The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-02 00:00:00

THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

(Frain the Eines Correspondent.)
NEW YORK, Nov. 18.

General Butler is the hero, and the" olive branch'
the symbol of the moment. How long the hero and
symbol will remain in favour none but a rash pro•
phet would venture to predict. The speech which
that grim and hitherto unpopular personage deli-
vered at the Fifth Avenue Hotel has exhibited him
in a new and unexpected light, and fairly taken the
town by storm. It is asserted and believed that in
recommending magnanimity to the President as the
essential and crowning grace of the new strength
be acquired by his re.election Gen. Butler spoke on
the prompting of superior authority, and that Mr
Lincoln is prepared to offer an amnesty to the
Southern people and their leaders, and the re.-estab-
lishment of the old Constitution in all its integrity,
on the sole condition of the return of the seceded
States to the Union. It is furthermore reported
that a commission of three, if not of seven, of the
most eminent statesmen and lawyers of the North
is to proceed immediately to Richmond to convey
this gracious message. And what is more extraor-
dinary than all is the simple faith of large num-
bers of the people of this city—Democrats as well as
Republicans—rich men and poor—that the South
will clutch at the offer; and that Mr Lincoln on
the delivery of his second " inaugural" on the 4th
of March ensuing will be enabled to announce to
an admiring, if not to an awe-struck, world that
the Union is reestablished—firm as it stood in the
second !Presidency of Washington, with slavery
left to the care of the South to abolish or maintain
as it shall deem fit, and with the combined armies of
Lee and Grant ready and willing to fight any enemy
or indeed any two enemies that:may offer, especially
France and England. Wall-street on Wednesday
after the departure of the Persia, took the matter
into such deep and earnest favour that gold could
not maintain itself at its previous rates, and its pre-
mium fell from 140 to 128—a decline of 12 per cent.
Yesterday it opened at 129 and fell rapidly to 1181.
Today it fell as low as 110, or a total decline of 30
per cent. since General Butler first gave it the down-
ward impetus. Political circumstances, however, are
not considered in Wall-street as sufficient of them-
selves to account for the rapid fall, as the determi-
nation of Mr Secretary Fussenden to anticipate the
payment of the interest of the gold-bearing bonds,
due on Jan. 1 next, and the consequent probability
of an adequacy of gold in the market for the neces-
sities of commerce during the next few weeks have
a tendency to restrict the speculation for a rise, and
to favour the operation of the gamblers who calcu-
lated on a fall, The more cautious bankers and
brokers are of opinion that the depression will be
temporary; that Mr Fussonden's projects to enhance
the value of the greenback, like those of his prede-
cessor, must of necessity fail ; that all hopes founded
upon the acceptance by the South of peace proposia
tions on the Butler model are fallacious; that the
war will continuo for folly another year, if not for
the whole term of MrLincoln's second lease of power,
and that fresh loans and fresh issues of legal-tender
paper money will be the inevitable results.
No one seems to doubt, however, that some such
offer will be made to the South as General Butler
indicated. But if General Butler really spoke the
sentiments of the President, the victory of the Bth
inst. will have had the singular effect of converting
Mr Lincoln to the opinion of the minority. The
programme sketched by General Butler is no other
than the programme of General M'Clellan. If Mr
Lincoln adopt it he will virtually withdraw his hasty
letter, addressed to Niagara to all whom it may
concern, renounce his pretensions to abolish slavery
by proclamation—or without the concurrence of the
Legislature of the States in which the institution
exists—and accept the principles of the
Conservative Democracy. It is obvious that
he can only do this at the hazard of a
rupture with that branch of the Republican and
Abolitionist party of which General Fremont, Mr
Charles Sumner, Mr Frederick Douglas, Mr Thad.
dens Stevens, Mr Wendell Phillips, Mr Lloyd
Garrison, and the Rev. Dr Cheever are the orna-
ments and exponents. Perhaps he may consider
himself strong enough to incur it, and be willing to
