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.fiUMttttali ffaihi Retail BY 8. W. MASOS AXU CO. SAVANNAH, TUESDAY, JAN. 24, 1865. THE HOPELESSNESS OF THE REBEL CAUSE. It has been justly said that “ war is a erne ty.” This is true even of international wars carried on according to the prescribed liUos of civilized warfare, but doubly so in civil wars. No real war can be car ried on without a fearful sacrifice of life Tvud property, and without being attend ed by some savage atrocities. This great civil war which has raged through the continent for four years has had its atro citii s; but, from all we know, these are the icts of law less men to carry out their base designs, but have not l»een sanction ed by any civil or military authority. — We have seen the sad results of war in desolated plantations, ruined homesteads and bloody graves. We have seen the dower and chivalry of the land swallow ed up by thi3 insatiable Moloch. Its fruits are a rich harvest of blood and tears, orphans and widows. War is a fearful scourge, and black and bitter must be the future reckoning of its authors and abettors. Though the sword is a powerful argument in peace conferences, it cannot restore the husband to his wid ow, the father to his orphans, the son to his aged patents, the brother to his weep ing sisters; therefore we say. bitter is the reckoning of those who have instigated t his war. If you ask the southern people for what are they fighting, some will tell you that they are fighting for their liberties, others that they are fighting be cause they are compelled to do so. We assert that the man who will not strike for his liberty w hen assayed is not worth bearing the honored privilege of manhood. Our fathers nobly battled for their liberties in the Revolutionary war, and we honor their memories, and pre serve the records of their heroic strug gle with pride and veneration. But t hen our fathers had a principle to con tend for, such as the Bouth have never had. None of the privileges of the Southern people were violated—no unjust taxation rights and privileges were inviolably respected. In all state offices they had hi majority, arid exercised a controlling influence. If any one doubt our asser tions, we refer them to Alexander IT. Stephens, notable speech bn the seces sion of Georgia. This remarkable docu ment will stand forth to the future his torian as an evidence of the treachery of the Southern leaders and their bad faith toward the National Govi rnment, and a convincing proof of the justice ot the Union cause. It all has been the work of a few baf fled politicians, who. relying upon for eign support to back them and home traitors to aid them, thought that they could frighten the North into any sur render of principles, and thus the more thinly establish their own political supremacy. They little knew what a desperate power they were about in voking. They roused up the sleeping young giant to crush them with the mighty strength of the thews and siuews of a Titan. Had the South suc ceeded in its mad attempt, what would have been the result.? We all know the aristocratic tendency of the Southern planters, and as sure as success had crowned their arms, so sure would they have established a grinding oligarchy, co in posed of incHv'dual despots, or a despotic monarchy of the w orst kind, m comparison to which the w'orst gov ernment of old effete monarchies would be a blessing. Once admit the right of secession and what w'ould be would be the fate of our glorious Republic ? California, with her ; golden mines and immense sea coast; i Texas, with her fertile prairies and deli -1 ctous climate; the Western States, wish j their growing wealth and greatness, ! would, perhaps, for some real or fancied | wrong, claim the same right. At any ■ time there will be found ambitious poli ! ticians and daring fillibusteTS ready to : fan any discontent into Rebellion and thus compel our great Republic to dwindle into little petty disintegrated States- Jealous of each other’s interests and welfare, and ever embroiled in their petty strifes, it would be the old Roman story of the bundle of sticks repeated. Once let Imperialism put its iron heels upon us, and. like the old Man of the Seas, it will ride ns to death. Under our wise laws and Administration, we have been cheaply and prudently gov erned. Let us be content with the wis dom of self government, which has, in a short time, raised this country from a feeble colony to become one of the mighty nations of the earth. We say to the people of the South that in fighting to establish despotism or monarchy, they are riveting their own chains. They have nothing to gain, but everything to lose, by the overthrow of democracy. So. in heaven’s name, let them give up their foolish, useless strife, and return to their cotton fields and rice plantations, return to