The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-28 00:00:00

- opposition to to the North to submit tamely to such 1
terms as were offered them at Fort Monroe, and
the mere proposal has had the same effect in quench-
ing disaffection and silencing jealousies that a foreign
war has in pacific times in reconciling domestic
dissensions. General LEE is reported to have said
to a member of Congress that the only thing to fear
was causeless despondency among the people. The
South, he asserted, could gain independence if the
people did not give way to foolish despair. The
people have certainly had some excuse for despond-
ency in the recent aspect of their affairs. The pre-

sence of a hostile army in their midst, as it were,
marching from city to city without check,was suffi-

cient to dishearten the Southerners.

The per-

mitting SIIERJIA.v to pass through Georgia was

undoubtedly the mistake of the campaign. It
has given the Federals an advantage of which
they have taken care to make the most. SHERMAN'S
forces are at present moving towards the South
Carolina Railroad, of which Branchville is the
junction. Branchville is partially invested, and its
evacuation is probable. Its chief consequence is
derived from its being the centre of the railway lines
having the command of the communications with
Charleston and Columbia.
Sherman's right under FOSTER, now superseded
by General GILMOUR, is moving towards Charleston,
and between 2,000 and 3,000 men have landed on
James Island, two miles south-west of the city.
Active preparations are being made for defence
within the walls, but it is not thought that the
attack will be prosecuted with much vigour, as
Branchville is the main object at present.
The news from Wilmington is decidedly favour-
able to the South, for three attacks which General
TERRY had made on the Confederate lines to the
north of Cape Fear River were repulsed by the
Confederates, although they were supported by the
whole of PORTER'S fleet. Had Fort Fisher been
properly garrisoned after the first attack by veteran
troops it might have been held likewise ; but in this
instance, as in some others, the Confederates made
the mistake of underrating their enemy and resting

in a false security.
General LEE has seldom or never erred on the
side of rashness, but the same cannot be said of all
his subordinates. lloop's expedition to Tennessee
was a notable example of the lack of that discretion
which is the better part of valour. By attempting
to gain Tennessee, instead of saving Georgia, he
lost both objects, and the enemy has been suffered
to march right into the heart of the Confederacy.
But the Southern people must not indulge in retro-
spect. They must look forward, and make every
effort to relieve themselves from the pressure of
SHERMAN'S army. It is said by the Southern
papers that LEE intends to concentrate all the
Southern forces in two divisions ; one in
Eastern Virginia, under himself, the other
in South Carolina, under BEAUREGARD,
who has been instructed not to attack SHERMAN
until he is far advanced into South Carolina. These
directions, perhaps, explain the apparent inaction of
the Confederate generals in the South ; but as a
strong force is now confronting SHERMAN a little
further on his route, his security may not prove
very durable.

The question of employing the negroes in
military service has again come up, and, in-
deed, it is virtually the great question of the
moment. If the South could once make up their
minds to the course which, sooner or later, they
will be driven to take, they would gain an amount
of physical and moral strength which would
turn the tide of fortune. But they tern-
porise and postpone, and yield to preju-
dice, though such men as General LEE

and Secretary BENJAMIN have openly given their
sanction to the measure. For a nation in the
straits to which the South has now been reduced to
hesitate about availing themselves of so valuable an
assistance would be a matter of astonish-
ment were it not for the obstinacy with
which men cling to old prejudices and associations.
It cannot, however, but be a matter of regret to
their sympathisers and admirers, that they should
thus trifle with the prospects of their country, and
postpone, until perhaps too late, so decided and ad-
vantageous a measure.

The close of the Irish debate gave the House and
he public a fair summary of the actual condition of

the question in the clear and sensible address of the
Premier. His speech, brief as it was, virtually ex-

hausted the substance of the matter, and his re-
marks must have carried conviction to most of his

hearers. Four years ago, said the noble lord, we
were all congratulating ourselves on the improve-
ment of Ireland, and its present distress is mainly

owing to three unfavourable seasons. At the same
time he did not attempt to deny that there is in the
condition of Ireland, at the most favourable times,
much that needs remedy-. With regard to the
emigration of the people, the nobly lord frankly de-
clared that it was impossible to keep people in one
country when they could get better remuneration
for their labour and greater advantages in another.
The real cure is to create in Ireland the same de-
mand and reward for labour which other countries
offer. To do this the great thing would be the
influx of capital. Ireland, as we yesterday remarked,
has many advantages for the employment of capital,
but hitherto little has been done. " What was it,
then," asked Lord PALMERSTON, "which has hitherto
prevented the influx of capital into Ireland ? Why,
it is the double notion, first, that Ireland does not

afford the same means for the profitable employ-
ment of capital that exist in England and Scotland;
and, secondly, that there is not the same security
in Ireland." Hitherto, as Lord PALMERSTON went
on to say, the religious and political feuds which
have prevailed in Ireland have given rise to
exaggerated notions of insecurity which at-
tends the employment of capital in that
country ; but if English capitalists could once be
convinced that they run no extraordinary risk in
investi ilysh securities there would be no lack
ng-0
of money or of enterprise to carry out the most
extensive improvements. When once the idea has
gained ground that commercialin capital
Ireland,m aoynbee
greatpro-
employedflreland will, says Lord
sourcefitably andof
the s safely f e y
poverty o
dpiesda,PPehav
areedw.
eigthlits, Lord's
words PALMERSTON have
Ni isho
PALm
advantages offered by
hesitating declaration of the
the capitalists who may be influenced by his un-
hesitating
how much the
may learn from his observa
the country to enterprise, and with the people who
general disturb-
outrages, public riots, and
remedy rests in their own hands. Agrarian
gratify-
ingances of the peace, may be very
are most deleterious to the best interests of his
to an Irishman's love of fighting, but they
country. As soon as the conviction that life and
Property are safe, and that law and order are
rtehsepeccotield, ntryhasbgyaitnheed
ogrraoiunnaryd, mchoannenyelws 11; 1
bfluotw u
ni n
tto
il
then no eleemosynary grants of public funds will
meet the difficulty,
e
will fail to do moreatnhdanth;meposatrtliaavlisahndezemnpodirtaxptur;
relief. At the same time,
it is
duty of the Government to do everythingundoubly th
ted
in
its e
power to encourage trade and commerce ; and while
the House of Commons, by a decisive majority,
expressed the sense of the objec ons to Mr.