assume the responsibility. It is more probable, howa
ever, that the offer if made will not be made in good
faith ; that Mr Lincoln knows it will be rejected
and that the real object of making it is to create dis-
union in the South, to acquire for the North a re-
putation for generosity which it does not merit, and
jostify to the world, at home and abroad, the resort
to that policy of subjugation and extermination
which Gen. Butler, even when advocating the ten-
der of the olive branch, seemed to consider as the
more effectual method of procedure. But if Mr
Lincoln makes the offer in good faith, or in bad
faith, as a matter cf generosity, or a matter of ex-
pediency, the Southern people and leaders are under
no obligation, either of necessity or policy, to return
a categorical answer. Their reply, if they will listen
to any terms whatever, may perhaps assume some
such shape as the following :—" We will treat as
equal to equal. Lay down your arms and we will
lay down ours. Let there be an armistice for three,
six, or eight months, that the several States of the
former Union may meet peaceably in Convention,
and therein decide whether a new and better Union
be desirable or practicable. It was by this mode that
the original Union was formed, It is by this alone
that it can be re-established." The South has
shown by the mouth of several of its most eminent
men, such as ViccsPresident Stephens, Governor
Brown, of Georgia, Mr Boyce, of North Carolina
and many others, and by articles in the Richmond,'
Charleston, and various leading journals in other
cities of the Confederacy, that it will favour an
armistice and a Convention of the States; that it
looks with approbation, if not with positive plea-
sure, upon the principles enunciated in the Chicago
platform, which General M`Clellan, so fatally for
himself and his party, repudiated and rejected, and
that this lest hope—a forlorn one it may be—of
restoring the Union will not be rudely or peremp.
torily dashed to the ground by the refusal of the
Southern States, severally and collectively, to take
part in the discussions that would follow an armis-
tice. No one in this city who has travelled in the
South, and knows anything of the character and
spirit of the Southern people, no refugee or exile
from the Border States who finds a temporary
abiding place beyond the theatre of the war, and
no constitutional lawyer who adheres to the doc-
trine of State rights as the corner.stone of the old
Union, believes in his heart that any offer of anaa
nasty, or any guarantee to the South for the protec-
tion of slavery will have the slightest effect. They
argue that the offer of an amnesty to men who
think their cause noble and holy will he construed
into an insult; and that the Southern leaders, as
well as the Conservative and Peace Democracy of
the North, are convinced that any restoration of the
Union distasteful to the Abolitionist and Federa
party would be no reunion except in name, and
might be merely the prelude to now misunderstand.
ing, new commotion, and a new secession, in which
Massachusetts and the other New England States
would perform the part of South Carolina. Peace
propositions of the Butler style are grounded on the
assumption that the South is worn out, disspirited,
and unable to raise either men or means to con-
tinue the contest, The assumption is not justified
by any authentic facts which have come to the
knowlege of the Northern people, or by the mili-
tary or political situation of the Confederate Go-
vernment. Now, as there have ever been, there are
four paths to peace :—Piret, a recognition of the
Southern Conf.ederacy by the great Powers of
Europe ; second, an armistice and a Convention of
the States; third, " war to the hilt," as General
Butler logically, but mercilessly, recommends; and
fourth, the mutual exhaustion of the combatants. Mr
Lincoln's re-election points in the third direction,
and may ultimately diverge into the fourth. It is for
General Lee and the Confederate armies to lead it
into tho second by the achievement of such victories
over their enemies 116 would discourage the North,
and predispose the bulk of lice people to acquiesce
in that General Convention of the States which is
the only rational, and which might prove to be the
most effectual, means of settling the difficulty.
The affair of the Florida continues to be a theme
of discussion in all circles. It begins to be ad-
mitted, even by some of the most violent asserters
war to follow a
of the right of the Federal ship of

