The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-08 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY- 8, 1862,

7HE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

(From the Special Correspondent of the. Times.)
WASHINGTON, DEC. 19.

The agitation producell.by the news from Europe
has been increasing, but the Press has succeeded in
assuring the people that there is no peremptory
demand for the surrender of *Messrs. Mason and
Slidell, and that there is therefore no immediate
fear of war. So far as I can judge, the Government
and the people are watching each other with
anxiety and without any decided policy. They
encourage Each other by declarations that they will
not consent to the surrender of their dearly-loved
captives, but I am certain that at least one member
of the Cabinet would very willingly yield them up
if he could be satisfied he would escape being de-
voured by his:countrymen. The doctrines laid down
in our journals are much canvassed, and it is held
that there is no reason whatever in the argument
that, though the American captain could not seize
the Confederates from the Trent, he could have car-
ried the Trent with her passengers into port for
adjudication before an Admiralty Court. It was as
carrier of contraband the Trent was liable, if at all.
An Admiralty Court could not condemn Mason and
Slidell, although it might condemn the ship that
carried them, and the right of taking them would,
it is contended, remain just as it was when the San
Jacinto sent her boats on board. It is probable we
shall have plenty of law on the case if the interna-
tional lawyers are to deal with it, but there is a
national sentiment which is above all precedent,
and war is-more frequently employed to create than
to enforce precedents in reference to principles of
action between nations. Mr. Seward is in a very
good frame of mind for a fair consideration of
the questions at issue. The President has, it is
said, in American phrase, " put down his foot',
on the question of surrender, and said,
in reply to some representations on the impolicy
of resisting an appeal founded on justice and on
the common opinion of Europe, that he would
die sooner than submit to the humiliation of
his country ; whereupon it was observed that
would be better to lose a President than see the
ruin of the Republic. The majority of the Cabinet
and the bulk of the Congress share his views, but
from the first there has been a warning voice inside
and outside which warned the Government that the
act over which there was so much rejoicing would
excite the utmost indignation and anger in Great
Britain, and that it would not be passed over as an
admitted right of a beligerent Power to seize poli-
tical offenders under the shelter of the British flag.
In the interval the papers and the lawyers had per-
suaded the country " it was all right," and the sen-
sitiveness of the money market was the only barn.
meter of the secret uneasiness and the depths of
disquiet in the inner atmosphere of men's minds.
I must send the following extracts from my diary
as the best substitute I can now furnish for a letter,
as the irregularity of the mails, caused by the de-
tention of the steamer, has deranged my usual cor-
respondence. To begin with the date after my last
letter:—

MONDAY, 16TH.

Last night the news came that the Europa had
arrived at Halifax, bearing a Queen's messenger with
despatches for Lord Lyons, and it was added that

the British Government had come to the decision to
demand the surrender of Messrs. Mason and Slidell,
and, further, that Lord Lyons, in case of refusal,
was ordered to leave Washington. There were some
doubts expressed in reference to the authenticity of
these statements, but those who believed them to be
true discussed the probable course of the United
States Government and the conduct of the British

Ministry with warmth and excitement. So far as I
can hear, there was no disposition evinced in any
quarter to yield to the demand, which, indeed,
has been long convassed as a result likely to
follow the act of Capt. Wilkes. The members
of the Cabinet, the President, the Generals, or
at least General M'Clellan, have all been pre-
pared for the question, and last night they could
only repeat the arguments for and against the com-
pliance with or refusal of the proposition to be
made by our Government. There is now, however,
a feeling of bitter mortification here that, at the
moment when victory seemed inclining in their
favour, and when the current was setting in against
the Confederate States, the statesmen of the North
must either receive a tremendous check or submit

to the performance of an act which they, right or
wrong, consider an extreme humiliation. The
anger of the Democracy of America would be di-

rected against their own Ministers, unless the latter
could divert it into another channel, or concentrate
it upon the English people. It is probable that the
reports of the intentions of our Government are
exaggerated both as to the mode and substance of
the representations and demands attributed to them.
The calmer-minded see only one course to pursue,
if they would wish to preserve the Union and to con-
quer the South, and that is to yield up Slidell and
Mason, and then to solace themselves by a vow of
eternal hostility to Great Britain, and the promise
to their hearts of future revenge upon her in some
moment of weakness or difficulty. The more vio-
lent are quite ready to meet all the world in arms,
and they solace themselves too with the thought
that Great Britain would be presented to the world
as the patron and protector of slavery if she raised
the blockade of the Southern ports, and entered
into direct relations with the Slave States for the
supply of cotton. Nor are they without a hope of
actual reunion springing out of a war with England,
believing in the hostility of the South to the British
rather than in their attachment to their Union. That,
however, is admitted as a remoter consequence of
war. It was suggested last night, that if Great Bri-
tain waived her claim to Slidell and Mason,and mag-
nanimously said to the United States, " We are satis-
fied we have a right to demand this restoration
from you, but we do not wish to bear hardly upon
you in the time of your trouble, and to lower you
in the eyes of the world," that the whole heart of
America would respond to the chord thus struck,
and would be moved to eternal gratitude.
TUESDAY, DEC. 17.
To the great relief of President, Cabinet, States-
men, and the General, it has been determined to ad-

