The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-01-13
Southern Opinions Of the Situation.

| Southern Opinions Of the Situation,
1t is apparent from the Richmond pa
pers that they expected Porter and Butler
would take Wilmington. They are as
much astonished at the result as the peo-
iple of the North, and as much disappoint-
ed, but in different way. Bragg's con-
gratulatory order says that he lost but
three killed and tfty-fve wounded, and
that although four guns were dismounted
and the ground around the fort ploughed
up with shells, the fort was uninjured.
Bragg makes no pretense of any attack by
our troops on the fort, but some of the
Richmond papers say they attacked and
were repulsed several times. The failure
of the expedition greatly relieved the reb-
el leaders at Richmond. The gold mar
ket felt it; the precious metal could not
he bought at any price the day before
afterwards 48 confederate dollars would
buy one of gold. The Sentinel says the
garrison of Fort Fisher was very small
when Butler left, but it will never be as
small again. 1t says Butler made speech
at Newbern, Dragging that he would eat
his Christmas dinner in Wilmington, and
it thinks he and the whole Yankee nation
must be much mortified at the failure.
which is so.
The Sentinel of Saturday last Davis's
organ,) has an article very significant Of
the desperation of the rebel leaders. The
main point is in this passage: If we
should be so unfortunate as to fail in our
conflict with our enemies; if we should
be overwhelmed by force or destroyed by
faction, give us political alliance and as
sociation with England, France, Spain
any other rather than subjugation by the
Yankees We could not but find infinite
ly better terms anywhere than with our
present foes These propositions are too
manifest for argument"
The Richmond Enqmrer and several
other influential papers continue to call
on the rebel congress to make Gen. Lee
generalisSimo of the rebel armies. thus
taking all military power from Davis.
The Sentinel of course opposes this propo-
sition; and sees in it only treason to the
confederacy. 1t says: ''We are not sur
prised when We hear the Augusta Chroni-
Gle declare that the future must be Judged
by the past, and Judging by the past, the
madness and folly of our rulers leave no
room for hope. The logic of that is sub
mission; and that is what the Chronicle is
maniiestly working for The logic of the
Chronicle in Georgia and the logic of the
Chronicle in Virginia, though inspired bv
different sentiments. lead to the same re-
sult-the discouragement of the people
and the preparing OF them for submission.
1t is unbecoming of a brave, intelligent
and just people, to turn upon their leaders
in every season of gloom. 1t is perhaps
not uncommon among persons of a certain
temper or type of mind. The Jews were
frequently ready to stone Moses. A crew
may revile the captain when the storm
comes The unlucky aronaut who fails
to ascend, by whatever accident, will have
his balloon torn by the mob. But these
are not examples for such a people as our. ."
Another editorial in the Sentinel, sup
posed TO be from the pen of Davis himself.
which Secretary Seward has sent to our
ministers abroad, to show that the rebels
are exhausted and no longer entitled to
consideration as belligerents, has these i'm
pOrtant passages:
"Our late reverses have done much
towards preparing our people for extreme
sacrifices The question is simply wheth-
er we shall give for our own use. or
whether the Yankees shall take for theirs.
1t would be more glorious to devote our
means to success than lose them as SPOTS
to the enemy. Our situation, stripped of
our property but masters of our govern
ment, would be infinitely better than if
despoiled by the enemy and wearing his
bonds. Subjugation is horror that en-
braces all other horrors. Troublesome
times are upon us. Great exigencies sur
round us. We need all our strength and
wisdom. Let there be a conference of our
wise men. Let there be calm inycstiga-
tion of our wants: then let all obstacles
to the employment of all our resources be
removed. So long as we have man or
dollar let the call for them be honored
1t would be adding disgrace to our misery
if we were overcome without cxhauSting
every resource of defense. If the govern
ment determines that it needs our lands.
houses, negroes, horses, money or our
selves it must have them. If Providence
condemns us to a master let ii not be :,
Yankee. Of all the people on earth we
| have the most reason to lOathc and dread
them. Any terms with any other master
would be preferable to subjugation by
them. If craftsmanship cannot save us
it will palliate our misery by saving us
from the Yankees. Our people would III
fnitely prefer favorable alliance with
European nations.
If France and England will
enter into treaty with these confederate