Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-04-14

the Governor has been wont to lndulge
when discussing matters pertaining TO
the rebellion and its authors. One OF
the first acts of the new Legislature was
the ratification, by a unanimous vote, OF
the amendment to the Constitution OF
the United States forever abohshIng sla-
very.
Hon. W. H. SEWARD. Secretary Of
State, was seriously injured last week, in
Washington, by jumping from his car
riage while the horses were running
away. He was takendp insensible, and
it was found his arm was broken and also
his jaw, besides having received sundry
other bruises. 1t was thought at first he
was likely soon to recover, but later re-
ports represent his condition as exceed
inglv precarious, with the chances largely
against his recovery. The death of Mr..
Seward at this. time would be serious
national calamity. He has managed our
foreign affairs, during the trying period
he has been in the Cabinet, with distin-
guished ability and great tact, and now
when the rebellion is being wound up,
his talent and experience would so emil
nently fit him to meet and dispose of the
many important questions that are likely
TO arise, that it would be very difficult to
satisfactorily fill his place bya selection
from the comparatively inexperienced
statesmen Of the country
RICHMOND AND TILE CONFEDERACY.-
In his last message to the rebel Congress,
JEFF Davis urged at some length that the
loss of Richmond would not seriously
affect the prospects of the rebellion, but
if compelled to evacuate their capital and
give eup all the sea- coast cities, 'the Con-
federacy would remain as erect and def
ant as ever" There were others, both
North and South, who professed to en-
tertain the same views; but since the
event then referred to as probable has
occurred, they have changed their tune.
The Richmond Examiner fully appreci-
ated the importance of Richmond to the
rebel cause, and in commenting on the
assumption of Davis, above quoted, thus
truly depicted the consequences that
donment
1.-THE evacuation of Richmond would
be the loss of all respect and authority
toward the Confederate Government, the
disintegration of the army, and the aban-
donment of the scheme of an indepen-
dent Southern Confederation. The war
would, after that, speedily degenerate in
to an irregular contest, in which passion
would have more to do than purpose;
which would have no other object than
the mere defence or present safety OF
those Immediately persisting in 1t. The
hope Of establishing Confederacy and
securing its recognition among nations,
would be gone forever. The common
sense of the country, the instinct of ev-
cry man and woman in the land, contra
diets the idea that any possibility of an
Independent South would remain after
its capital was abandoned, its govern
ment set adrift, and it's army withdrawn
into the solitudes of the interior
1t is idle to pretend that Richmond is
of no more Importance than Savannah,
Atlanta, Mobile, or Norfolk, and that its
fall would not be fatal to the Confedera-
cy. IF it had not been a vital point, why
has so much effort been expended for its
reduction and its defence? 1t has been
the great objective point of the enemy
through four successive campaigns. The
Confederacy has spared no pains or exer-
tions, no cost of blood or treasure, to
make good its defence It is the capital
of the last of the Border States, COM
manding the entire portion of Virginia
east Of the Alleghanies, and the most i'm
portant division of North Carolina. It
is situated one hundred and forty miles
from the sea, yet large ships can unload
from It's wharves. The occupation of
Richmond in strong force by the. enemy
would necessarily drive the Confederate
armies out of Virginia, and render all
Eastern North Carolina untenable; and
once gained by power having command
of the water, it could never, under any
contingency, be recovered by the COnfed-
eracy.
Each contestant in the war has made
Richmond the central object of all its
plans and all its exertions. It has be-
come the symbol of the Confederacy.-
Its loss would be material ruin to the
cause, and in moral point of view, alb
sOlutely destructive, crushing the heart
and extinguishing the last hope of the
country. Our armies would lose the in
centive inspired by a great and worthy
object of defence. Our military policy
would be totally at sea; we should be
without a hope or an object; without civ
IL or military organization; without
treasury or commissariat; without the
means of keeping alive a wholesome and
active public sentiment; without any of
the appliances for supporting a cause de-
pending upon the popular faith and en-
thusiasm; without the emblems or the
sem blanco Of OafiOOa litv -