of disapprobation ; and the New York Times finds
itself constrained to denounce it still more strongly.
Officers and men—the army and the navy—are
stated to be dissatisfied with it. I knew well If the
Brigadier had a chance he would introduce emanci-
pation at the point of the bayonet, for, as I de-
scribed him at the time, he is of the Balfour of Bur-
ley school—a dour stern Puritan, and he will smite
with the sword of the Lord of Gideon and of Phelps
anything he thinks evil.
THURSDAY, Dec. 19.
The Queen's messenger arrived before 10 o'clock
last night, and proceeded to the Legation with his
despatches. Mr. Seward also received despatches
from the American Minister, and had an interview
with the President. The wiser and more prudent
people, of course, deprecate a war with England,
but the press and bar-room sentiment is more in the
4, 'Ercles vein," and there seems to be a determina-
tion to see how far war can be approached in the
hope that Great Britain will recoil the first from
the conflict. The members of Congress most averse
from such a war are the very men who are most
jealous of American honour, and yet they do not see
how the Government can comply with a demand
for the restoration of Mason and Slidell to the she),
ter of the British flag. This Government has com-
promised itself on that point. The only Minister
who reports to the Congraliadirectly is OKI Secretary
to the Treasury. All the other Secretaries send in
their reports through the President, who by the act
adopts their language, inasmuch as he can strike
out whatever he does not approve. Now, in the re-
port of the Secretary of the Navy there was the
most unqualified approval and adoption of Captain
Wilkes's act, which is therefore approved and
adopted by the President of the United States. How
recede from that position with honour ? How, with-
out, at any rate, the lowering of great pretensions
and left pride ? Then, on the other hand, there is
the ruin which war would bring upon the United
States—the distraction it would inflict on her coun-
cils and the operations of her navy and army, the
probable frustration of her efforts to subjugate the
South, the probable success of the Confederacy, the
national bankruptcy and destruction of the Govern-
ment and State—and all for Mason and Slidell!
Had they been given up at once, as was recom-
mended to the Government here by persons of
rank, experience, and intelligence, acquainted
with the feelings of European nations on such
points, all would have been well. The United States
Government would have given a proof of good will
and respect for England worth a thousand speeches
and despatches, and would have lost nothing but
an unrecognised right. Now there is hot blood on
both sides. There is the usual talk about seizing
Canada at once, and eventually grander conceptions
are to be realised.
Up to 1 o'clock today Lord Lyons had not seen
Mr. Seward, nor had any communication taken
place between them. The Messenger must leave at
4 30 this evening, in order to reach New York in
which has been de-
tainedtime for
for
rt the CunardDl
since
steamer,
Wednesday,
so that Lord Lyons
will scarcely be in a position to communicate at
much length with his Government, but as there is
another steamer on Saturday further despatches
will no doubt be sent on by an additional messenger
to-morrow afternoon for that boat. There is no sign
of a peaceful solution if the British Government in-
sists on its demands and the American Government
maintains its present attitude; but there are many
who believe that, sooner than invoke the last tri-
bunal, the Government of the United States may be
induced to give up the prisoners under a sort of pro-
test. Still, it is hoped there may be a good deal of
protocolling, note presenting, and despatch reading
before the ultimate question comes to be decided. It
is to be hoped, indeed, that there will be no intem-
perate haste on either side—no precipitate action.
Those who may desire to see the United States en-
feebled to the last degree need only stand by and
wait; no man with the smallest foresight can ima-
gine this war will be borne six months longer.
There are some who say it must end in half the
time, owing to the want of means. As yet no one
has suffered from the war by the action of the tax-
gatherer, but when he begins to go round the world
will see whether the people in the West will put
their hands in their pockets. Mr. Chase has been
summoned by the exigencies of his position to
New York, where it is rumoured the Government
are going to suspend the exportation of specie.
Mr. Chase has, however, denied the report if the
telegraph speaks truth. An issue of national
paper, redeemable after the war—in other words
not redeemable now—must take place. There
are millions sterling owed by Government to con-
tractors and others who cannot get their money.
The banks here hold immense demands of that kind,
which they cannot get the Treasury to settle—in
fact, the only classes paid with punctuality are
those dangerous to keep unpaid—soldiers and sailors.
The army and the navy perhaps are the only bodies
employed by Government which have no right to
complain up to the present time. To the eyes of
some there are unexplained sources of wealth in a
war with Great Britain, and in order that they may
have enough to do the Senate is to take into consi-
deration in secret session to-day the affairs of Mexico,
with which there is every disposition to interfere if
there was the power. It is proposed either to gua-
rantee her liabilities or to lend her the money to
pay them. Certain deputieS and friends of Mexico
have arrived here, and have had interviews with
the leading statesmen. But there is no Midas in
the Cabinet—l mean as far as aurifying properties
are concerned.
There is a deficiency on the appropriation of last
July amounting to no less than 135,000,000 dol-
lars ! And yet those appropriations were magni-
ficent enough, exceeding as they did 310,000,000
dollars. Since that time the expense of the war has
been going on increasing—crescendo, it has got up
to some million and a half dollars a day. That is
but a guess, and may be much below the mark.
It cannot be under, because it is certain that not very
long ago the expenses were a million and a quarter.
And to hear the speeches ! Last night, passing
down a street, I heard a man shouting from a win-
dow to a crowd assembled round a brass band,
and on drawing near I caught, of course, some
allusion to England, " whereat the mob shouted."
"He gloried," he said, that they had Mason and
Slidell ; he would never give them up. SOoner
let every man of the North perish ! England
merely intended to test their spirit, and if England
dared to declare war, let old and young gird up
their loins to punish her insolence. She desired to
humble America, but she could not. God had a
destiny for her which," &e. This was a member of
Congress, I was informed, returning thanks to the
brass band for a serenade. This is the way in
which the American people are taught to regard
their relations with the nations of the world.
It is estimated that the whole amount of coin
in the country does not exceed, if it equals,
300 millions, and yet a loan of 900 millions is to be
raised out of it. There must be some circulating
medium, and the result will be an issue of paper
money to the extent of four times the available coin.
I place great faith in the spirit of the American
people, but I cannot see how they can hope
"to brave the world in arms," as they say,
unless they display qualities which they have
not as yet put forth in suppressing this
" rebellion." The enemy emboldened by fine
weather, are beating up their quarters along
the front of the city. The pickets were driven back
last night at Accotink,below Alexandria, with some
loss to the sth Michigan ; in our immediate front
the Confederates have appeared and given the
Federalists several aeries, so that the Brigadiers
have been summoned to the outposts more than
once. The Union lines have been pushed out a
little, bat the moment they send out small recon-
noitring parties or patrols the enemy are upon them
and drive them back. At Falling Waters, on the
Upper Potomac, nearly opposite to Williamsport, in

