The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-23 00:00:00

assuredly prove on the contrary to be a consider.

able deficit.

Satisfied in the first place

Id the anticipated surplus now talked

of is really and truly a probable surplus, a bona fide
anticipation—we may then conscientiously and
prudently, with a good heart, and with an earnest

determination, take into consideration Mr. GLAD-
STONE'S propositions for the diminution of
one grinding and oppressive tax, and for
the total abolition, if need be, of an old-
fashioned impost _ hitherto interfering with the
due development of our commerce and manufactures,
while, at the same time, seriously militating
against the higher and loftier interests of
literature.

The cloud which has been long threatening in Ame-
rica has not yet broken, and, alarming as were the
last telegraphic accounts, it does not seem likely to
burst yet. We, afar from the scene of action, and
looking coolly on what excites those confronted
with each other, strongly recognise what they, after
all, instinctively feel—that fratricidal bloodshed
would be an evil for which nothing can compensate.
There are movements, indeed, by the administration
—naval movements especially—now reported,
which might be warlike, but there is every reason
to hope they are purely defensive. The Adminis-
tration keeps its secrets as well as Mr. GLADSTONE
did before the 15th, and its views can hardly be
judged but by its acts, and these, of course, for a
long time are of uncertain interpretation. Several
United States' ships of war are in course of equip-
ment, and many steamers have been engaged of
which the destination was quite uncertain. We
only know that from Charleston information
comes that seven vessels were lying off the port
with the intention of relieving Major ANDERSON
in Fort Sumpter, and that he had recognised their
approach by rockets. The Carolinians have always
doclared that they should look on an attempt to
relieve the fort as an act of war, but they have
themselves commenced bloodless acts of war by re-
fusing any longer to supply provisions to the fort,
and thus rendering its surrender or its relief by the
Government at Washington, necessary. It seems
also quite certain now that the Government will
reinforce and supply the forts of Key West and
Tortugas at the entrance of the Gulf of Mexico ;
these forts are on islands out at sea, and therefore
can hardly be regarded like forts Sumpter and
Pickens as military stations directly hostile to the
secedcd States. They would, however, as the
Southern States have no navy, be excellent points
of action for the Federal Government, which will
always be able to support them, and can make them
if requisite the basis of operations against the Gulf
States from Texas to Florida. Some of the accounts
say that the stores and equipments sent out are of
a kind which show that it is intended to opErate on
the coast of Texas. It may be so, but others tell
us, apparently with better reason, that the forts
above mentioned are the immediate object of the
expedition.

At Charleston, though all is excitement, troops
marching hither and thither, the batteries every
-now and then manned, as if they meant to do some-
thing, Arid e, floating battery, described as a very

awkward construction, dragged into the harbour,
yet nothing decisive is done. Bloodshed the
Charlestonians declare to be "inevitable." It has
however happily been avoidable yet ; and what
reason is there why both parties should not for an
indefinite period continue to face each other as they
do, only threatening like angry schoolboys, but
acting more wisely than coming to actual conflict.
The assailants of Fort Pickens appear to be in much
the same temper. Though so numerous, and ever
ready with threats, they do not fire a shot, and
the little garrison will certainly not attack them.
The new PRESIDENT'S policy appears, however,
to be too pacific to rally his followers to his sup-
port. It is now certain that the Republicans have
been beaten by the Democrats at many States elec-
tions, and at some for Congress itself. Five of the
twenty-nine Republican representatives in New
England have failed to secure their re-election to
Congress. The loss has been in the States of Mas-
sachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. In the
local elections they have also met with numerous
severe defeats ; and these e:ections are said to be as
much due to hostility against the LINCOLN Cabinet
as to a wish to reorganise the plan and basis of the
Union. The Republicans complain that in Illinois,
while the South is openly defying the laws, the
obnoxious Fugitive Slave Law is executed in favour
of the rebellious States, that a man and his wife
and child were quite recently sent back again to
slavery, and that the fugitives in Illinois are emi-
grating by hundreds to Canada. Mr. LINCOLN'S
reply is obvious ; but we can hardly wonder that
popular feeling revolts at such things under a pro-
fessed anti-slavery PRESIDENT. The South will
not be brought back by such apparent trimming ;
which, however, is but the logical result of Mr.
LINCOLN'S principle of treating the rebellion as a
nullity. He is, from hieposition, obliged to deal with
them as if they were obedient, orderly States, and
that while he is sending ships of war with diffi-
culty to relieve the forts beleagured by them.
The border free State of Pennsylvania and the
border slave State of Virginia have each taken a
step, important because of their population and
influence. In Pennsylvania the Governor has sent
a message to the house recommending the organiza-
tion of the Militia, and other measures of defence,
as he had received a communication from the
President that an attack was meditated on Wash-
ington. He professed, however, entirely peaceful
views. Virginia has passed a resolution to the
effect, that, regarding the injury to commerce by
the present unsettled state of things, it appoints a
committee of three delegates to ask the PRESIDENT
what course he intends to take ; and that " the
people of Virginia consent to the separate indepen-
dence of the seceded States ; that they shall be
treated as independent powers, and that proper
laws be passed to effect their separation." It is
surprising how soon the late war-like rumours have
ended in things remaining as they were before.

