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WHO Ih ro IJLAMX ?
A rn st nnjuM and ungenerous effort has
jjcen made by some of the presses and friends
of the administration, to cast upon Governor
Brown thd W»me of Sh< rman’s success P.nd the
disasters which have befallen the State of Geor
gia It has been .•’barged that he has factiously
kept back the reinforcements wbiclr Georgia
might have lurnishei! !o aid in checking Sher
man’s advance to Atlanta. Aye hav,e hereto
fore shown the utter fairly “of this charge;
that ho far from having proved recreant to his
• duly,to big Hfate, and to the South, in the
present year’s campaign, or at any other time,
lire has strenuously endeavored to put into the
<ield all who were capable of military duty and
M be spared from the civil service of the
State exGl 'P*' l! v the members of too Legis
. . *Ue judges of the courts, nor evm
a. uii, am Tempted from dirty by details
the thousand; r. r „ . .
, ~ , ‘e Government to pursue
from the Gonledcra
. , , ~ npations not of a I
agricultural and other
military nature.
r . , " , ... , -nsw best, have
Our Generals, who ought to k
uttered no such comniuiut. On to ' c '^’ r ( ' U ' '
they bavo given Gov. Brown the .
praise for his vigilance, energy anil rfticie.. T
in supplying them with reinforcements, and .
have confidently relied upon hia doing every
thing in his power to aid them in repelling the
enemy. He Iras been their most efficient ally
•luring the past season, and they will never
cast a shadow of reproach upon his patriotism
or fidelity llis character is safe in their
hands against the unscrupulous r.n<i maiigrant
attacks ot designing politicians, whose onlv
object is to make him the scapegoat of the er-
rors und delinquencies of the admioistratra
tieu.
But since Gov. Brown has been arraigned
as the author of our calamities, since this issue
Iras been made by his opponents, wo it
due to liis reputation and to the cause of Girth
to inquire into the causes of our • misfortunes
aud to fix the blame, i blame there bo, where
it properly liei
It Iras bee* ne of the unsolvable problems
of history rv,iy Hannibal, the thrlhagow§h
General, after the battle of Carina!, ‘in which
he was P 0 PRfiffiy AHcmrhnis, did not march
upon and capture Rome which lay at his mei
vy. it was one of those mysterious failures
which have given complexion to human histo
ry, which have decided the fate of nations,
aud can only bo referred to the ordination of
l’rovidei’eo whose mystic hand, ever mingling
in human nffiirs, so often.turns the current of
events into unexpected channels. It ul II nni
bal marched on Rome the whole aspect of the
world’s subsequent history might, have been
changed. Failing to do so, Carthage was
blotted front the map of rations, and Rome
fireoani: the imperial mistress of the world.
History we think will record several such
failures on our part, in tire course of 'this war,
and especially, of the enemy's campaigns
Against Georgia, which havo.rcsuHed in the
present deplorable condition of atlhirs. These
failures belong to the history of both tho two
paat years’ campaigns, and might be traced
even further back.
Our army achieved at Chickamauga one of
•the most complete victories of the war—not
surpassed even at tb-j lost battle of Manassas.
Uosocrans’ drtny wm utterly routed, driven
.from the field, and dispersed. Northern cor
respondents represented it at the time, &3
'•ouip’etely disorganized and demoralized.
~ several days, it remained in tbi-3 coadi
tion—pai*** 5 Btriok, ‘ u und scattered, with scarce,
ly the of organiaUlon Uasrcr .ns,
himself, wvs stupid,'- 1 *]'* ™ 1 am ? 8 I,u '
Vecile by the extent oft, "* <ilßUt * r - ' v Jl,: l 1 ,ea 1
to his instant removal by . ie . *' l ' !1 1,l
eminent.. Why Gen. Rraifg did P ot f ' ,n ' ,a ' U P
that victory, did not fallow the enemy 0 j'^'
tanoogo only a few miles distant, and eu
capture or drive him across tte mountains,
which in the judgment of his offi-vw, as W' are
informed, te could easily hue done, is.unex
plained and unexplainable. It must forever
.-remain, like the mystery of Gannas an unsolv
ed and unsolvable historical problem If he
had done so, Sherman would not now be in
Georgia. As it v.- is, the enemy was suffered to
reorganize, anti won tue a-1 rd -Grants leiu
•forcementa inilictt 1 upon u-. a t'e.v Jays af
terwards, the fatal disaster ci Missionary
.Tlidge.
Now it is no part of our purpose to assail
■Gen. Bragg. We have«no resentments against j
tiim to gratify. We would not impeach either
his patriotism or tidality. It is the President
who should be helArespousible for this disas
trous failure. For after Gen Bragg, owing to
previous similar failures, had to u considerable
extent lost the confidence of both the army
and the people, and a general desire had been
expressed that another commander should be
given to ihe army of Tennessee, the President
persisted in keeping his favorite general at its
bead, uutil the defeat at Missionary Ridge
compelled him to ask to be released. The ad
ministration, therefore, is responsible for this
disastrous failure of its ajeut. Upon it the
telame must rest.
•The next failure of the President, and that
«which immediately led to the tall of Atlanta,
and all our Subsequent disasters, was his omis
*hw U> send a force to cut oil Sherman's com
imup.WatiuPs when lie advanced from Dalton.
A v«*> ■aoderav.' farce thrown upon his rear,
before he had " ir - ka ‘ ‘' ullcn ''
lated sapqUea, ami atrm.5 thea e <l J l ’-* ,ini * of
vDoaataaieation, could have anfsfed his march
The place to have grappled with him. 1° have
put forth all the available force of the Cos flut'd
to check his advance, was la the »oun-
AUGUSTA, GA,„ WEDNESDAY MORNING. JANUARY 11, 1885.
j tarns of Northern Georgia. That was the
I golden opportunity which once lost could
t never be recalled. This we believe was the
opinion of Gen Johnston, a-s It was of Gov.
