The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-13 00:00:00

AMERICA.

LIVERPOOL, JUNE 12.
The Etna, which touched at Queenstown yester-
day, has arrived.
According to the Washington correspondence of
the New York Times the Federal Government were
quite alive to the dilemmas of the" situation." The
correspondent of that journal says :
"The Government is becoming embarrassed with the
question of how the prisoners captured in this conflict now
going on shall be disposed of. Our scouts are daily picking
up men proved to have disunion sentiments, and already the
number taken exceeds 100. The rebels are capturing Union
men, assuming that the Government will exchange pri-
soners, and that by having a sufficient number they will be
able secure the release of the 36 rebels captured at Alexandria.
Here is the embarrassment. If the Government treat these
men as rebels taken in arms against the Government they
should be hung. This would not be deemed good policy,
even did not humanity revolt against such a sacrifice of
human life. On the other side, if the system of ex-
changes be adopted, there is in the act a recognition of
the rebels as belligerents according to all laws of nations.
The Cabinet has discussed this point several times without
coming to any result, but it is probable that in the end the
minor rebels will be discharged on parole, and the leaders
only hung. The question as to what shall be done with the
property of the rebel leaders is also being discussed, but as
yet only incidentally. The Arlington estate belongs to Lee,
the rebel commander in Richmond, and is probably the
most valuable property in Virginia. Apart from the negroes,
it would probably sell for a quarter of a million of dollars.
The confiscation and sale of this property would probably
do quite as much to restore the eastern part of Virginia to
its allegiance to the Government as any one act that could
be done, and there seems to be no good reason why it should
not be subjected to the laws. Still, another troublesome
point to decide is what to do with the "peculiar institution."
It was alleged that the negroes of the South would follow
their masters to the death. Our experience thus far does not
justify this declaration. There was one negro deserted by his
master at Alexandria, and there were 12 left on the Arling-
ton estate ; none of them evinced the slightest desire to run
after their masters. They are, therefore, in a measure, the
charge of the Governmi nt. It willbe readily understood that
we cannot be long incumbered with such a charge, and, as the
masters are flying from the wrath to come, we are likely to
have more chattels than it will be possible for us to take care
of, if we still profess to hold them in bondage. The Go-
vernment has no desire to interfere with private property,
and will not, but it cannot be expected that the Govern-
ment will take the place of owners, when owners abandon
their property. The Government has yet no despatches
from Messrs. Adams or Dayton. The private advices repre-
sent that the British Government is getting cured of its
penchant for the Southern Confederacy. It is probable
that we shall have official despatches from both France and
England by the steamer which will arrive on Saturday or
Saturday nest."

