; he must either
send Mr. Blair back to Richmond to inform the
rebels that he is always in the same disposition
or instruct General Grant TO send a note TO Gen
Lee" "Oh. think he will do that, no doubt,
said my informant, who, probably believing that
he had already talked too much with me, hurried
on and left me. A moment after, however |
was satisfied that the secret information was
hoax: that Mr. Lincoln had received no letter of
that kind. and that the Official who was hawking
il about was simply gold gambler, employed by
the government 90 break down the gold market
and specializing largely on his own account
These are emily few illustrations of the means
employed BY our republican friends to manufac
ture public opinion in favor Of Mr.. Lincoln and
satisfactory TO themselves. OF the resources of
the south of its indomitable spirit, of its armies
in the field, OF the new recruits about 10 be EN-
ployed, nothing is said. nor feared We carry
the delusion upon that subject so far a. TO be
INDUCING in the vain hope that General Lee is
about 10 surrender "a II Q general commanding
an army Of one hundred thousand men could DO
so. without exposing himself 10 everlasting con
tempt, or to an immediate death In short. We
believe the confederacY to be 50 near lis end. that
We discount its death, and have, in the contem-
plation of that event. brought gold down to the
fabulous figure Of $50 Besides we have ruined
by the operation. thousands of merchants who
never speeulated in gold. and 20 shaken the
credit everywhere that general crash NAV come
at any moment and carry. as IN a flood the
wealth and prosperity OF our land
This is the fruit OF republican policy and re
publican speculation This is q faithful picture
Of the state of public opinion in the north during
the last two weeks That il is not partly justified
by symptoms Of growing weakness among the
confederAtes, and by corresponding increase Of
our own strength. do not pretend 20 deny
do not know whether the south Is weaker 10 day
than il was before, bat this is certain: We have
become so strong 20 have all al once been able
TO discover ard show its inherent weakness. Blu.
at the same time as We promised 20 ourselves for
the lAst four years to crush the rebellion AZ the
beginning OF every campaign. and IS We have al
wsys been fciled in the attempt, | think the