Brown, who both solicited ia vain for the ne
cessary leinfor (foments. . •
It is said, however, that there were no forces
to vpare for this purpose. Bat it is vain to
allege this, when Gen. Nir!y was sent at that
| time with an army to invade Maryland and
I Pennsylvania. That army could have been
: .-.ant to the relief of Johnston. Siegel had
been whipped by Breckinridge, and the enemy
had no formidable army then threatening the
Valley of Virginia. It was the movement of
Early that biought out the army of Sheridan
Tue invincible Forrest, also, might have been
and should have been spared to try his ur*i
valled prowess aud peculiar tact in cutting the
communications of the enemy. Some other
commander might have been found to meet
the force at Memphis which wa3 twice so easily
driven back. Had the President announced to
the country the imperious necessity which
there was for an additional force to check
Sherman, doubtless the States would have
Clime to yre rescue with their mHitia, rather I
than he t-licxid gain such fatal advantages over
us. But a strange .apathy was exhibited by
the President during the progress of Sherman’s
march through Northern Georgia
The immediate organ of the President, the
Richmond Sentinel, however, attempted to
cast upon oar Governor the blame of disasters
in which he ha 1 no s’ a:e, and having preju
diced the public mmd __to some extent by its
reckless and unfounded * charges, we have
deemed.it due to tbe character of our Chief
Executive, and to historical truth to advert to
these painful facts. As the question—who is
to blame?—has been thrust upon us by the
•administration organ, we wish the people to
I o put in possession of the actual facts in the
case, aud to decide accordingly.
PI AUK l<Y NEUOTI.VriO.V.
There is at this time a general desire on the
jWf,of the people, that steps he immediately
j 'ken to this war by negotiation.—
For n,' al, y hour .y ears the South hss sustained
a conflict wost stupendous of modern
times, against tlle moßfc and over
whelming. She lias > d <o light got only the
North, but all Europe, who'.-* subsidised myr
iad. have annually tilled up the ,’*«n»les of our
enemy ; and they are still coining by ship
loads, and will eon’inus to come. In this
unequal contest, many tbousaDds, each year,
of the iiower of Southern manhood, of the best
and bravest of tho land, have fallen, heroic
martvis to their country'.s cau-ru. And yet the
carnival of death progresses, the butchery o'
onr noble eons and brothers gee* on, wbk no
prospect that it will terminate til! the grave
shall close over nearly the last remnant of the
noblest race of men upon whom .the sun ever
shone.
The people who have borne tho brunt of this
terrific contest, with uncomplaining patience,
and he.oio fortitude, naturally begin to think
that it is time something should be done to
bring it to an end. Our armies, ’the bva7c
and self-sacrificing men who have fought cur
battles, and encountered the privations and
perils of the war with such constancy and
courage, begin to ffiok to their government to,
at b ast, make the iff >rt to terminate by nego
tiation a confbct so destructive to them. The
many thousands of our gallant toldiers who
have so long suffered the horrors of imprison
merit in the Norlb, with no prospect of release,
make their mute but eloquent appeal to our
authorities, to leave no effort of diplomacy unf
tried to terminate a war which consigns them
tohopeless captivity.
But i« t lie government making any such ef
fort Wo can ecu no evidence even of a dispo
sition to attempt a settlement of our difficulties
by negotiation. On the contrary, in the reso
lutions o( Cob (trees and ihe declarations of the
Executive, we can perceive only a studied
avoidance of any overture to the enemy for
even a conference with a view to the te>min
atiou cf hostilities. Any proposition for an
effort to' open uogoliatloos with the Northern
government, with a view to peace, appeals to
be regarded aasem-dhing dishonorable, as com
promising our national dignity. Morbid pride
nd pai»h-iiate resentment, rather than wise
ami enlightened statesmanship which disdains
no means short of dishonor to accomplish its
nils, t ew to sway the councils of the govern
ment al Richmond.
v' hatever may be the views or declarations
of the Northern Government, there is aiun
dantf evidence of is willingness at least to holds
continence with commissioners from thcSouth
* era States, in discuss the questions at itYue be
t vc't u-> Why wa should decline to ta\* ti e
, bailees of *h? good which might result \orc
such a conference, we are unable to see Ve
have pothlug’to lose l»y it, hut mlgH gain
mu *i. In ad quarrels there is hope of settle
ment when the parties condescend to confer
wch each other ns to the matters in dispute.
But so'long as only blows continue to be ex
changed, exasperation increases, and peace is
hopeless. There is a mighty and persuasive
power iu reason, when its soothing and subdu
ii:g influence' is permitted to operate The
ins of diplomacy have untied many a gordian
knot of international difficulty which the
sword was unable to cut.
The grave and threatening aspect of our af- ■
fairs awakens the deepest concern in the breast
of every Southern patriot. The people feel
that something must to done —that the time
has come for an effort to close this war by pa
eitio msaiis. They demand this of tlieir au
thorities, State and National; and their wilt
must be respected. TUfl States which are the
parties to this controversy, which in their
sovereign capacity dissolved their connection
with the Federal Government, and enterediuto
nev Confederacy, without relinquishing or im
pairing their sovereignty, have a right to b*
heatd.
The sovereign State of Georgia, with all the
. otheWst&tes of the Confederacy. has an indis
putable right to say to the common agency at
Richmond "hat is her will at this time iu re
ference to the course of policy which should
be adopted. She has the indefensible right
as a sovereign State to look to her own pro
-1 trCticn and safety, and to ba hsard in a crisis
of such imminent peril to herself.
