The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-29 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S EXPRESS.)

AMERICA.

NEW YORK, APRIL 17 (Morning)
(Per City of New York.)

Information has reached Fortress Monroe that a

steamer with one regiment and supplies had sue
ceeded in reaching General Foster at Washington
(N.C.) on the 14th inst.
The Confederates under Longstreet, to the re-

ported number of 30;000 strong, continue to invest
Suffolk, where the Federals are fortifying them-
selves. Heavy skirmishing daily occurs. The Con-
federates have attempted to get round Suffolk, and
cut off the Federal communication with Norfolk.
It is supposed that in case of the capture of Suffolk
by the Confederates, the Federals would burn
Norfolk.

Southern despatches from Vicksburg to the 10th
inst. state that two more Federal transports, filled
with troops, had gone up the Mississippi, and
others were preparing to follow.
Fifty-three Federal gunboats had proceeded up
the Coldwater River.
A Federal ironclad was abandoned and des
troyed at the mDuth of the Amile River.
Refugees from Vicksburg state that there are
sufficient supplies there to last the garrison for
two years. Vicksburg is fortified by 225 cannon.
At present it is held by not more than 5,000 troops,
but in case of attack reinforcements can be had.
The Confederates are constructing three gun-
boats up the Red River. The steamer Indianola is
lying at Plaisance, on the Red River, ready for
action.

At Jackson, Mississippi, the Confederates are
said to have an extensive foundry and powder
manufactory. There are reported to be 800,000 bales
of cotton in and around Jackson. Sixty thousand
bales are hid away in swamps and woods
The Federals have closed the Memphis lines for
60 days, neither contrabands nor cotton would be
admitted.
Thirty Federal boats and twelve gunboats had
left Memphis to operate on the Cumberland River.
The Ilzchmond TlTht:9 says :—A fight took place
at Williamsburg, Va., on the fourth (fourteenth P).
The Confederates under Gen. Wise drove in the
Federal pickets, and occupied the town. The Fe-
derals retired to Fort Magrada, from which point
they shelled Williamsburg. General Wise has en-
trenched one side of Williamsburg, and is going to
attack Fort Magrada.
Ia compliance with a request of Congress, Presi-
dent Davis has issued an address to the people of
the Southern States. After recapitulating the
different events of the war, and declaring that the
present position of the South was well calculated
to inspire confidence in the success of the Southern
cause, he says—" There is but one danger which the 1
Government regards with apprehension, and to
avert this I appeal to the spirit and patriotism of
the people. The harvest of last year was far below
the average yield, especially in the northern part
of the confederacy, where supplies are most needed
for the army. If, through confidence in early peace,
people now plant cotton and tobacco instead of
grain and articles necessary for the subsistence of the
people and the army, the consequences may prove
serious, if not disastrous, especially if the present
season proves as the last. The wheat in more
Southern States promises an abundant yield, but
the difficulties of transportation will embarrass mili-
tary operations and cause suffsring among the
people if the crops in the middle and northern por
tions of the Confederacy prove deficient. No un-
easiness is felt for the mere supply of bread for the
men. It is for corn and forage to raise live stock
and supplies for animals used in military operations
that the deficiency of last harvest was mostly felt
He urges the people to raise exclusively corn, oats,
beans, peas, potatoes, and other food for man and
beast, and to sow corn broadcast for fodder in tht
immediate proximity of railroads and canals. Tbr
supply of meat is deficient. The deficiency is, how-
ever, only temporary, as measures have been adopted
which, it is believed, will soon restore full rations
The ration is now reduced sometimes to one-halt
the usual quantity in some of the Southern armies.
The supply of meat in the country is sufficient for
the support of all, but transportation is so difficult,
and speculators having caused the surplus in tin-
hands of producers to be withdrawn from sale,
Government has been unable to gather full supplies.
The Secretary of War has prepared a plan by which
people will be enabled to assist Government offi
cers to purchase bacon, corn, poi k, and beef, known
to exist in large quantities in different parts of the
Confederacy. The address concluded as follows :
Entertaining no fear that the people will miscon-
strue the motives of this address, or fail to respond
to the call of patriotism, I place the facts fully and

frankly before the people. There is little doubt
that if the people unite in doing their duty the
sovereignty and independence of the Confederate
States will be maintained.

The Governor of New York has sent a message

to the Legislature recommending it to pass an
amendment to the Constitution, giving the Legisla•
Lure power to pass a law to enable absent soldiers
to vote, which, if concurred in by the next Legisla-

ture, could then bo submitted to the vote of the
people, and if their decision was favourable the next
Legislature could take the necessary action. He
recommends this course in preference to the passage
of an unconstitutional law or one of questionable
validity. He says—' The conduct of the high
officials have caused great distrust in relation to
freedom from restraints and coercion in voting
which could be accorded to absentees. It would be
worse than mockery to allow soldiers and sailors
to vote if they are not allowed to receive letters
and papers from their friends, or if they
have no fre:dom in reading public journals.
If officers are to be subject to dismissal
and soldiers to increased hardships for the expres-
sion of opinion by votes or by customary political
action, the flames of civil war will be kindled at the
North. The Governor notices with regret the
attempts of some officers of the Federal Govern-
ment to interfere with the free enjoyment of poli-
tical opinion by persons in the army. These
inexcusable acts of official tyranny are rendered
more objectionable by the language used in their
execution, which is at once opprobrious in terms and
a wanton and unjust attack upon half the peop'e
of the loyal Suites. While subordinate officers arc
punished for doing their duty as citizens at home,
officers of high rank have been employed to in er-
fere in elections of the States of which they are not
residents. The people will not permit the army to
be used for electioneering purposes by those seeking
an additional term of power.
The Governor hopes the wisdom of the Adminis-
tration will admonish it in season of the dangers

of acts marked by these features of wrong and

oppression. The Governor, however, has confidenoe
that the vrisdom of the people, and the Legislature

of New York, will be sufficient to secure to absent

soldiers and seamen the freedom of political opinion.
The New York press, generally, with the excep-
tion of the World, are assuming a highly he'll-