Maryland,and some 60 or 70 miles, as the crow flies,
fram Washington, a force of 9,000 men, under the
Confederate Brigadier Jackson, had made its appear-
ance, and was preparing to cross the river yesterday,
in order probably to beat up Banks's division at Fre-
derick, and to make an attempt to secure the stores
left at Williamsport. If General Kelly be ad-
vancing, as it is stated, with his Federalists upon
Winchester from Romney, the Confederate General
has an enemy far in his rear and one immediately
in his front,and the movement becomes inexplicable.
On Tuesday, a detachment of the Ist New Jersey
Cavalry got into trouble below Alexandria also, and
the officer, Lieutenant Janeville, was dangerously
if not mortally wounded, and they are evidently
in much force along the river. Few batteries have
been thrown up, and no man-of-war has yet ven-
tured to encourage them,though some small craft have
run past up and down. The Pensacola still lies
motionless off Alexandria. From Kentucky there
is a report of one of those extraordinary engage-
ments the like of which cannot be heard of else-
where. A Confederate commander comes down with
three regiments of infantry and a battery of six
guns:upon a picket of four companies of a volunteer
regiment from Indiana. But the picket repulse
the enemy, who fly ingloriously, their leader, Col.
Terry, who is said to be the man who killed Senator
Broderick in a duel, being slain with thirty-three
of his followers and fifty more wounded, the picket
losing one lieutenant and eight men killed and ten
wounded. It is probable that by this time the port
of the unfortunate city of Charleston has been
effectually closed by the stone ships. The Federals
on Ship Island, which lies between Mobile and New
Orleans, off Mississippi city, must be prepared for
hard times of it, as the stormy season will soon set
in along that coast, and maritime operations will be
almost suspended. As to the army of the Potomac,
there is no chciee left. It must stay where it is.
The weather has been and is indescribably lovely.=
days worthy of the best May that ever poet sang—
voluptuous airs, glorious moonlight nights, cloud-
less skies, and such sunsets ! Painters of the world,
come and see. Never will you catch brighter, more
delicate, or tenderer hues in Italian winter's eves,
or in the softest skies of Rome. But still the army
does not move. And in a few days all will change.
Rains, snows, frosts, and storms will render Virgi-
nian roads utterly impassable, and no enemy is
needed to stop an army. Meantime the Confede-
rates have taken post in advance of their old posi-
tion at Manassas, and are now resting on extraor-
dinary defensive works at Centreville, whence
M'Dowell advanced on Bull's Run. It is a small
village on a commanding hill, about seven miles from
the junction at Manassas, and the occupation of the
site indicates a desire to protect the railway, as well as
an accession of force. The arrival of "contrabands"
has nearly ceased from the enemy, but it is reported
that runaways are flocking into the district from
loyal masters, in the hope that they may not be re-
turned. The anti-slavery petitions increase in num-
ber, and 1,000,00 dols. has been appropriated
in a bill, which will receive the sanction of the
House, to recompense the masters of slaves who
will be liberated when the district of Columbia is
declared to be free by Congress. The Marshal of
the district has reported, in answer to a resolution
of the house, that he had imprisoned slaves to
keep them safe for their masters in compliance with
usage, and that usage was founded, no doubt, ou
the original law of Maryland, which held good
here.