We look with'confidence to the actions of
; our enlightened and pairiotw Governor. We
| are assured that the people will s’-’siaiu him
i In. any course he may adopt. We would only
: suggest to him Aat the legislature be •enven
j ed again, to deliberate upon the present cxi
| seacy. This jj surely a time when the Rcpre
j sentatives of tike people, the guardians of the
I State, should confer together, and combine
and exert their highest legislative wisdom for
the salvation of she Commonwealth.
The people, lilac.', in this great crisis should
give free expression to their opinions. They
are sovereign. They are the party interested.
Governments derive ail their just powers
from their cense mt, and are instituted only for
their good, and should be obedient to fhdir
will. Our public rulers are only the servants
of the people, w3o have a right to instruct
them. Whatever be their will, therefore, they
have the right to have it carried out. “The
servant is not greater than his lord.’’ Let the
peopla then feei that they are masters mas
ters if their o-.vd destiny; clothed with the
right to pursue whatever course they may
deem most compatible with their own honor,
interest, and safely.
Satisfied that the Representatives of the
State of Georg® in the Confederate Congress,
are not carrying -out the will and wishes of
their constituents in regard u* the matter of
instituting immediate negotiations with the
Northern Government for a settlement of this
contest, we would suggest to the people a re
sort to tho Constitutional right of petition,
through which medium they can most conve
niently and emphatically express their opin
ions, wishes and resolves. They should speak
out foarlessiy, and unreservedly. This is their
fight, and thgy must bear its consequences,
whether prosperous or adverse. It is for them,
therefore, to see that the proper measures are
adopted to bring it to a clone.
Whtiuer are we DbiftixO?—The following
statement wo copy from the columns of tho
Charleston Mercury of Saturday :
We have heard of several cases of outrage
and waylaying during the past night or two,
by soldicis tempor ally camped here while
passing through to other points, and the dark
ness of the city, without moon or gas light,
has no doubt iucicased, and in many cases,
provoked the outrage.
On Thursday night, about nine o’clock, a
party of live or six soldiers tried to force rn
entrance into a respectable house, on the east
side of Smith street, when one of the lady oc
cupants called to a servant directly opposite
to know if the Colonel wasi.t home to protect
them. The servant rtpiitd (bat her master
was “bsent ou duty ; whereupon, tho party of
so!dim6 mat?? an assault on tho Colonel's
house, where some yV'ncg ladies were spend
tog the evening. N->t being ffhle to force an
entrance, one of the party deliberately food
his pistol through lire window, The ball from
which, rebounding frc-m the opposite wall, tell
at the feet of the lady of the hol.-o. jt was
mos l mirarulons that some of the fair inmate,
of the room not injured.
A house in Bull slre-et was assailed, and
live or six bullet nunks on the door aud gate
attest the reek leg,stress of the party engaged.
A man was knocked down ia Coniimf street,
and'after receiving a severe baiting, was toh
fc'ed of hV- pofkctb'Uik,’Couta idng ftitj.p
•A negro was knocked down in Cannon street,
was divested of his coat and SIOO to boot.
The younger brother of our worthy I’rovod
Marshal was also as?,died ip Cannon street, by
three soldiers, who cha’ged hay Apple on liim,
asking fur money or something to drink# lid
was relieved from their presence only by
drawing biff revolver.
Many other .cases cave 1 ecu reported, but
these are sufficient to call the attention ol our
milita’-y authorities to the matter, y.pie’p wo
most sincerely hope will be rectified.
It is said that when Atlanta was being evac
uated that stores were broken open and plun
dered by our troops. It is a well known fact,
that after its evacuation by the Federal,s„ that
tho city was visited by the country people
some of whom came a hundred or more of
miles-who helped themselves to every thing
they saw that they wished.
It is said that the residents of Middle Geor
gia have b :eu robbed of all that was left-there
by the Yankees, by Confederate stragglers and
deserters It is sail that innumerable bq. ids
of this description are now traveling in every
section of the State perpetrating acta id law
lessness on whomsoever they wish; robbing
the plantations and Houses of the men who ate
ia the field fighting.
It is stated by gentlemen vho have left Sa
vannah since t hat as our troops
were leaving the plppo, they not only broko
opeuthe stores and helped therurclves ip what
they wished, but that they also destroyed a
gr®ftt deal of valuable property, simply be
pausfi they could upt tjarry it away.
It is a well known fact, that crime is on the
increase everywhere with fearful rapidity
Society is in a;> sections becoming mote and
more demoralized. Is it not time to pause anil
to consider “Whither we are drifting?’’ Is
it not time for our statesmen to come forward
and apeak out coldly ? To take feme steps
that will save the ship of State from being
wrecked on the r. cks of anarchy ?
The people—the power—will support, any
honorable measures that will quel! the (earful
storm which is devastating osjr !a,nd.
- -MSS
A Wrong Step.—We nolice by the Colum
bia papers tbata‘‘Yigilancc Committee’’is talk
i ed of at that place to take in hand law-break
j era, and execute summary punishment upon
| them. We regret to see such an anuoucemout.
!*We should regret to learn that apy such organ*
j I cut ion had been formed, for the’purposes inen-
I tioned, in any city in the Confederacy. It tho
| existing Jaws are not Eever.e enough, make
! them more seyere If the police force is not
j vigilant enough, put in other men who will be
j more vigilant. If the police forc9 is not large
j enough, increase it. But above all things, we
hope no community will tolerate a vigilance
committee, in these days. Such organiztions
are but the first ereppings out of anarchy—an
anarchy as fearful as it will be bloody. Main,
tain the laws Use increased activity and ex
ertions to arrest criminals. But do not en
deavor to turn from its legitimate channel
ißiy thing which pertains to keeping society
In a good healthy state
Mobii.s 4 Ohio Railroad.—We learn on very
good authority that the Mobile and Ohio rail
, road hns been cut iu two places by the Yankee
rafflers between Okalcna and Corinth. As to
1 the amount of damage done or tijs strength
j of the forces engaged in th Q work, we are net
I advised. If the road be seriously injured, we
j fear it will place General Hood and his army
I in rather an awkward position, as this is his
i cmJy »?3ijs pf accommodation bv railroad-
RIGHT FOR (ACE.