" pirate" and destroy her in any waters—friendly
or neutral—that the circumstances under which
Captain Collins captured the unsuspecting Confedes
rate were, to say the least, unfortunate. All partiee,
however, trust to Mr Seward to extricate the Go•
vernment from the difficulty, to pality Brazil, and
satisfy her wounded honour, without, however,
surrendering the Florida. It is suggested if Brazil
raise this point, as it is feared she will, that the
Federal Government promise to restore the Florida
at the close of the war. Should Brazil object to
this compromise as insufficient to meet the justice
of the ease or satisfy her offended dignity a ready
means is hinted at and justified by which to evade
all further controversy. Under no circumstances,
it is argued, could the pride of the Federal Go-
vernment submit to the shock of delivering up the
vessel. The crew may be released from captivity
and sent either to the Confederates States or to
Brazil; but sooner than the Florida shall be sure
rendered some careless but patriotic American on
board will set fire to her—accidentally. So unto-
ward a circumstance, should it occur, would, of
course, be much regretted by Government,, but it
would make an end of all difficulty, and if any
Power or person were thereby aggrieved the full
value of the ship, in gold or greenbacks, would be
tendered in full satisfaction of a claim which it
would be impossible to meet in any other fashion.
Mr Lincoln, in reply to a deputation that waited
upon him yesterday to congratulate him upon the
abolition of slavery in Maryland, asserted in current
American slang that it was a " big thing." Doubts
less the fraud by which the result was attained was
a big thing and the imposition of a test oath which
disfranchised more than one-half of the population
of the State was,a very big thing. Whether in firs
tare times, should the whole people of Maryland no
longer disfranchised appoint a new convention to
revise the constitution imposed on them by force of
bayonets, the unconditional and uncompensated
emancipation of the slaves will be considered legal
and binding upon the slaveholders is a matter that
admits of very serious debate. In the meantime the
Federal General in command at Baltimore seems to
be doing his utmost to make the enforced emanci-
pation of the negroes gratuitously unpalatable to
the unresisting citizens. Two years ago there existed
in Franklin-street, Baltimore, the fashionable, and
•in spite of Democracy, it may be added the aristoe
eratie street of that pleasant and hospitable city, an
establishment called the Maryland Club. It was the
resort of the principal inhabitants of the place, and,
as every Englishman who has been in Maryland
knows, was open to every properly recommended
traveller who desired to enjoy the best society of the
State. The club had a good cook, a choice collection
of the best wines and cigars, an admirable library,
and some excellent pictures. As Gen. Schenck, the
military commandant, was not invited to become
even an honorary member, and as he would certainly
have been blackballed if he had regularly sought
admission, he closed it by military authority,alleging
that it was the haunt of Secessionists and traitors,
In the alarm created by the invasion of Penney'.
vania in 1863, which culminated in the battle of
Gettysburg the New York Seventh It.giment of
Militia, which was sent down to aid in the defence
of Maryland, was quartered in the club, and the
gallant young men soon made an end of the choice
clarets, burgundies, and champagnes, and the
equally choice cigars that were left by the extruded
members. Since that time the house has remained
empty. General Wallace, the worthy successor of
General Schenck, thinking it a pity that so fine a
building, in the very best part of the city, should
be untenanted, has resolved, in spite of the pro-
testations of the shareholders of the club
who own the property, to convert it into a
lazaretto and refuge for aged and infirm negroes,
and especially for those who in gaining their frac-
dom under the new Constitution have gained at the
same time the right to starve for want of the em-
ployment which there are none to offer them. As in
fixing upon this particular house for this praise-
worthy purpose the General was supposed to act
less from philanthropic regard for the negroes than
from a desire to annoy the too aristocratic, the too
wealthy, the too ttfined, and too Secessiouint inha-
bitants of the street, a deputation of their body was
sent to the War Department at Washington a few
days ago, to ascertain upon superior authority
whether some other "location" could not be found
for the proposed infirmary or house of refuge, and
whether the real owners of the property might not
be allowed to let it as a private residence. The re-
sult was a reply in the negative, coupled with a
polite reminder that Maryland was a free State, that
n negro was quite as good as a white man, and that
the inhabitants of Franklin.street ought to think
themselves flattered rather than insulted that their
beautiful thoroughfare should have been selected
as the site for so beneficent en institution. Such
paltry spite will recommend itself to the contempt
of everybody. The incident proves, however, that
if Maryland be a free State for the negro it is not a
ifree State for white men, if they happen to be gene
tlemen or owners of house property.