There has been a storm, indeed, in the Chambers
at Turin with GARIBALDI for its /Eolus and
CAVOUR for its Neptune. In England we read
with little surprise of the warmth of the great
General and his hot attack on the Minister. We
have had such things in our own House of Com-
mons frequently enough, and if it is but a soldier
or sailor's attack—we pronounce it quite natural.
The Minister looks round on the House with a
glance, as much ae to say, this you know is all
quite natural, and proceeds to make such quiet
business remarks as the case may require, in a
tone and style which treat the man of the camp or
ship of war as not exactly amenable to ordinary
rules.

It is, however, really surprising to see how
Count CAVOUR has acted the same part, as nearly
as possible, under circumstances more trying than
ever fell to the lot of an English Minister, and yet
the Count's training in constitutional practice has
been but a brief one, indeed, compared with that of
our.veteran statesmen, who never had a GARIBALDI,
the saviour of his country, and the idol of all free
nations of the .day, to contend with.
Hot as the General became, yet neither he nor
CAVOUR have lowered themseives in the eyes of
Europe. In the end, indeed, both showed how
much they could put up with for their country's
sake. All the world looking on sees in both of
them men almost miraculously fitted for their
parts, by what Lord ELLENBOROUGII designated
the other day as a special prOvidence. Neither
of them could have done what the other has; each
has done, what perhaps no other living man could
have accomplished, to perfection. CAVOUR has
steered the vessel of the State through almost
unparalleled political difficulties ; GARIBALDI has
pioneered the conquest of Italian liberty with
means which would have possibly failed in the
hands of the greatest commanders. To them both,
but certainly most to GARIBALDI, the Italian Par-
liament which they addressed owes its existence.
It could bat deplore their quarrel, yet it could not
in heart blame either. It must have sympathised,
fts we all do, with GARIBALDI'S indifference
to rewards for himself and his uncontrollable
ardour on behalf of the volunteers, " the Southern
army," with which he had conquered from Marsala
to Naples, and shown CIALDINI the road to Gaeta.
Yet it felt equally sure of CAVOUR'S devotion to his
country, and far more confidence in his knowledge
of what was now the wisest political course. The
enemies of Italy will, however, have no cause for
exultation over a feud between the military and the
political saviour of Italy. They were both of them
men too great to make a football of their country,
or to allow their quarrels to injure her interests.
CAVOUR candidly sympathised with GARIBALDI'S
feeling respecting Nice—" making him a foreigner
in his own country," he proved his high apprecia-
tion of volunteers by facts, and General GARIBALDI
softened down into the acknowledgment that the
Count was faithful to his country, though he
should personally have preferred a bolder man.
He would seize Rome and Venetia ; CAVOUR waits
for them,— certain that he shall have them.

•
THE EXHIBITION OF 1862.—We are requested
to remind intending exhibitors in the industrial department
of the Exhibition of 1862, that Her Majesty's Commis-
sioners have named the Ist of May next as the date befdre
which all applications for space must be sent in. By far
the larger portion of the space which can be allotted to
British exhibitors has already been applied for.
DEATH OF MR. DAVID PUGH, M.P.—Mr. David
Pugh, M.P. for the Montgomery district of boroughs, died
on Saturday at his seat, Llanerchydol, near Welshpool.
The hon. gentleman was born in 1789, and was the only
son of Mr. Charles Pugh, of Perry-hill, Kent, by the third
daughter, of Mr. William Lloyd, of Montgomery.
SOUTHWARK ELECTION.—The writ for this
election having been received by the High Balliff,Wednes-
day (to-morrow) is appointed fur the election of a member
to fill the seat vacated by Mr. Locke on his acceptance of
the Recordership of Brighten. The nomination will take
place at the South London Depository, London-road, at
11 o'clock a n). Up to the present time no candidate ii,
before the electors to oppose Mr. Locke's re-election, nor
is any opposition expected to this gentleman's return, as he
is highly popular amongst all parties and classes in the
borough.

TYNEMOUTIT ELECTION.—TYNEMOUTII; Max-
DAY.—This morning the nomination of candidates for the
vacant seat in the representation of Tynemouth took place.
John Dryden, Esq., nominated Richard Hodgson, Esq. ;
Mr. Alderman Popplewell, Lloyds' surveyor, seconded the
nomination. John Fawcus,' Esq., iron-merchant, nomi-
nated Mr. Arthur Otway; and Mr. Joseph Spence seconded
the nomination. The show of hands was in favour of Mr.
Otway, The polling takes place to-morrow.