The Constitutional!-1 was, as in duty bcund,
one of the fimt apob gists for that terrible
crime tvgn'nbt the nation, tha f wholesale politi
cal suicide—rtbe withdrawal of Genera! Joseph
E Johnston from tho command of the army of
Tennessee.
The moat of onr readers remember the com
mentary of both the administration papers and
of President Davis upon that- unrighteous re
moval. The idea ol the press was that Gen.
Johnston lost Upper Georgia because he would
not light, and that his lemoval was but just
punishment for refusing to racrifice his splen
did army, upon the altar cf public opiuion.—
Tha't of tire Presid nt was that Gen. Hood
would “strike one honest blow”—and of course
that O.n Johnston was not honest, or why re
move him ? ' *
Th following paragraph taken from (lie
Coaslitutona'lst, L.ihe “consummation of the
whole matter,’’ end U exactly what wa have
waited for and expected since the famed gener
al order —“the days ol being Hanked out of
pest: a are past.”
“The campaign in Tennessee, to say the
least of it, has miscarried—in fact ended in re
treat, Although we give no credence to the
reports of 1 hour,is. or the words of the citizens
ailing iho route cf Hood's retreat, which the
Yankees publish in large capitals, yet we ad
mit enough is already known to satisfy our
leaders aud Congress and the people that the
Amiy i.f Teunes'ee has been defeated and is
now retreating.”
It lias not been long since the extreme cau
tion of Gen. Johnston made him a fit subject
of envious execution, and his vast “military
expei ienee” and “mental capaci'y” were deem
ed’of ii'.tle value in comparison with the reckless
courage of his successor—that successor being
the only mail who had not promptly done his
part iu all the wcndeiful reheat that was
worth mote than a victory.
The Constitutionalist, which is our text-book
for to day, now advises what we then urged:
“We have no hesitation in say in J that a Gen
era! of larger military experience and of more
fitmness aud m:ntal capacity should at once
be sent to t ike immediate charge of the almost
disorganized army now under Hood. Tho
Congress should speak out on Ibis subject, if the.
Proti'h.d in not dive t > the true situation, and
d< maud a change in the military atfiiis of tho
Tennessee.
That cut fit She President from Ids own or
gan, is really too bad, and since the day when
Cto<af drew bis cloak around him and expired
in the Senate Chamber, with tire tad words—
“And ihou, 15 u'ut!” on his lips, we know of
no instance t-f such unkindness.
TV© fear, however, that the pi css cf the Con- .
federate States hjpj so thoroughly drilled Con
gress into blind obedience, that th% illustrious
body of “iron. Exempts,” would tremble at
the bare idea of "speaking out,” so boldty
ajpgeHitd.
In order (o carry indisputable authority on
the point, the Cdnstitutionaiist quotes from
Macaulay's Lays of Ancient Rome— .
. “In reasons of great peril
”D-•■ ' -J -r.-. swiy ,
Then choose we a dictator
Whom ail arc;; shall obey ;
And let him be dictator,
For six months and no more,
And have a master of the luiights,
And axis twenty-four.”
TJrqt Illy,’’ However, v.as a had egg for the
paper, for the grand old masters of Rome
never mint’d their ccentry as a midem dicta
tor lias done :—we meat! Jefferson Davis.
That pqll for six months makes us think of
the good old tipres of si# apd twtJve pioptbs
troops, which term of enlistment in the major
ity of cases signified eternity. That “ Master
of the Knights” Is, we pittuaie, some new
bomb proof not yct iiiveififfi. .
. The mxt paragraph we really hato tore
print-, for ii is null a tiuible “slam” on the
i profUlept thfit He pou!4n’t fepl worse If even"
j the ■■ coliaid aud cabbage bard” of the paper
j should gc-t after him. Mr. Davis has always
I thought J}o was commander-in chief, but it
J ypi-in-3 not.
\Vcshi-uld at least loam from our enemies and
j haro a curt>uia"der in eliiet ; and although Gen.
Lee occupies some such position iu Virginia,
it is on sufferance.
Perhaps tfie writer was somewhat confused
am} only wanted a L’cjjlenant General in the
Regular seivicc, like General Grant.
The next paragraph, however, is the one we
specially wish io cali attention to, for it con
, tains throe points. Fiist —A wholesale en
] dorse went so f General Johnston ; as kind, ap
' full, as generous, as the honesty remarks of the
| President- were tho contrary. Second—There
. ia an admission that confidence and prosperity
j are not among the present blessings, of our
| people. Third -It is assprtpd tfiat the propp
: sed triumvirate would “ not deprive us of lib
| erty,'? which much savors of an admission that
; the gian with the habeas corpus mania has
' done so or may do so.
| Let Gen. Johnston be placed iu command of
| tho Army of Tennessee, having control of all
I the country adjacent thereto—give Gen. Beau
yegaid command of ihe Array of Gcorcit) and
, S -mb Carolina, and Gen. Lee command of the
j Army of Virginia and all its adjuncts With
j those officers contioiling the destinies of our
; armies without restraint, prosperity will again
i return to us, and confidence anting the ptopia
1 wiii insure a better feeling every wheie. Such
! dictators we giro our yoi.jo for at once ; not
j Tor six months, but until the end of the .war;
; and inch dictators will not only not us
’ of liberty, but insure us freedom and sepur
; afion from the miserable Yankee race,
j Well rather than those who have
I for four years mismanaged our affairs. Better
■ the three glorious names of Lee, Johnson and
j Beauregard, than the “ President, the Adju
tant General and the Commander of the Trans.
