Year: 1863




The Union Reaction at the south.


While the politicians are debating the
question by what particular formulanes
the Union shall be restored or reconstruct
ed, the real process rs rapidly going on in
the states delivered from the domination of
the rebel armies. L.J. Stckney United
States tax commissioner in Florida, has
arrived at Washington, for the purpose of
representing to the president the desire of
the people of Florida that force should
be sent to that state to relieve them from
rebel rule, of which he says they are very
tired, that they may be enabled TO reor-
game the state government and elect
members Of Congress. He states that if
such force be sent Immediately, their
senators and representatives can be elected
IN time to take their seats in Congress at
the commencement of the hext session.
George w. Lane, Judge of the United
States court tor the northern district of
Alabama, who has been a loyal refugee
for over year, has returned with his
family to Huntsville, which is again under
federal authority. A letter from Vlcks-
burg to the New York Tribune more than
sustains the previous accounts of the re-
vlvaI of Union feeling in Mississippi. The
writer says: "There is really getting to
be peace pressure in this department
From all quarters there comes up "a cry
for release from the horrors of war. Mis-
sissipplans especially have discarded all
the last ditch, last man and last dollar
theories, and are now willing to submit to
federal laws, military and civil, on anv
terms that may be dictated. They do not
even ask to retain their negroes. All they
would stipulate for is life and peace. The
day for willing sacrifices of life and home
with them is over, and many of those who
were formerly most blatant are now as
abject in their offers to return to the pro-
lection of The old Aass oanld be desired


They have been thrashed into this frame
of mind; and | submit the question if this
Is pot to be the result of the war every-
where.


The New York Times has recent let
ters from Vicksburg and Natchez that
give the same account of the state of feel
ing there. The writer saws:


"They are eager in their protestations
that they were always opposed to seces-
sion and would never have Joined in the
movement had they not been sure that an
accommodation would be made before we
should have penetrated even into Tennes-
see. They are now anxious that the war
should stop at any rate. Slavery they ac-
knowledge to be gone forever. They want
now to save what else they can. The IN
h@bitants Of the country between here and
jackson have flooded Gen. Grant with pc
tltons for protection against the rebel cav
airy, and have again and again implored
Johnston TO keep away from them. They
don't want to see him nor hear of him
again. They say Secession is played out
In Mississippi. The rebel army can nev
er gain foothold again in Mississippi.
Every expedition of the rebels induces
another expedition of the Union soldiers to
drive them away. Thus the two armies
surge back and forth over the same cdun-
try, and, as a matter of course, commit
more or less devastation on every march.
They take our horses aud cattle and de-
YOUR our food and forage We have been
harrassed long enough. The confederacv
cannot protect us let it cease to annoy
us, We want a little peace, and when we
want protection we shall ask Gen. Grant
for IT.


Ex-Gov. Brown of Mississippi has ta-
ken the oath of allegiance. Judge Shar-
kle has done the same and so has Judge
Sebastian Of Helena, Arkansas. Judge
Sharkie puts the case very ingeniouslv.
He says, JEFF Davis told us last fall that
Nlcksbnrg and Port Hudson shou d be
saved at all hazards that the fate of the
depended on them. and that
If they were taken, the confederaey being
cut in two in the middle, must inevitably
perish. Now | take him at his word.
Nlekshurg and Port Hudson are taken the
Mississippi river is open, and unless JEFF.
Davis Is liar, there is no hope for the
confederacy.' Mr. Davis will find it rath-
er hard to get over that.


There Is to be meeting somewhere
near the borders of Tennessee and Missis-
slppl OF leading men of the South, to take
their present condition under considera-
ton, and devise the best means for max
ing application to the federal government
Tor protection against the confederacy. 1t
IS difficult matter to decide upon. What
ever is done must be done through the in
strumentality of the state organization and
some sort of an election must be held bv
The people as a preliminary. How this
can be done when We occupy so small
portion of the repentant territory, is not
easy to be seen.


An unconverted secessionist was CON-
planning bitterly the other day to Judge
sharkle, and said he thought he would
90 to Georgia, what is the use of go
ng there z said the Judge. Grant is 60