The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-12 00:00:00

THE WEDDING SUN

Is now Publishing.

Notwithstanding that we had anticipated and
prepared for an immense circulation, the demand
on Tuesday was at once so rapid that the whole of

our first impression Ivaa exhausted within a few
hours after we went to press. We are still enabled,

though not without difficulty, to meet the yet in-
creased demand for copies of this Extraordinary

Edition, though the greatest care is required in

the delicate process of its colour printing.

THIS DAY.-310rning,.....6h. 21m. —Afternoon,..6h. 45m.
TO - MORROW.—Morning, ..7h. 14m.—Afternoon. ,7b. 45m.

The Weather---Sun Office, March 12, 1863.

THERmom ET E R.
Highest since Noon yesterday. .. 49
Lowest during the night
41
This day at Noon .

Barometer-29.40.
Wind—Southerly ; fresh and gusty, with dull weather.

gijjt
-211111.41P4 4
,-„1.0,* 04 nit

LONDON, THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1863.

The news by the City of Washington, although
containing no matter of special interest or impor-
tance, exposes more and more the weakness of the
Federal armies, and the discord and threatened dis-
union of the Central and Western States. The
latter demand that the navigation of the Mississippi
be opened, and to accomplish this end a formidable
army has been sent against Vicksburg. What will
be the result of this attempt It is simply a chal-

lenge to try conclusions on another spot which the
Confederates, elated by the victories on the Rap-
pahannock, before Richmond and Fredericksburg,
and at Alurfreesburg, will not be backward in
The trial of skill must, in all

accepting.

probability, result in their favour. The defences o:

Vicksburg are as strong, if not stronger, than those
thrown up at Fredericksburg; while, on the other
hand, the Federal army, encamped on the opposite
side of a broad riTcr, cannot find a spot on the
enemy's side on which to land with any prospect of
success. It is most probable that no attack will be
made at all; or, if drawn on by popular precipi-

tancy, the General will only lead his troops to
slaughter and, destruction. Regarding Charleston,
whieh,whenthe war is terminated, and the Southern
States honourably acknowledged, looks forward to
become the New York of the Southern Confe-

deracy, the capture seems to be as remote as
that of Vicksburg. There seems to be a fatality
against the Federal arms. Since their ludicrous
exhibition at Bull's Run at the opening of hostilities
the Northern troops have vindicated their character
as soldiers. The daring and desperate charge at
Fredericksburg against practically impregnable
defences will be remembered hereafter in American
history as equal in daring if not in result with the
storming of the heights of Abraham. Yet bravery
did not avail, they were met with equal courage and
determination by men who are fighting as it were
for existence. Should the North relinquish the
contest it would be but foregoing a useless enter-
prise. For the South to give in would be acknow-
ledging the supremae.y of the North and in reality
owning their own inability to carry on the contest,
•thus for ever forfeiting the ascendency which for
so many years they held in the Senate and Congress
of Washington• Yet defeat, disaster, and impend-
ing ruin avail not with the Cabinet of Washington.
Air. LINCOLN is by this time a free agent ; for a
time he has got rid of national representatives ; he
has yet to deal with popular opinion, when the de-
mocratic influence comes into the ascendant. Can he
raise his forced conscription without general revolt ?

The States are bound to obey the order of the PRE-
SIDENT; but although he can override a verbal or
written protest, his power is of no avail against an
armed resistance. Let him reduce Vicksburg, now
the centre of interest in the war, and capture
Charleston, the main port of the South—
" Brief strife, but fierce—hie efforts raise

A bright but momentary blaze."
The spirits of the Federals would rise, and the war
party rejoice, and the votaries of war remain quiet ;
but the conquest of the South would be no nearer
realisation, and a few more months of bloodshed
and desolation would be vouchsafed to the
already suffering continent. If he fail will
he confess his fault, and boldly ask a
nation already tired of the war, to follow the
example of England, and give up with a good grace
what justice and reason required. Or will he
rashly plunge into an European war, with a view
to reunite the State for mutual protection. This
were simply madness. England does not want
t 0 go to war unless driven to it by insult such
as the Trent affair, which the American
Government were only too glad to compromise.
France is able to hold her own, and with
her powerful fleet aid numerous army,
would prove an awkward customer to the
Yankees. No, the war must end by exhaus-
tion. No last effort like NAPOLEON'S Hun-
dred Days, closed by a glorious though overwhelm-
ing defeat. Internal discord, such as One State
acting; against another—one General quarrelling
with his colleague—the white troops firing upon
their black auxiliaries, and the blacks returning
the fire—the depreciation of the value of paper,
and the general discontent of the troops at their
non-payment, which is even now resulting in conti-
nual desertion, will, before long, bring the people
to their senses, and, seeing the hopelessness of this
struggle, make them call upon a Government
which cannot make war to make peace.

We published the other day the Report of the
Royal Commissioners appointed to consider plans
for making a communication between the Thames
-Embankment at Blackfriars-bridge and the Man-
sion House, with other matters referred to them,

such as extending the embantinent roadway east-
ward from Blackfriar-bridge to Queenhithe,
and also the plans for uniting the intended embank-
ment at Westminster-bridge with the existing
embankment at Millbank. We must say that
the Commissioners have entered into the merits of
the various suggestions submitted to them in a
careful spirit of investigation, having an eye more
to economy than to the general effect which might
be arrived at by a more liberal expenditure.
The Commissioners seem to have been deterred
from attempting anything beyond the present exi-
gency of the question. With them, sufficient for
the day is the evil or the good thereof, wholly over-
looking that they were bound and indeed were ex •
pected to lay out the improvement so as to be a
groundwork or foundation for the future. They
must have been aware that in a metropolis of this
extent—with a population daily increasing, some
consideration was requisite to meet the necessities
of posterity. HouGes aro not built for a day or a
year, but for an age, and public buildings ought to
be constructed for all time—not only as an orna-
ment to the present but as a lasting memorial of
our taste, and an example to generations yet un-
born. In fact we of the present are but as trus-

tees to those who succeed us—and in our conduct
we should aim so to act that our successors may
have just cause to be proud of their forefathers, and
strive to emulate the worthy examples left for their
benefit and edification.

Of the several plans submitted for making the
communication to the Mansion-house we think that
recommended by the Commission of 1861 the best,
inasmuch as it will open up the whole way from
Blacktriars-bridge in a direct line, and so relieve
the traffic polf,ing down from the west as well as
that coming in from the south over Blackfriars new
bridge, and other new bridges in contemplation. It
was proposed to extend the roadway on the Thames
embankment as far eastward as Queenhithe, but the
extra cost was objected to, not, we think, with suf-
ficient reason as a matter of expense, if the exten-
sion were really expedient ; but as the new street to
the Mansion -house intersecting new Cannon-street
would take off the traffic going over London-bridge,
and the line along Thames-street running parallel
with the river, would meet the other requirements
of trade, there was not the same necessity.
" The following is the comparative cost of the
three suggestions exclusive of works :-1. The
road and embankment from Blackfriars-bridge to
Queenhithe, and the consequent improvements,
£768,640 net. 2. The street to St. Paul's, widen-

ing St. Paul's Churchyard, as well as Walbrook and
Charlotte-row, £713,654 net. 3. The street pro-
posed by the Commission of 1861, £460,015 net.
For these reasons, and having fully considered the
question in all its bearings, we coma to the conclu-
sion that the line of street proposed by the Com-
mission of 1861 is the best that can be suggested,