Mississippi Department,” who were our Kings
i under the last Habeas Corpus act.
I The Royal families of Europ.e derive the
! right to rule from the mighty warriors who
j won their crowns with blood and steel, and
■ there is something respectable about blood that
| dates from the Norman ’invasion. But if the
- crown must rest on the heads of heroes, let us
i lay aside the battle of Buena-Yista, and give
| the bright bauble to those who fought at
i Richmond and Gettysburg and Charleston, and
dared to retreat to Atlanta.
| For ourselves, we yet are with the patriot
I Stephens, and decline to choose masters,
j The following is the very sum total of oar
own arguments in a few words, and as well ex
pressed as we could do it ourselves,
i It is the history of the war in a nutshell, and
' should the old questioner at the greatest trial
‘ -of record, rejfsat to us his famed question
“What is truth, ,J we should briefly reply,—the
following paragraph from the Augusta Con
stitutionalist of Dec. 20th, ISCi:
What we want is concentration —!i is strew th
and. victory. It is net th; want of mem—
While Thomas was centring a well organized
and large army at Nashville, Hood had F. rn st
and a division of infantry m-ICng an impinc
ticable attack upon Murfrcetboio, aud a tu ig
ade of cavalry ihiding through western Ken
tucky—the result isahe powerful Federal aimy
is thrown againM Hood’s depleted battalions,
and they are scattered and demoralized, in
Western Virginia we have the same story to
repeat. It has beeu repeated in every disaster
that has befallen us—and until our best lead
ers are placed in command, and our armies
kept together, we may still look for rtveisis.
-W-WI
Tub Reason Why ?—When parties commit
an unlawful act, tkev always- endeavor to ex
cuse themselves by giving a reason. Among
the unlawful a.-Is which some members of Con
gress are endeavoring to peisuade a majority
of tlrnt body to commit is to suspend the writ
of habeas corpus. It is iuov>red and believed
by some that the deed has already been done.
The excuse given for this unconstituted deed
is cert,duly a rich one—a reported conspiracy
among the deserters iutke mountains or South
western Virginia. Civil law is to be abolished
fro ii the Potomac to the Rio Grande because
a few timid men Live been frightened by a
parcel of deserters ! What a prete it; or if not
a pretext then what stupidity !
Truly, as the poet says, “We are living’’—
and th it is about all.
Similarity of Acts of uoru Amixistratioxs
—A large number of clerks at Washington
have been dismissed because they did not vote
for Lincoln. Residents of the Confederacy
who do not agree with the Richmond powei's
are treated the same way. Comparisons are
said to be oiiioi s— eo we have merely slated
facts withou “drawing any comparisons.” If
our readers want that thing done they must
do it themselves. We think however that
there is a strange similarity, in this instance
at least, between the acts of the two adminis
trations. Proscription for opinion’s sake is
not a thing which savors muc'li of liberty- and
liberty, we believe, is what the South is fight
ing for.
Lincoln and Maximim.iax.—The London
correspondent of the leading Madrid paper,
under date of Dee, 8, states that the Mexican
Monarchy would be speedily recognized by
tho United States- Lincoln is said to have in
sisted that the Empoior Maximillian should
bind himself not lo enter into relations with
the Confederate States of the South, which had
solicited his alliance, likewise, the French
should promise not to interfere in the Ameri
can quarrel. Those assurances the loiter writer
stab's have been given. The Emperor Maxi
ruilliau is about to announce bis accsaicn
officially to the Ltuitud States Government, and
the latter will I send a representative to ll'Xi
(20. *
A Tornado iv Alabam a.— A.gentli npiii from
Montgomery. Ala., states that that section was
visited by a violent tornado, on the night of
Dec. 27th. It commenced west of the city,
and raged along the whole extent of the Mont
gomery and Wist Point Railroad The woods
weie pr&strateil. A railroad bridge twenty
miles east of Montgomery was blown down.
At Auburn the storm ra<j -.<} with great fury.
A large number of hou’.cfj were demolished
or unroofed, and some fifteen persons were
killed. At several buildings <ve-e de
fiioliffiied, an| two 9'r tfpee lives lost. The
amount of damage aonp by the storm was im
mense.
Rtnioiup Deaiu of piuun.sp - Tfio Selma
of Pec. 27, contains a 1 urn or 'of
fhs death of Gpa. Forres f. Jt status that For
rest was punishing i\ refractory soldier with
fiis own hands, when the brother 0 f the said
soldier drew a knife and slabbed the - General,
from the effects of which he died. No confir
mation of the urmor has yet hVi'u received
ft is true that Forrest was Rom.-tiara his own
‘•Court-martial and executioner.’’ This gives
the rumor an ah' of probability. Wo trust how
ever that it is incorrect.
, —«?■ -•=——
Gun Siikriux’s MoyfiMsvfd.—Various specu
lations are afloat in regard to Gen. Sherman’s
raovemeats. No one however knows in which
direction lie will move fust. The Northern
papers are of the opinion that lie will soon un
dertake the capture of Charleston. The build
ing of tfie poutocu bridge over Savannah
river, and the movements of the Federal forces
into South Carolina would lead us to i ifer
that this is coriect. Ail doubt, however, will
probably soon be removed by a demonstration
somewhere.
