The Sun.
London, England, 1862-12-08 00:00:00

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THE SUN.
LONDON, 3A ONDAY, DEC. 8, 1862.

The Europa's news shows the Federals to be st

proceeding with vigour in the war, and, at the same
time, softening the rigour of their civil proceedings.
These were the two great lessons of the Democratic
triumphs. A cooler estimate of the influences under
which they were gained showed that the illegal, or
at least harsh and arbitrary arrests,had much to do
with the large number of votes turned over to the
Democrats, by the great comparatively neutral class
of quiet persons, Perhaps Mr. STANTON, therefore,
is more than any one else answerable for Democratic
majorities. But the other lesson, that of a more
vigorous pursuit of the war, was equally inculcated,
for even the Democratic candidates, had to put this
forward as one of the articles of their creed on which
they laid the greatest stress. Their difference on
this paint from Mr. LINCOLN was merely the mode
of carrying on the war, the Democrats wishing to
conduct it in such a way as to leave slavery intact
as long as possible : the President, and his warmest
supporters, on the other hand, regard interference
with slavery, as the most efficient means of termi-
nating the war, and at the same time of leaving
things at its close in a better position for either
reunion, or a safe separation.
By the news just received, therefore, we find an
order has been issued for the release of the class of
prisoners most arbitrarily detained—those namely
who were arrested and held in military charge for
discouraging enlistments and opposing the draft.
Another class who were arrested, in the rebel States
themselves, for hostility to the Federal Government,
if they had not borne arms against the Govern-
ment, were also to be liberated on parole, or allowed
to leave the country. Their arrest would seem to
have been on the principle of not acknowledging
the South as belligerents, and would appear to have
been hardly justifiable. If they were faithful to
the Government of the State in which they lived,
this, under the circumstances, would seem to be all
that could be asked, of citizens living in the South-
ern States. It looks graceful, therefore, on the
part of the PRESIDENT, when showing more lenity
to Northern offenders, to extend it also to Southern
men, in substantially the same circumstances.
At the same time we hear nothing of " winter
quarters," but much of action. Some think, indeed,
that the recent movement of the troops to Fre-
dericksburg was made but to amuse the people with
the appearance of action, when nothing really was
meant by it. The supposition was quite gratuitous,
and all the probabilities are that in some direction
another movement is planned against the Southern
capital, which it is intended should be this time
Effectual. It may well be that the move to Fre-
dericksburg is but a feint to conceal a more serious
advance in another direction ; indeed, the rumour
has already spread that such was its object, and that
tinINSIDE will again attack Richmond by an ad-
"c ance from the peninsula. The Federal gunboats have,
it isia said, explored the James River, from Fort Mun-
roe to the Chickahomissy,which it will be remembered
ntoit below Richmond. What we really know
t heresa,e, •
A that the Federals are making move-
manner
ments disectesu against Richmond, but in such a
as to
what directio: _
ptehrplex all lookers-on to guess in
e movement is to be made. The
in habitants I F edericksburg are allowed a few
grace, and General LEE is strengthen-
days more
ing himself on the south side of the city and the
Rapphannock on which it stands.dviants him to do.
But this may,
very well be just what BZN:D
bad
h
Be and the PRESIDENT
an interview to
discuss their plans and policy.
On the Mississippi the Federals are collecting
forty thousand men and forty gunboats, and it
can
doubted that before the •
hardly be seeing they
will have cleared the entire course of the river
The Confederates are said, indeed, to be erecting
strong works, but with the risen waters the guns
boats will give the Federals their old superiority,
and the attack both by sea and land can hardly
fail to succeed. The gunboats have been hitherto
the most efficient instrument the Federals have
possessed. By far the greater part of their vic-
tories and safe retreats have been secured
by their
to avail
mse.ns, and they have been far too wise not
themselves of this experience. They have con-,1

strutted the largest fleet, adapted to shore and 1
river work, in the world. In numbers, indeed, their
ships now surpass those of both England and 1
France together, but their tonnage and guns are
very different. We have no doubt they have acted I
with the soundest wisdom. They wanted
an almost extemporised Navy for the present war.
'They wanted ships that could penetrate all the
rivers, creeks, and bays where large ships would be
useless, and they have nearly built a Navy accord-
ingly, which will enable them to navigate the
inter_;nr of their vast continent, side by side with
their armies, and to close effectually all those out-
lets and inlets, by which the blockade has been run
so frequently hitherto. These measures must tell.
The South is already, a great part of it at least,
suffering under famine prices. With its ports com-
pletely closed, and with so little manufacturing
mill within its limits, it will hardly be able to
provide itself with what have become the necessaries
of civilised life.