their peaceful pur suits, and the Federal soldier and Fed eral government will cordially hail their return and bury the past so deep that, it can never resuscitate. If their Gover nors refuse to hold a convention of States, let them compel their leading men to appoint a convention of delegates of the noble State of Georgia, to set the example to its erring sister States. Be assured there is no unjust prejudice in the North. Us liberal response to the appeal of Savannah is sufficient proof of this. Spare the blood of those , now surviving. Make honorable terms while you have it in your power to do so. You have done ail that brave men I could do, though your cause w'as a bad one. and there is nothing humiliating in laying down the sword when conquered. Spare further bloodshed we entreat you. Now it is not war, but butchery, for be assured the North, though willing Ito accept an honorable peace, would | carry on this w T ar for thirty years sooner j than this glorious Republic should lie | disrupted into little petty kingdoms. The Savannah Daily Herald has been for some days printed on fine news ink, promptly forwarded to us by our agents in New York. The improvement consequent upon the from the vile compound the rebels used is mani fest to all. With nearly new type, new ink, good printers, good pressmen, and a Hoe press, now in good condition, we claim that we issue a neat looking paper, and it shall be our constant effort to have it well filled with all the latest news that is not contraband. In this connection we desire to return our sincere thanks to Joseph R. Sears, Esq., proprietor of the New South, at Port Royal, for kind assistance in obtaining the quick trans portation of some of our new materials from New York here. We shall con stantly add to our materials, as additions shall be required for the good appearance o f the Herald. About tub Weather.— The oldest in habitant, when asked if he can recall a time,, since he was a youth, when the weather presented so runny execrable features as that of the past, teu days, will gaze in a contemplative mood upon the heavens fora while, slowly but confident ly shake his head, and reply that his re collection fails to find an equal to it in the past. A constant succession of cold, cheerless rain-storms, that seem to pen etrate everything out-doors to the very core, whether it be animate or inanimate, has made the week gloomy and miser able enough. Every one’s spirits were down to the lowest point. People screwed the muscles of their faces into hard knots, and looked blue and dejected. Not a philosopher could be found in totfn whose beautiful doctrines could sustain him under the adverse pressure of the moist atmosphere. Like the cha meleon they reflected the hues of the hour, and went about with spirits tinged with a sombre hue. The heavens to-day are of an unclouded blue ; the sun pours its genial rays upon the earth, giving light and life: the air is crisp, and as sparkling and exhilirating as champagne without the liquid in which it hides, and every one is again in high spirits. The philosopher is again to be found to-day as brilliant and gay and merrv as a Bob o’Link, loudly protesting that he is in different to the nature of the weather. He cares for no vicissitude of climate. Let the sun shine, or the heavens be wrapped in black, let Sirius rage or Boreas pipe his coldest lay, and he will wear the same smiling countenance—re flex of the same cheerful, genial spirits. We are glad to have an occasion thus to notice a change for the better in the weather both on account of our fair day'philosopher and for the rest of the community who are more susceptible to the influences of the weather thau this wise man. May w'e have a long period of fine warm weather to make amends for the horrible experience we have pass ed through. Turn distribution of supplies to the people of Savannah hue been carried on by Mayor Arnold, the Council, the Com mittee, and Capt. Veale and Lieut. Chariot, acting for the military authori ties. with the strictest fairness, and they all deserve much credit for the care and Labor they have bestowed on the matter. Purser Frei>. W. Ely, of the steam ship Arago. has our thanks for several very important favors. He is very cour teous and obliging, as we can testify from long acquaintance, during which wc have been under many obligations to him. The Supplies prom New York. —The following is the cargo of the steamship Rebecca Clyde, from New York for the needy of this city, a portion of which has already been distributed : 070 barrels flour, 428 barrels com meal 47 boxes bacon, 15 boxes and casks hams, 5 kegs shoulders, 5 kegs lard, 100 sacks salt, 21 barrels pork, r>o barrels beans, 3 drums codfish, 407 bags pota toes and 103 barrels other vegetables, 10 barrels onions, GO barrels pilot bread, 150 quarters beet 100 