Gov. Brown’s Exempts —The Selma Rebel
says that Gov Brown, by putting bis exempts
into the field, owns up that ho was wrong. We
do not see much reason or argument in this as
sertion. It will take more sophistry or logic
than the Rebel or any other man is possessed
of, to prove that because a paper does what is
right twice—and what lie has a perfect right
to do—that ho is wrong one of those times.
A Family Qvariul. —A gcnUemanJfrom North
Georgia eats that a short time since a regular
pitched battle came eft’ between the white
and black troops stationed at that place, several
of the Colored troops were killed, the white
poitlon of the contrabands escaping with
wounds. The weapons used by both sides
were revolvers,
Affairs is Mississippi.— ;The powers that be
at Richmond are trying to luterfere with the
militia of Gov. Clark ol Mississippi. That of
ficial plainly announces that he will permit
nothing of the kind to be done. The Missis
sippi papers sustain the Governor in his posi
tion.
Whither are we Drifting ?—lt is stated
that Newtown, Dade Cos, Ala., was burned
Pec. 21, by a band of deserters. The number
of citizens killed is not yet ascertained.
Will many reflecting persons ask “ Whither
are we drifting i”
RATnKB Warlike, ip True.—A Northern tel
egraphic dispatch says Thoma’s‘is only six
mile* in Hood’s rear with' a large army. I 1
also states that a Federal column is advancing
co Coupth, and another on Mobile.
Thb Old Isscs— The Con federate States De
pository in this city has received official nodce
that the time for their redemption has been
-extended until July os*l
VOL. LXXIV.—.NEW SERIES YCLr. IXE >;-o, 2
THE (TAU*AI«» l.v TKNXKSSEir.
From the Charlottesville Va. Chronicle Dec. 22.
We are nor at all surprised at the news from
Tennessee. The thing woe coucciv. dby si
• ent Davis, and the execution committed to
Gen. Hood. Suppose we had taken Nashville—
what then ? Mr. Davis, in one of his Georgia
speeches—perhaps the one in* which He an
nounced that Geueral Johnston was no soldo r
—gave out that some terrible plan was ou foot
which would annihilate Sherman as the French
were destroyed in the Russian c ampaign. Ho
spoke with groat positiveness, i'ko one wito
sees entirely through a conspiracy. Sherman’s
whole army was to be dispersed and absorbed,
j He—the President—had put hii#hand on the
! plough—and a farrow w is to be run which
would put the affairs of the Confederacy on en
tirely anew footing, anil startle'llie natitms
which were looking on. He solemnly took the
responsibility—and he shall have it.’ His or
gans cried—look! and wo were to see what
we should see I
We were “officially’’ informed some time
since that there \fns some excellent news from
Georgia, which, for prnileid.al reason’s could
not then be made public. We would be pleas
ed to learn what it was. Os joqisa the fall-of
Savannah, or the fall ol Savauufth and Augus-
ta and Charleston—would bo “very small mat
ters”—we should then just Have Sherman
“where we wanted him.” Doubtless, if Rich
mond were to fall, we should be informed in
certain quarters, that we had just irotten Giant
where “we wanted him”— nt some un
fixed period lie would meet noth universal de
struction. This is played out. With out a
change, the Government itself will allow some
morning that things are worse than they should
be.
If Mr. Davis and the Court were only going
to dash their own brains out, we might rui-iy
from calamity, but (hey are dragging the
whole secession fleet alter them Wo know
that we are told that we rniist hold up the
hands of the Government. We have been told
so for nearly four years. Ami if ever press and.
people did lend an unquestioning confidence
to their rulers—if ever a whole country did
place itself.implicitly in the hands of the exec
utive— if ever men and treasures were laid at
the feet of one man—if ever ship was surren
dered to helmsman—R has been done right
here in these Confederate States. The govern
ment is—and has been proper!}-—ail in all.
Our whole male population was; freely tendered.
We have permitk-d it to issue Treasury notes,
bonds, cerliticatras of indebtedness, to over Ilf
teen hundred millions. Wo have this year
paid six §por'cent, of our whole properly in
taxe3.
We have al'owcd it to impress horses, wag
ons, cattle, grain, at nominal -prices, until it
has left the country almost bare. Wo have
seen Congress laid at its feet without spirit
or will of its own. We have seen the cons tit u
tional advisors of the President no totally ig
nored that weh .veneverliada soli!ary cabinet
meeting. We have seen the higher appoint!minis
in the army all entirely regulated by’The will
of Mr. Davis. We have seen General Pember
ton made a Lieutenant General without a sin
gle achievement. W.e have seen him, under
instructions from Richmond, sacrifice tbe-Mia
sissippi yalley and an army of thirty thousand
veterans. We have seen New Orleans fall
lrom incompetent measures to defend it.
We have seen Gen. Bragg defeated at Mis
sionary Ridgo from an uninrely division of
his army in a trustless expedition against Knrx
ville. We have semi this officer, after ha had
lost tho confidence of/ilio country, und was
driven from his command bypubli • sentiment,
made aloft of duector general of our armies
in Richmond. Wo have seen- Gen. Johnston
abruptly dismissed from the army in Georgia
just when his services were most needed. We
have seen Gen. Hood—a plain, untried young
man—advanced to the command, in inis Bta'e,
merely to lose Atlanta, alter several ill-advis
ed and fearful massacres. We have seen the
President repair ip person to the theatre of hi3
disaster oply to inaugurate under the same
Gene-ala campaign which startled tho country
in its inception, aud whidh Ims terminated ia
the investment of Savannah and its garrison,
and-the h'oody victory j?) and defeats of
Franklin and Nashv'He.
