Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-03-01
The TOttering COnicderacy s.. lis Utter
II0peleSSneSS---A Voice from North
Carolina,

We published the other day II dispatch from
Ncwbcrn, n, C., giving the substance of remark
able editorial which appeared in the Raleigh Pro-
grcss of January 2lst We make room to-day for
the entire article
"Shermanis in motion, and, according to refugees
from Savannah has force Of 10000 men. Nor is
his army loose mob prowling on the country to
opprCss friend as well rs tOe-it is an army of dis
ciplinc, vigor action. With Savannah and Beau
fort, $. C., ~ base he moves north with the sun,
and already Charleston and Columbia begin to feel
the oppression. But will he come to Columbia
with those 10000 men Yes, if he wants to do So
he will and even further into the bowels of the
land
Terry is on our own coast-has Fort Fi.har ut
the mouth Of Cape Fear and will soon, we think,
have Wilmington He probably has 10000 to iO-
600 men. Suppose they combine their forces Terry
and sherman; we must set them down at not less
than about 100000 men. And they will move on
with the sun, and before the orb that lights the
world shall stand erect in the heavens, it is more
than probable that the Federal flag will 1y over
Charleston, Wilmington, Columbia and Raleigh r.
Yes, Raleigh, too! Grant will stay where he is, and
thus keep Gen, Lees army in the vice that has held
il for the last ten months, and Sherman and Terry
will move on. We see nothing to stop them or pre-
vent their getting to Raleigh, where they can open
communication with Newborn by rail, distance
about ls0 miles and then demonstrate or raid to-
ward Greensborough or Danville at pleasure. New
bern would be the water base, Raleigh the inland
base; and with Grant ON the James and Sherman
at Raleigh both in command of large armies all
transportation cut off and supplies exhausted, Gen
Lees army would be in tight place. And unless
Sherman can be met and whipped, he will probably
come if not with the April showers, certainly with
the buds and blossoms of May He travels rapidly
We had an army that might have checked Sherman,
but since the President took its commander from it
and put it under Il second rate brigadier and sent
it that wild goose chase to the blue banks of the
Ohio, it is well nigh done for Hood marched into
Tennessee and marched out again, but his army is
gone. That Is the morale of the great army of the
west as it existed under Albert Sidney Johnston,
Beauregard, and j. +. johnson, is gene, and Hood
is crouched down in North Alabama with nothing
but small mass of demoralizcd fragments. There
is but little more fight in that army--what there
was in ii for good has been frittcred away where no
good could be accompshcd and the people of that
section have no disposition to fll its ranks they
think the war has lasted about long enough, espe
cially if they TO be called to deal with things
as they are.
Sherman will press forward; none can give us
good reason for believing he will be hurled back,
and empty braggadocio is no longer correct.
What then Sherman will, in all probability,
be here with the spring and to stay. The Govern
ests will have to fly to obscure village as n
refugee, while the Legislature, the peoples chosen
representatives are now assembled here, no doubt
for the last time during the continuance Of the pres
ent war. From his obscure headquarters in some
wayside inn, his Exceency may call them to meet
at Buncombe on the top of table Rock, or at some
point in that neutral territory beyond the Chowan,
but we have not the shadow of doubt but that the
present body has met ia Raleigh for the last time,
and if its members desire to do anything to save
the people of the State from the ruin that is to fol-
low the events that we have foreshadowed, they
must act now Has the Governor no farewell word
for his 'dear peope?' The Legislature no parting
blessing for suffering constituents! Are we to look
on these august dignitaries to-day, knowing that
they depart tomorrow? The people will stay where
then are. and if Sherman comes here and through
out the State generally, they will do they have
done in Savannah, make the best of a condition Of
things they could not help
But if we have no aymies to meet armies, why
continue the unequal contest? II there be those
IN our legislature who believe there is no salvation
for the people Of North Carolina but in an appeal
for their rights under the old Constitution let them
speak out for the time has come TO discuss these
questions. And if there be those who believe that
the only way to save us from abolition negro equal
ity. servile Instructions, and general upheaving
of society but the restoration of the old Govern
ment under the Constitution of ou' fathers, let .
them present their plans-the people will listen re-
fleet and take such action as they may think best
for them and posteri'y. If We are subiugated or
so near it that protracton of the unequal contest
can end in nothing else, why continue the war p, .
This is question for governor and legislature u
answer to the people Of North Carolina. The pso
pie Of the country not only here in North Carolina
but throughout the whole South, begin to see the .
state and condition to which the war has brought
them. in its true igkt and TO speak out. Bastiles
star-chanbers, and nquisitons have lost their pow
er to awe the people and the great public heart be- .
gins to throb aloud, and the popular voice is loud .
and constant for peace
We say candidly TO our friends in the Legislature
that we believe this to be their last chance. Do /
something now, or you may never have another /
opnor.unitv And taks the bull bv the horns and /