Of the South we do not hear much—the princi-
pallearn from it is that Gen. M‘NEIL's sur-
render infg wortehe murder of the ten Missouri citizens,
is to be demanded, and if it be refused, and the
charges are proved, the Confederate Government is
to execute the first ten Federal officers that are cap-
tured. The accounts we have hitherto received of
M'NEIL's proceedings have so horrified every
reader, that we cannot wonder at any vengeance
the Confederates might be disposed to take. On
the other hand no confirmation of the story has
yet been received ; and the hope has always been
that it might yet prove one of the usual American
exaggerations. Even if it were true, the Confede-
rates would gain nothing by an equally cruel
retaliation unless it were gain to share the cha-
racter of the Federals in the eyes of all
other nations. It is, however, almost impossi-
ble to conceive that, if Mr. LINCoLN believed
the story, he would not have recalled M'NEIL.
Of Southern feats of war we hear nothing, except,
indeed, of one dashing little raid of sixty cavalry
across the Potomac to Poolesville, between Wash-
ington and Harper's Ferry, merely to destroy the
telegraph. Of course it is wholly unimportant,
though it illustrates the fondness of the South for
guerilla work, which will probably be their last
and effectual resort.

The proffered mediation of the three Powers is
criticised severely. Russia carries off all the praises
of the Northern press. She is a sincere friend;
France and England act from interested motives
only. We do not grudge Russia American praises,
nor care to insinuate any doubts of Russian gene-
rosity. It is true her generosity is profitable to her-
self, the war enhancing the price of her hemp. It is
also true that France and England, by acknowledging
the blockade, have suffered greatly, and that our
neutrality has cost us a great deal, and Americans
must use their own measures of motives. Much as
they decry intervention, it seems strange, however,
to attribute abstaining from it to interested motives.
What would they have us do? They wished us to
give them full swing, we have done so, and shall
do so. Mr. LINCOLN is now about to play his last
card, and we should do wrong to spoil his play.
He has set his Attorney-General to work to carry-
ing out the COnfiscation Act—a practical intima-
tion that he intends to give full effect to his procla-
mation on the Ist of January. However, we shall
soon have, we presume, a full review by the Presi-
dent of his past proceedings and his proposed policy.
Congress meets on the first Monday in December.
As that was the first of the month, this year, after
the 10th we may daily expect the arrival of the
President's Message.

Yesterday's magnificent ceremonial at Paris

passed off, we are glad know, to everyone's ad-
miration. After all the sinister rumours that
have been flying about of late, His Imperial
MAJESTY went throughthe whole of the lengthened
pageant—scatheless, and, what is more, in the
midst of the acclamations of an immense multitude.
Conspiracies had been talked of—infernal machines
were whispered about as in preparation—hand-
grenades, detonating balls;poignards.were gloomily
foreshadowed as in readiness to start forth upon the
promised festivity. Yet the day has passed by, the
fete has been given, all Paris has been in the streets,
crowds of foreign visitors have mingled with its
population, and the Imperial cortege has moved to
and fro in the thick of this vast throng, without any
untoward incident whatever marring the effect of
this superb celebration. On the contrary
the Emperor NAPOLEON and his beautiful
Consort the Empress EUGENIE have been welcomed
with the utmost enthusiasm. Her Majesty the
EMPRESS being borne along the path traversed by
the procession, in her State carriage. His Majesty
the EMPEROR slowly moving on through the con-
fronting lines of spectators (according to his usual
custom) upon horseback, and (again according to
his usual custom) as the one conspicuous figure care-
fully separated and set apart from all the rest of the
pomps of the imperial pageantry. Whosoever
listed therefore, had he cared to commit so heinous
a crime, might have shed that man's blood without
injury to those in attendance upon him. Alone—
conspicuously placed on horseback—moving slowly
in measured time to the deliberate advance of the
procession—NAPOLEON 111. again looked calmly in

the face—the peril of assassination! His confidence in