We now awa t with tho most painful sus
pense every.breach from Savannah; wo hoar—
through Northern official dispatches certain by
that Hood lias lost S'xteen pieces of artillery
on one occasion aud forty odd on another,
with we know not how many prisoners. We
hear from Gen. Hood's own lips that in bis
“victory” at Franklin, he Joat thirteen, gener
als, killed, wounded or captyged. He has
ceased to advance; he has begun to retreat.—
lti the Valley hsrp wo lrp.ye opposed a force
of cavalry, armed with nothing but a single
barreled musket, to a superior force of the
finest cavalry in the world, armed with sabres,
pistols, aud the seven-shooting Spencer gun.
In the Trans-Mississippi General Taylor was
removed for ids rpting campaign, and General
Kilby Smith, who has not done the first soli
tary thing, Jjgs beeu buried ingloriously in
Northwestern Louisiana during the whole of
this eventful year. Forrest, whose military
genius fitted him for the most important en
terprises, lias been leading a small body of
raiding cavalry. General Bragg, it is true,
was despatched to check General Sherman, but
it appears so far has met with no success.
Our -finances, our river and harbor defences,
our international negotiations, domestic po
litics, have been managed in precisely the same
extraordinary way. For the first, we have,
never derived any material benefit from out
commanding staples of cotton and tobacco.—
For the second, the proposition to construct
gunboats in the beginning of the war was re
jected. For the third, we have not applied to
European poweis iu tho ouly way that we
could reach them, and we have encouraged at
the North the lit; übiican politicians us against
their opponents. For the last, we have, as frv
as it has been possible under tho circumstances,
systematically offended one of the great origi
nal political parties in our midst.
Nearly all things have been done in a
malign, perverled way; we have been breath
ing an impure air; we have been nourishing a
vicious blood; we have seen with a retracted
light; we have prophesied with •stammering
lips, Our leader is afflicted with proud flesh;
he sees with an oblique eye; his ear has no
sense of harmony; he h:i3 no idea of promo
tion; no idea of relation; he ia effected with
color-blindness; he combines like the kaleidos
cope; he sees with the vividness of the mad
man; but there is a viliajnous demon within
that wrests things out of their piaces; like
some fine instrument in its conception, a chord
or a spring has been broken, and what should
have discoursed eloquent music, utters harsh,
discordant sounds,
The Feeling of Shermin's Troops Towards
South Carolina.— The Philadelphia Inquirer
speaks thu3 of the feeling tyfiich exists in Sher
man’s army towards South Carolina:
That shout which went tip from Sucnuun b
Western boys when the- 1 ‘ tees ! -e. < liar
leslonward, on their march, i.- ; -ouder ban
ever in his ears. It was anoiiimo-- battle
erv “Lead us into South Carolina; ;-jU -t.
to Charleston!” Ransom knows, and .toil
Davi a knows what will be tho fa to (A tout, iu
cursed Lot bed of treason whenever the Union
forces are ordered to cross its threshold.
South Carolina, thus far, has experienced little
of the evils entailedl upon her sister State- by
her own diabolical acts. She will >■ -i fc.-.-i
tnem, we trust to the largest m .-a ure it i*
but justice, and Heaven wHI |U?e!y lr.ci;; I ■
and force her to drink to the dregs the bifb r
cup which the placed to the iip.. ' ;. -.lion.
When that day shall com”, th.- worl ! u
prove her punishment, and to the sea ten.-o of
righteous retribution will ‘ay. A;,.--;
Fresh pork is sell ng at Danville, Ya, at $ j
to per pound.
*
-.-mx—: !:c Lt).
ca l; run A v
r;! '' p ed, nuthorizio -
the Secretary t 1\- /, ... ...... tl> . , |
l-UU el, betc.e n. : til ;;!y. ail 'X’iKl.3 and tiousu- -
nptes received in payment Tor sequestrate-i
properly.
iho Military Committee reported a* lid
V.bich was pu n IS:,, cuh xlar. providing tlx
persons detaih'd'er a.- : .gat'd us proves; m.n -
s-hals or I'levr.-; of n.fiiiary ceurf.-t s-hall, it b -
low ;he rank of e the
allowances ae qn :in . ; cav..!••%*.
On motion, the fcVuate resolved itself into
secret session.
house—beo. 20.
> • tou i tool up and pass?d the bill io
provide for to. s. ip.. .nation of the piv.iertv
of persons leaving the country to avoid rnili -
tary service.
Th© House resolved into ' Comniilk-o of the
Whole on tfie ca ••in:.-y bid.
Pending the ,- ■ v: ..b nos the bill, the
committee rose and lb-■ .use adjourned.
SUNATH—dec 21.
The followo.;- S , r! - . .
Authon/.imr liie <v* ‘V,’, n> pay, tn
proyisi, us, to the Ch Indians, i PNorth
Carolina, tho sum due ti.einua inn-ivst on the
removal and :-uU-b-xiu’e :in<S.
Providing that pv.s-> s l.oiow the rank of
major, delaile,l or a-.-igned provost mar
«lmls or (I lies of miliixy courht, tfiall leceive .
4'he pay und ui:o'.v.a:.■ .. : -|.;...a: cavalry.
ro iacrease io one hundred aml forty-two,
the number oi midshipmen in ti: .. ,vy.
Appropria;ii!:,' six thou.-and doliars for the
erection ol ad liti n U nil ling at Drewry’s
Bluff, for the a .eomniodation of acting mid
shipmen.
To authorize th.: appointment o£ two naval
constructors, at sal .vies of $2J500.
house—duo. 21.
Tiie House refused to revoi sider the vote b-‘
which it. nji'cied ; ~ eoa: propci.ition for ;i
recess during Christmas week, by a vote of yeas
flti, nays -17.