The Secretary of State had declared that in a.
cases where it appears there was no fault in no
obtaining proper clearances on the part of corn
wanders of vessels coming from the South, the
commanders should not be compelled to go into
court, but on the correct representation of the col-
lectors where the vessels arrived the fines and fees
which the law imposes should be remitted. Several
vessels, improperly captured by the blockading
force, had been ordered to be released.
The New York Shipping
List says :
" It is probable that quite a number of the vessels seized
as prizes by the United States' Government may be released.
A considerable proportion of them, it is likely, had no in-
tention of violating any law, and when this can be satisfac-
t irily proven it is fair to presume the Government will re-
lease them. Several have already been released, and among
them are the schooners Belle Conway, Delaney ;
William
Henry, Passapea ; and Mary, from Richmond ; and J. H.
Eltheridge, Edmonson, from St. Petersburg, which were
all laden with tobacco, and were detained at Fortress Mon-
roe by the blockading fleet. They were released last week
by order of the authorities and arrived at Baltimore."
Another communication from Washington says—
"'the Cabinet had. a meeting to-day, as was supposed,
for the purpose of determining what should be done with
the " inevitable chattel." Our officers are gutting more
volunteers of that kind than wanted. In fact, the negro has
become a kind of Tartar, that the Government can neither
hold nor let go. The Cabinet adjourned without disposing
of Sambo—not a surprising fact, considering that Sambo
has been on hand so long."
Proposals were to be received at the Washington
Navy Bureau of Construction until the 15th of
June for the complete construction and equip-
ment of the steam screw gunboats, including spars,
rigging, sails, awnings, boats, cables, and anchors,
tanks, casks, furniture, cooking apparatus, and all
the outfits for vessels of war ready for sea service.
The steam machinery, the fuel for the same, the
armament, and the provisions would be provided
by the Government. The vessels were to be
launched in 60, 75, 90, and in 105 days from date of
the contract, the vessel in each case to be completed
and ready for sea in 30 days after being launched.
General Scott had received an ear of green corn
with the husks on, made up in a paper parcel, and
subscribed as follows : '
" Confedrate States of America, Department of
State, Montgomery, May 22.
"Major General Scott, with the compliments of the
Secretary of State.
" W. P. ALEXANDER, Private Secretary."
The object of this vegetable offering may be pre-
sumed to be that of showing the Commander-in-
Chief how futile are blockades and armies as applied
to reducing the Confederate stock of green-groceries.
Two vessels had arrived at New York. bringing
Federal troops from Texas, who had been allowed
to leave that State on condition of not serving
against the Southern Confederation.
General Butler, Commander of the forces at Fort
Munroe, having applied to the Federal Government
respecting the disposition of the negroes who were
" constantly flocking" into Fort Monroe, had re-
ceived the following :

" War Department, Washington, May 30.
ct sir,—You r action in respect to the negroes who came
within your lines from the service of the rebers is approved.
The department is sensible of the embarrassments which
must surround officers conducting military operations in a
State by the laws of which slavery is sanctioned. The Go-
vernment c.innot recognise the rejection by any State of its
Federal obligations, nor can it refuse the performance of the
Federal obligations resting upon itself. Among these
Federal obligations, however, no one can be more important
than and dispersing armed combinations
formed of overthrowing its wh, de constitu-
tional
While, therefore, you will permit no
that
authority.
for of t suppressingh e purpose
interference by persons wider your command, with the

News had reached Washington of an engagement
which was going on between the United States'
steamers Freeborn and Anacosta and the two bat-
teries of the rebels at Aquia Creek. Aquia Creek
is 55 miles from Washington, and is the terminus
of the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac
Railroad. The report of the engagement is very
meagre, merely giving us to understand that in the
engagement, when last heard from, the advantage
was on the side of the steamers, although one of
them, the Anacosta, appeared to have been struck
by a ball. When the news of the engagement
reached Washington, two men-of-war were imme-
diately sent down to support the Freeborn and
An acosta.

Arlington Heights were in the occupation of
four companies of United States' Dragoons, a bat-
tery of artillery, and by the New York Bth, 25th,
and 69th Regiments. A portion of this force was
ordered to advance on Fairfax Court-house, and,
if possible, occupy it before daybreak. An engage-
ment was expected.
From Fort Monroe we learn that the greatest
confusion had prevailed among the Federal troops,
.owing to want of experienee,an the part of the
quartermasters and commissaries. Provisions not
having been promptly distributed, foraging parties
provided liberally for themselves, and in some in-
stances wantonly destroyed property. Colonel
Phelps, of the Vermont Regiment, was in command
of the post. A line of entrenchments 2,500 feet
long was nearly completed. Colonel Duryea had
issued a proclamation to the inhabitants of Hampton,
declaring that the private property of loyal citizens
would be respected. There was great activity at
Fortress Monroe ; large quantities of war material
and provisions were being lanned ; and it was
thought an attack on Norfolk would soon be made.
Fugitive slaves continued to flock into the camp of
the Federal troops.

It having been reported at Alexandria that the
Confederate forces were about to make an attack
upon the city, every preparation was made to re-
ceive them. A. new collector having been appointed
at Alexandria that port was once more opened to