FRIDAY, DEC. 20..

When Lord Lyons went over to the State De-
partment
yesterday Mr. Seward was down at the •
Senate, and therefore his Lordship could not see the
Secretary of State, so that the stories founded on
the supposed interview are all apocryphal. The
President has not referred the English question to
the Senate, nor is he likely to take it out of the
hands of the diplomatists. The matter which was
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, of
which Mr. Sumner is chairman, is kept perfectly
quiet. It is regarded with the utmost interest in
the inner political world here, and excites as much,
if not greater interest than the English complica-
tions. The President has, in fact, thrown the
whole responsibility of dealing with the Mexican
question upon the Congress. The whole of the
papers and correspondence connected with it are
before them, and there is no doubt the United
States would in other days have been disposed to
take part with the Mexicans in vindication of the
Monroe doctrine, and would make a show of resist-
ing the allied Powers in their endeavours to obtain
redress and satisfaction. It is now assumed that
the allies must have their own way, unless the
Congress can devise some means of obviating what
are called Spanish designs upon Mexico. There
are some who affect to think that this is a more
important matter than the Mason and Slidell affair.
Indeed, I was informed to-day that the English
Government had not made any demand for the
restitution of these gentlemen, but had contented
itself with a request that " reparation" should
be made. It is probable my informant was very
much mistaken, and the New York papers are
beginning to evince a most remarkable mode-
ration. There is no more writing about the
" sensational exaggerations" of the English Press,
" Et tu, Brute !"—no more hurling of defiances—no
more invitations to Ireland to rebel immediately,
and to rely on the United States, which cannot quite
readily deal with its own rebellion, to aid her—no
more solicitations to the whole of the Irish people to
come over here and fight the battles of the Know-
nothings and Native Americans—no more affront-
ing words about the bluster and swagger of John
Bull. There are some papers here which are always
very much affected by " the miserable state of the
Irish people." How far their sympathy goes may
be learned from the magnificent list of subscriptions
for their present relief from a desolating famine
brought on by the British aristocracy which I sent
by last mail—a list of two and a subscription of
£25 ! The contrast, however, between the tone of
the papers now and that which prevailed even as
recently as the beginning of the week is gratify-
ing. It begins to be feared that England is really

in earnest, and New York is r apprehensive of
trouble. The financial capital trembles, and the

Press, finding itself opposed to the public senti-
ment, suddenly drops a few octaves—almost its
full range from the war pitch and Jefferson Brick
key. And, indeed, it is enough to induce any Ame-
rican who seeks the perpetuity of the Union, or
even the success of Northern arms over the South
so as to be able to dictate peace, to take every means
short of those dishonourable and degrading to avert a
war with another enemy when he perceives how
little progress has been made in subjugating the
old antagonist. There is much insubordination in
the army, and Gen. M'Clellan is so well aware of
the defects of his organization that he will defer
aggressive movements to the last. Meantime,the Con-
federacy is drifting towards acknowledgment here.
Already her prisoners are clamoured for by the North
in exchange for Southern troops, and an exchange
of 282 of the Hatteras captives have been sanctioned
by the Government for an equal number of men on
the other side. Officers on parole are permitted to
come from one side to the other to effect exchanges.
There are courts-martial on high officers, which are
almost as bad in a military sense, as the Van Eyck
report shows the civil affairs in contracts and the
like to have been. To-day, while I was at the Senate
there was a Skirmish at Dranesville, on the right of
M'Call's division, between his men and the Confede-
rates, who were greatly outnumbered.
The brigade engaged was under the command of
General E. 0. C. Orde, and consisted of the 6th
Regiment Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, Colonel
W. W. Ricketts ; 9th, Colonel F. Jackson ; 10th,
Colonel John C. APCalmont ; 12th, Colonel John H.
Taggart; the Bucktail Rifles, Lieutenant-Colonel
Kane ; Easton's battery of two 24-pounders and
two 12-pound howitzers, and a detachment of artil-