The Richmond Sentinel gives the following ver-
sion of the alleged murder of the Federal officer,
Captain Meige, in retaliation for whose death Gen.
Sheridan ordered the burning of every house within
five miles of the Scene of the occurrence :

"Three Confederate scouts, under lead of -,
one of our bravest and most accomplished scouts,
were on a reconnaissance, when they discovered the
near approach of three Federals. On the instant
they reined aside and awaited their arrival. They
proved to be Captain Meigs and two attendants.
Our soldiers immediately ordered them to surrender,
each of our men confronting one of the Federals.
Captain Meigs, who rode in front, was in this man-
ner summoned by the leader of the Confederate
scouts. His two followers surrendered on the
word, but Captain Meigs was of a different spirit.
Drawing his pistol he fired on his antagonist, in.
flitting a very severe, and it was supposed, a mortal
wound. The ball entered the right breast, and
made its exit on the opposite side of the body.
Wounded as he was the Confederate then delivered
his fire, which proved fatal. Captain Meigs died
on the instant. Anxious on account of the wound
of their leader, the other two Confederates betook
themselves to hasty preparations for bringing off
their comrade: In the haste and confusion of the
moment one of the Federal prisoners made his
escape; the other was brought off. The person of
Captain Meigs was not examined for the same reas
son, and the opportunity of capturing the valuable
papers he bore was lost. • It was not until after-
wards indeed that it was known who he was. It
will be pleasing to our readers to be informed that
the wounded Confederate was safely brought within
our lines, and that his condition is now very pro.
raising. It is supposed that the ball struck a rib
and made the circuit of his body instead of a pass.
age through. An actor in many a gallant conflict in
the past he will doubtless be soon again not with-
out honour. It was no fault of his true aim and
quick and steady hand that his antagonist did not
die instead of him. The fortune of the fight was
against him, and he fell. A death otherwise ho-
nourable has been made the occasion by a brutal
officer of cruelties to women and children that asso-
ciate the fall of Meigs with an odious infamy."

BALLOON ASCENT.—Mr. Coxwell, accompanied
by Mr. Glaisher, F.R.S., yesterday ascended, under
the sanction of the War Department, from Woolwich
Arsenal in the military balloon Mars, for the purpose of
commencing a series of winter observations. The ascent
yesterday was necessarily confined to a moderate elevation.
The inflation consumed about 30,000 cubic feet of gas, and
was completed at half-past two, when, Mr Glaisher, having
adjusted his instruments at the head of the car, the two
explorers took their places, and the balloon having been
liberated started from a west-north-westerly position to-
wards the east, finally bearing off south-east, where it was
visible for a considerable time, apparen' ly some distance off
Gravesend. The weather was highly favourable, shortly
before the preparations were commenced Mr Glaisher nar-
rowly escaped an accident which might have proved serious.
On leaving the office of Mr Wallace, the gas director,
which is under repair, a cauldron of molten metal used for
guttering fell from the house-top over the doorway through
which Mr Glaisher was in the act of passing. The crash
caused him to start suddenly back in alarm, notwithstand-
ing which he was partially sprinkled with the boiling fluid,
which rebounded as high as the roof. His only injury
was a bruise on the right cheek. His clothes, bowever,
bore traces of the accident, large quantities of the metal
adhering to his coat, trousers, and hat.