New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1865-02-24
The Status Of the R qbeIIion,

The cant phrases, "the rebellion is
on its last legs"----the backbone of the
South is broken'' &C., during the first
two years Of the war were SO persist
emily used by the telegraph and the
press, and banded from mouth to mouth
by pot house politicians and street
corner brawlers, that they have long
since become stale, meaningless and
nause eating to the intelligent public.
For year and upwards they had fal-
len out of use, and VIII en- reproduced
by some brainless enthusiast, only
excited derision in wise men of all par
ties and opinions. But during the
past two months the successes Of Sher-
man, the fall Of Fort Fisher, and the
real ard apparent divisions and bicker-
ings among the southern people have
brought them into vogue again, nd
from the telegraph, from the press, the
rostrum and pulpit, we are treated to
daily dia.ribes to prove that tho CO.
hcsive power Of the Confederacy has
been exhausted, and that it is totterinp
to its final fall and irretrieyable ruin.
Many persons receive and retail these
proxucstications now that two months
ago booted them as absurd and chimer-
zeal. But they can give no evidence
that they contain more truth, or are,
entitled to more consideration than they
were two years ago. Fhe simple facts
that the rebellion is not suppressed.
that the Southern peop'e---leaders and
followers. are not subdued in spirit,
but remain as deterninet;, defiant, COLI
6dent as they have been at a ny tiRe
during the progress of'the war, is suf-
6eient.commenta y upon these brave
mouthers and their slang phrases.
Whilst We abhor the continuance Of
this cruel and bloody strife, We have no
faith IN the prophecies that the war is
near its end. We are opposed to the
war, its aims and its objeets---under-
sta ndiDg them to be sbolilionisnl, and
the perpetuotlon Of the power of the
blask republican party. With this TN
derstandlpg, we have opposed the war
and advocated peace when it was sx-
tremsly unpopular and unsafe to do SO.
For the free and honest expression Of
our sentiments our property and our
lives have been threatened by brain
less mob, urged on by 1oolition fanatics
and clerical freedom shriekers. We
have not abated one iota Of our opin-
ions. We still long for peace under
tho basis Of the old Constitution, and
ifas evercomss, hope to hail 1t as the
hnrbinger Of restored Union and a
reunited and happy people. But Of
this shere is little hope. The result Of
the recen effort at peace negotiations
has frustrated all hope ofpeace, except
through tie complete subjuga,ion Of
the South, accompanied by radical
changes OF the Constitution, the cen.
traliza.ion Of power, the establishment
upon u permanent basis Of the power
Of the abolition party, and the fostering
Of . shoddy aris tocracy. Upon such a
basis We Go not expect, neither do We
desire peace.
But, il the South able to pre-.
vent such consummation? We contend
that 1t is. Vhasever disafection and
want Of harmony that existed in the
South, have been removed by the impe.
rious insolence with which Lincoln and
his premier met and dismissed the
commissioners who sought to present
the olive branch Of peace. The lethsr
gy, induced by the desire for pe,ce ana
the confidence that it could be attainet
without degrading conditions. who'll
v.s spreading over tho South and on
ervating the strength Of her people
aud which allowed Sherman to r,urct
uamolested through the heart of tn
Confedsracy--is thrown Of, .ni th'
people are .w.king TO the reality o
their condition, and nsrving thsmselve
to meet the emergency Of the time IS
Their armies are intac, and spirited
and until they are destroyed or rem