We have spoken of the desperation of the rebels, and of the idleness of expecting from them any peaceable compromise.  Those who, in the South, will take the oath of allegiance, and who have probably acted only under compulsion, should be spared.  But there is a vast number who are as yet under the dominion of a madness, for which nothing but the most vigorous measures can be of any avail.  It is evident that at present, every where except in Halleck’s department, government is too indulgent.  Traitors flaunt and boast openly in the border States, and publicly scheme with their doughface allies, to defeat the Union cause in every possible way, too often with signal success.  The more mercy they receive, the more insolent do they become, and yet every effort has been made, and is making, ‘to conciliate.’  Let Government be vigorous, and rely only on its strong hand, so far as the management of avowed traitors is concerned; such men hold to no faith, and keep no oaths.  With such, a threat of confiscation will be found of more avail than all the lenity in the world.

We may quote, in this connection, from a letter to the Salem Register, from Captain Driver, who hoisted ‘Old Glory’ at Nashville, when our troops took possession of that city.  After speaking of the immense amount of property being destroyed through the State, he asks: 

’Is there one man North, who now expects to make peace, based on compromise with such men as lead here?  Is there one who expects a lasting peace in this land, until the armed heel of freedom’s soldiers marks every inch of slave soil?  If there is, he knows little of the South or Southern men and women.  One defeat of the Federal forces, and madness would be rampant here.  In the hour of victory, they would destroy every Union family in the South.  We live on a volcanic mass, which at any moment may upheave and blow us to glory without the benefit of the clergy, the most of whom are in the army of Dixie.

’Our enemy is as bitter as death, as implacable as the savage of the forest; he will do any thing to gain his end.  Twice has the ‘Black Flag’ been flaunted in our faces, and cheered by a portion of our citizens.  Our women are more bitter than the men, and our children are taught to hate the North, in church, in school, and at the fireside.  Our city still presents a sullen, silent front; it will take as long time to root treason out of Nashville us it did the household sins of Egypt out of Israel.

’Had I my way, I would confiscate the property of all traitors, work the slaves three or four years under overseers, on the land of their masters, sell the crops thus raised, and pay the war debt; this would save the people from taxation.  The fifth year’s crop give to the slaves, and send them to Texas or elsewhere; give them a governance, buy up the slaves of the loyal men, and let them be sent to their brethren.  The land confiscated, I would divide