The New York herald., 1865-05-15
Tho Trans Mississippi soction-Whst
wiz Kirby smith Dol

Tho Trnns-sIississippi section-whst
Will Kirby smith Dot
We published yesterday a proclamation of
the rebel General Kirby Smith, FROM Shreve-
port, on the Red river, in the northwestern
corner Of Louisiana, near the Texas border in
which proclamation he tells his army that
with the surrender of General Lee "the hopes
Of the nation' (the Southern oonfederacy)
crest upon them;" that they ~possess the
means of long resisting invasion;" that they
shave hopes of succor from abroad" that if
they "protract the struggle, they will receive
the aid Of nations who already deeply sympa-
thize with them," and that from "the great re-
sources Of this department. (Western Louisiana
and TeKas), its vast extent, tho numbers. .(fifty
thousand, supposed to be), discipline and efn-
cheney" Of his army. great things may still be
accomplished, perhaps, "under the providence
of Cod" even the snal success of their cause.
This was on the 10th Of April. On the 26th,
or sixteen days later, there was public meeting
at Shreveport, in Court House square, gotten
up for the same purpose as that last rebel
p0w-wow in Richmond, with the return OF
Jeff.'s peace commissioners from Hampton
Roads-that is, "to fire the Southern heart TO
fight to the last ditch" At this Shreveport meet
ing Governor Allen, The rebel Governor of the
northwest corner OF Louisiana, presided, and
made the opening speech. He was followed
by General Hays, General Hawthorne, Colonel
Fiournoy, Of Texas, and others, the last named
border ruGHan concluding his Grafton with
glowing panegyric upon Booth, the assassin of
Mr. Lincoln, whom be compared to Brutus, tho
slayer Of Caesar, and predicted for Booth like
and enduring fame" All these speeches aud
the resolutions Of the meeting were franti-
caiIy for continued war, in support of
General Kirby Smith. That terrible fire.
eater graoed the occasion with his presence,
likewise General Price ("Monsieur Tonson
come again"), General Buckner, General Rey-
nolds, the last rebel claiming to be Governor
of Missouri "and many other distinguished
gentlemen" says the Shreveport Sentinel-in-
Guiding, we suspect, most Of the skedaddling
rebel governors Of the so-called Confederate
States"
All these proceedings at Shreveport, taken
together, running through sixteen days, show .
delibesate purpose and preparations 10 tlnae
the 6gh. The war, by the heavy emigrations
OF rebel Shareholders from the slave States
along the Mississippi river to Texas. has pro-
badly increased the population Of that State to
million or more; and II all the rebel Sighting
men therein and 10 the adjoining States Of
Louisiana aud Alabama coaid be got together
they would make an army Of not less han
seventy.6ve thousand men. But whatever may
he tho forces, resources and expectations Of
S:.iith aud his followers. the news Of tho
capture Of Jea. Daviswill bring them 10 realiz-
;ag sense of their foriorn situation. The gov
ernment Of the late Southern mocksconfederacy
is wiped out, and the confederaoy ltselY east OF
the Mississippi is extinct All that Is left Of It
Is Kirby Smisb's conamand, the fugitive rebels
under bis protection, and the region Of country
embracing the northwest corner Of Louisiana
aud the great State Of Texas.
Having, then, no longer even the shadow Of
a Southern nationality to fight for, and being
stili full Of fight, what will Kirby Smith do
He aad the inveterate fugitive rebel chiefs and
leading vagabond soldiers that surround him
will have learned before this that they are not
safe within the limits Of the United States under
President Andy Johnson. What then, win
they dos We shah not be surprised II, a. an
organized military force, gathering up all the
horses, mules, cattle, cotton and provisions
within their line Of march, they proceed through
Texas to Mexico, and offer their services to
No ximiiiar, or apsct bin, and establish them.
selves on tho ruins Of HE empire, in the govern
men, Of thc republic. II Ia their last chance
for a Southern cosicderacy, aud perhaps even
nav they may be moving urcn this inviting
enterprise.