.The II m pa sed the appropriation I ill, prof
-viding for the deficiency in the appropriation
for the payment, of Hie oiii,- aa, i-p., .j, K i cm .
piovees of the War DepSrtm-. at.-
I Dili was d.seu.vsed (ill adjoin*
meat.
SENATE —DEO. 22.
A resolution vr.i. . d.u.k-.i that the Judiciary
Conuniltee in e.i edieiicj of
amen ling •!:•• Ju lici -. y \ ,■
judges of th.: .. •• • writs cf
mandamus j... p.-.v-us HoMh. v .. under the
Confederate i i.Hvs.
’The Military Conimil.!; -n. p ried a bill,’
which was-passt duty of ‘the
(fuarteminstcr General t:» provi-io fuel and
light necex x for th- ■ ’-eejitiv.i Mansion, and
forage for six ho*. , I'vr U- it; eof tfie Com--
mander in Ch Nav of t hi;
Oooicd: rate S!. i; .- . . m- kin -it the I'uity of
(be (iinimi-;. V(• ■■::! t‘) i"-ei . the Hama
oiK.vr coiiior rj sujqd.:.-. .'•Rowed io com
missioned i-H; -a,; in the 11. Id, the quantity
allowed to He drawn e.ud purchased i--y Him
-fi.-injr double what is allowed a ■ . aural iu tho
field : i’rqvi k d.vFuP if ..a -after tlx salary as
lowed Him Hu j till ittip.tr finalttie-value c.f
the forage and :u! !H o fur id and !ii;n du
ri.Bg the period in whit a ich payment is made
in par lumhi ,-l<all bo •!. dart and from raid salary
i« the settlement of liis ato-minia. The act in
to i .rntinue iu force dm iug flm v. w.
The Mamix-nv.'n-.i” ■ . !•’ .... .... v.a: “r.-ferr -a
th* T’r: -I.' iif".: V. '.-ru:*.- I 1 !' iv .-.onse to a reso
lution isi the fr.mile r.i.ii.-. ioiovmation rela
tive to the nurti'i rvi < .be • i ' t;-... army trh .1
for drutike.liue duriio; fee war, reported th:*
same barged from .
the futlliC-f can ’ i .•aiiou r. ii.e t .ibj- et. From
a- idler from tlm Adjultuii; (.-eneial, transmit
ted iu this nu,e ;ge. it appears Fiat the total
number of oilisci of the av ; ■ tried fordrunic
enues3 since the begin bag of tho war is two
hundred and twenty-tv;o. Os this number’,
one hundred and fifty-one were convicted, aud
seventy-one acquitU d.-
On motion, it was ordered that when tho
Senate adjourn, St be to Monday next.
HOUSE —DEO 22.
The House agreed to tj,o Bouato amendment
to the House bill (o puui. h conspiracy against
thejUunfedcratc states
The House went into Committee of the Wliolo
on the currency bin.
SENATE —DEO. 22.
The Senate was no'titv, issioq to-day.
- itoijsi;— dec. 23.
After some time ;p- > ! in se.-ret fusion, Ihe
House went into Coi.;.-.i : tt.-.: of the Whole on
the currency bill.
After the adoption of several amendments,
the committee n- .- nd i!.<; ( h--i.an.an reported
the bill to . tendation
that it do pass ; - . I
A COKREsmNI V i A SUBJECT .Gto
INTEHEoT TO ’liOPtß,
RiCliMOf.o, Va., Doc. 17,LS;it.
Son. J. A H Sec of IFar:
For the benefit of ,uy •••mnUtueola, (and in
answer to a communication e king informa
tion,) I should bo pi - . to rec ive a letter
from yourself or Judge .Campbell in reply to
the following questions, fop ,- !>hp , : ion :
1. Vv'iierev-i mules and other stock have
been taken toy the emmtj sad recaptured by us,
can the prigi -d o wner get it ba;;!; upon prop
el !y id- iit-iYiiv.-; it.
l. Wheret er - - - sat - ha ■ been taken
without authority, by out' own 1. an. cavalry
or infantry, can the owner get it back in the
same way <
I attach a i it. l.fft. < plainint; tho rea
son «*d eirC;-:-.t,-t.'.iu; toy ta-qu-.-t. An
early answer .tolieit* 1 ;-uJ reUirii ol ti.i- pu
vate letter. Most fully,
J-iiiN' T. Sm wmaki:,
M G. Fifth DLtrkt oi Georgia.
Wau Department, I .
Richmond, Va., Due. 17. 1804.)
lion. J. T Shi -
Your note of to-day h. r.vuivcd. Tho
department has uniion ~y -- ■■■: -u!d iln* iuU
that property c iptnrud by my and sub-
I
I and has orders in ninn ■■■'is '■ isw-, tor
! the surrender of the prop. ily. 1 '<■■■'■ was com
municated to the Jlou. J. ■■ t u . j s sG, at tin <iiae
of Btoneman’s raid, for 1 - to caj.luic-t
horses in Geo -j.; -c adurti.- and --■■p.ait
ment on tho subjee!.
The conducl '
Rented by Alt. i-‘ ‘ ‘ you, is
wholly indefensible.
There is no liwor c _ • Go
taking of horses to n , • - !
Orileis No. to. P. 2. ; “to '
The act of Cong!-,- - . ,_D I. •o.
22. provide- ■ ■■.,■ "by,
beb - - ing is Mr. airy
to ha ve ax Walker is
retained,
T3u ’
counties of i> •: • n
derson, a. II: '•!
Tli -v ar-:- ■
and doing m ,ii -. ’ _ _ fit' .
o:' rto .
, ■
it to P-pr-c - - ic ■
is at me it; ia: : b- . .and . ’ ;. -i
three inokoj t :