sheep, 25 barrels mo lasses, TO barrels pickles, 10 barrels vin egar, 1 bale hops, 20 boxes mustard, 6 boxes pepper, 20 boxes corn starch, 14 boxes so vp, 2 boxes candies, 5 kegs of bi carb soda and 2 boxes cream tartar. MARINE NEWS, Armed, Steamer Granada, Baxter, Nev York. Departed, Steamship Crescent, Latham, Hilton Head; Steamship Perit, Delanoy, New Yiork; Steamship Series, Sherwood, Hilton Head; Steamship Maraposa, If owes. New York; Steam ship Norfolk, Robhins, New York; Steamer Loyalist, Hoffman, llilton Head; Steamer Plato Gel try. Hilton Head; Steamship Guide, Altov. HiitonTleadj Steamer W. W Coit, Hilton Uead. POSTPONEMENT OF THE PUBLIC? MEETING. The public meeting called by Mayor Arnold, to be held at the Athenaeum, at li o’clock to-day, is necessarily post poned until 12 M. to-morrow, at the same place. It is hoped that there will be a large attendance of the citizen* of the city, to give expression to their feel ings towards the generous citizens of New York, Boston and Philadelphia for their timely and liberal aid to the poor of this city. It is earnestly desired that the meeting be of the size and character that the occasion demands. The following are the resolutions of the City Council on which his Honor, the Mayor, called the meeting : fi/ WivvV. That hie Honor ''Mayor Arnold bo requested to convene a meeting of our citizens at the. Atheutenm. nt It o’clock to-day. for the pur pose of giving expression to their heartfelt thanks to the citizens of New York, Boston and Philadelphia, for the very, large, valuable awl timely contribution* of provisions and other ne cessaries of life, which have been received and are now on their way to this city : and that hw Honor the Maj-or invite the several eommfttees from New York. Boston and Philadelphia, in cluding the owners and the commander of the Rebecca Clvde. with Captain Veale. of General Gearv’a stasis, and Lieut. Charlotte, U. 8. A., all ot’whom have co-operated witb us m the good work, to attend the meeting. FROU THE SAYAMAH CITY COUNCIL. m.esoiutio2is Complimentary to Major General Geary. At a special meeting of the City Coun - cil, held at the Council Chamber, on Monday, 23d itist., His Honor J>. Arnold. Mayor, in the chair, the follow ing were unanimously passed : Whereas By the evacuation of Sa\ an nub by the Confederate troops on the night of the 20th De cember, 1.31)4, the city was left in a defenceles* position, and from the military the right of gov ernment devolved on the city authorities ; and, whereas, the Mayer and Aldermen of the city of Savannah, in Council assembled, had previously resolved that when that contingency should oc cur, they would immediately proceed to Major General W. T. Sherman's headq>iartere and ask from him protection for the lives and private property of the citizens ; A nti, whereas It was our good fortune on the morning of the -21st December, ISC4, to meet Brigadier General John W. Geary, who was leading the division of the IT. S. Army which was the first to enter Savannah, and said re quest was made of him; and, whereas, he promptly granted it, and took ail necessary means to a fiord protection, by sending a brigade into the city in advance of his troops, under the command of Col. Barnum, who displayed his own efficiency, and the admirable discipline of his troops, by preserving an order and quiet per haps unparalleled in the annals of warfare, when a victorious army entered a captured c!a*. and, whereas, the conduct of Brigadier General Cnow Brevet Major General; Geary, while com mandant of the city from that time anti! he was retired from his post in the field, carried out to the fullest extent the expectations raised from our first interview with him: Resol.ved, That the thanks of the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah,' for them selves and in behalf of their fcilow-citizena, be and the same arc hereby tendered to Brevet Major General Geary, ibr the uniform courtesy extended by him. to all who came into official contact with him, and for his great judgment in the conduct of alibis business transactions, and that, we will ever hold him in remembrance as the embodiment o? the high-toned gentleman and the ckivalric soldier. Resolved, That to his Staff, individually and collectively, we hereby return our thanks, and those of our citizen;., for the able, impartial and courteous manner in which they performed their onerous duties. THE TENNESSEE CONVENTION. Cincinnati, Monday, Jan. 16, USBS. — The correspondent of the Commercial, writing from Nashville, says : “The Convention passed, by nearly a unanimous vote, a resolution that no person should be considered as qualified to vole until he should take a stringent oath declaring himself unreservedly in favor ot the Union, and all Laws and Proclamations issued by President Lin coln, or Congress, since the war began.’*