The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-02-04

3
The TROUBLES AT R1cHxoNp.-Th The &C.
q Commander. in Chief Of their armies, is a
virtual vote OF want Of confidence in jeff
Davis. In view the discussion in the
public press that preceded this action, the
reasons assigned for it, and the opposition
of Davis organ to the proposed chang, it
mustsbe regarded by the rebel President
with feelings Of much dissatisfaction.
The resolution had not yet. however,
been approved, and 1t seems that Davis has
the appointment Of the Chief Commander
in his own hands, while The power Of ap-
pointing subordinate commanders also re-
mains with him. Still it il not likely that
he would veto the resolution or. refuse to
appoint Lee. The opposition to him is al
ready so bitter that he would hardly dare
to disregard the action OF Congress. But
he cannot fail 70 feel very sore about it.
Naturally despotic, and fully disposed to
be dictator, he will not pleasantly submit
70 this measure, which depriyes him of 20
much power, especially as it puts q rival
for whom he has no special liking, in the
foreground.
And this action OF Congress is rendered
the more bitter, by being coupled with q
resolution recommending the re-instate-
superseded with flourish by Davis, when
ne ordered Hood to take his army and
plant it on the banks Of the Ohio. Hood
set out to obey this order, but instead Oi
putting his army on the Ohio he put most
Of it under the sods Of Tennessee. Under
tho circumstances, it viii be . severe dose
for Davis TO swallow Lee and Johnston at
one time.
But We do not see hew these changes can
help tha rebel cause materially. The pre-
|ecription comes too late. The patient ID
too nearly exhausted. The change might
have revived the hopes Of the rebels some
months ago, but it will hardly revive them
now. The deposing Of JEFF. Davis is an
acknowledgement OF weakness will In
crease rather than diminish the panic. It
will be difficult to sustain the rebellion
when its head is displaced, and 1t is not to
be- denied that Davis has been from the
FIRST the head Of the shareholders war
against the National Government. He set
aside the so-called constitution, il is true,
and constituted himself military dictator;
but the rebellion would have failed long
ago if it had not been for the exercise Of
this military despotism.
The e.rebel Congress therefore, in striking
ct JET. Davis, who rendered himself un-
popular by his despotic course, deals the
rebellion, which can only be sustained by
q military dictatorship, the severest blow
it could possibly receive, IN the house Of its
friends. It is not to bee1pected that peo-
pie who we're crying on. against the des.
has condemned him, be willing 10 suomi,
to Q continuance Of the Same severe treat.
meht under Lee. The case, therefore, is: q
bad one any way. 1t 10 Dad il Lee eontin.
ues Davis policy, and Il 10 hopeless il he
relaxes the grasp Of the tyrant. In any
event we do not rec how tho change ab0n,
to be inaugurAted can bring relief, unless
it is expected to make Lee stepping stone
tn~ Inn TLno
tionably give up the contest and disband
the armies with q better grace than JEFF
Davis. The latter by lighting TO tho bitter
end has nothing to lose. Not so with Lee,
And Mr.. Orr, in his speech In the rebel
Congress q few days ago, said the army was
lA unit for peace negotiations. In this view
Of the case the promotion Of Lee may be
significant, not Of continuance otthe wa,
but of peace. Otherwise the change can.
not help tho rebels, nor 10 IL Of any conso.
quence to us. Our course ID onward, and
II the rebels persist We will conquer,
whether Leo or Davis be chief commander.
It is only question of submission now OF
submission at the end offnrther bloodshed.
Gin. au<. stssssa
ANOTHER SHIP CANAL PRoJECT.-Sen-
stor Folger has introduced into the New
York Senate bill authorizing the General
Government to- connect the waters of the
CaYuga and Seneca Lakes with Lake On.
tario BY aship canal, preparatory to other
works for tho defense of tho frontier. Pro-
vision is made IN the bill for appraisal Of
damages for lands taken, etc., and for reg
ula,ions as to crossing the Erie Canal. The
idea Of the project is to drain the Cayuga
marshes ana thus reclaim an immense
tract Of submerged land, and to open an
interior harbor Of refuge and safety from
Lake Ontario.
A woman in Liverpool has inst Ealked
q Thousand miles in a thousand hours. Hel
foof wnnf faster than her f0nQnA-an anon.