Hon. E. S. Dargan, member of Congress, writes from Mobile
that Mississippi is nearly subdued, and Alabama is almost exhausted, He says
our recent disasters, and Lee's failure in Pennsylvania, have nearly ruined us,
and the destruction must be complete unless France and England can be induced
to interfere in our behalf. He never believed they would intervene unless we
agreed to abolish slavery; and he would embrace even that alternative to obtain
their aid. He says the people are fast losing all hope of achieving their
independence; and a slight change of policy on the part of Lincoln
(pretermitting confiscation, I suppose) would put an end to the revolution and
the Confederate States Government. Mr. D. has an unhappy disposition.
Mr. L. Q. Washington recommends Gen. Winder to permit Mr.
Wm. Matthews, just from California, to leave the country. Gen. W. sends the
letter to the Assistant Secretary of War, Judge Campbell, who “allows” it; and the
passport is given, without the knowledge of the President or the Secretary of War.
The news from Mexico (by the Northern papers) is refreshing
to our people. The “notables” of the new government, under the auspices of the
French General, Forey, have proclaimed the States an Empire, and offered the
throne to Maximilian of Austria; and if he will not accept, they “implore” the
Emperor of France to designate the one who shall be their Emperor. Our people,
very many of them, just at this time, would not object to being included in the
same Empire.
The President is still scrutinizing Beauregard. The paper
read from the general a few days since giving a statement of his forces, and
the number of the enemy, being sent to the President by the Secretary of War,
was returned to-day with the indorsement, that he hoped “a clearer
comprehension of the cause,” in the promised further report of the general,
would be given “why the enemy approached Morris Island before being observed.”
So, omitting all notice of the defense (so far) of the batteries, etc., the
attention of the President seems fixed on what the general omitted to do; or
what he might, could, or should have done.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 391-2
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