Year: 1863




The impending Collapse OF the Neboi-


Hon-And what Thent


Chattanooga has decided the speedy down
fall of the rebellion. The demolition Of Bragg's
army gives General Grant the absolute control
OF all the Southern States between Virginia
and Louisiana. The only armed force Of any
consequence now remaining to JEFF Davis and
his disjointed confederacy Is the army Of Gen.
Lee; and if Lee has resolved to risk the for
tunes of his master upon a general engage
ment he will, we think, inevitably be cut to
pieces. Taking counsel of Bragg's disastrous
rout, we apprehend that Davis has already or
dered his faithful Virgnan to return with his
ohopfallen veterans to Richmond with as little
lighting and as rapidly as possible. The late
rains have doubtless rendered the common
roads along the Rapidan impassable for artil-
lery; and thus while Gen. Meade may lose seve-
raj days in waiting for drying wind, his ad-
versary, by the Gordonsville Railroad, may Sc
cure safe retreat to the rebel capital.


Should Lee thus escape to the shelter OF the
Richmond Notifications the question recurs' will
he remain there to stand the trial OF siege, or
will his army be assigned to the melancholy
duty of guarding the flight Of Mahomet and his
moyables to some safer refuge further South
ward? Raleigh, N. C.-if the people of that
State could be relied upon-w0uld be safe
temporary shelter for the rebel junta. The city
has an extensive corn producing country behind
it, and its bacon is not yet quite exhausted.
Columbus, S. c., is In a beautiful elevated stu
alton; but the surrounding country is taxed to
its capabilities to support the army of Beaure-
gard and the city of Charleston. Atlanta, Ga,
is the focus of an extensive system of railroads,
is in the heart of fertile region, and is place
hardly second in importance to Richmond, with
its military factories and foundries; but At
lanta is too near the terrible army of Grant for
even temporary refuge to Davis. Where he
is to 60 with his rebel scrip in leaving
Richmond we cannot divine, while in remain
ing there he courts the penalty of starvation or
capture. He may possibly, bag and baggage,
scrip and scrppage, abandon Richmond to the
yankees" and make a bold push to run the
blockade at Wilmington for the congenial re-
bel port of Nassau Let our venerable friend,
Secretary Welles, be on the qM vive.


The great fact with which we have to deal
is that mortal blow has at length been given
to the rebellion. 1t cannot possibly recover
from the disastrous defeat of Bragg. 1t is de-.
feat which will knock down rebel scrip to
three cents for dollar bill; for this paper, be-
fore this crushing rebel reverse, was quoted at
about eight cents for dollar in Charleston,
where they most religiously believe in it. 1t is
a defeat which, in precipitating the collapse Of
the rebel paper money system, will create uni
versal confusion, decentralization. distrust and
disgust throughout the rebellious States The
time, in fact, has come when an encouraging
proclamation to the people Of those States
from President Lincoln will unquestionably,
| we think, create decisive popular revolution
against the stranded confederacy of Davis, and
in favor of restoration of the good old Union
throughout the length and breadth of the
South


We would respectfully submit to President
Lincoln, therefore, the propriety and expe-
dionoy of issuing proclamation to the people
Of the States still involved in tho rebellion, en-
bracing liberal amnesty and the concession of
the State rights embodied in the federal oonsti-
| tuition, as the generous conditions Of immediate
| submission. Thus the Union may be entirely
re established within six months; WHILE if the
people directly concerned are permitted to re-
main under the conviction that the wan Is to be
prosecuted until Southern slavery shall be ex-
tnguished, they may prolopg their resistance
until the struggle is aggravated to a war of ex-
termination between the white and black races
Of the cotton growing section For the sake of
the Union and of peace, aud from every con-
sideration Of economy and sound policy, we
appeal to President Lincoln to issue the procla-
nation suggested, inviting the Southern people
concerned to abandon the rebellious confede-
racy, which has reduced them to the verge of
absolute ruin, and to return to their alle-
glance to the Union.