New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-23
THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.
BY W. RUSSELL, LID, BARRIsTER-Ar.LAw.
DeetQl (or nderf aofT n

beiVTo Udiy u"ur6 nope 10 oiand i'd thu na.fo
spot which VIII probably become hitoric and has IL
ready made noise 10 the world than It's guns oal
liant as the defense may have been. The news win
prod1ce an extraordinary impression at New York-t
will dsconcer stocs obbers and deangethe most inge
Dions specul Ons. But, considerable as may be its
results in any part Of the Union venture cay that
nowhere will the sho such painful convulsions
as IN the Cabinet OF Washington, where there appeared
to exist the most perfect conviction that the plan for
the relief OF Sumter could BOT fail TO be successful
either through the force Of the expedition provided
Tor that OBJECT, or through the unwiDgness of the
leaders at Charleston 10 fire the first shot and to
compel the surrender Of the place BY actual
hOstIGtes. The confidence of Mr.. Seward in the
strength OF the name and of toe resources Of the
United States Federal Government must have
received q rsde blow, but bis condolences by no
means Of weakly constitution, and it will be long ere
he bring himself think thai all his prophecies
must be given up after another before the inexOr
able logic of facts with which bis vatcnstions have
been in irepressibe conflict" Il seems to me that
Mr. Seward hos all along uude valued the spirit aud
the resolution of the Southern 81 I'VE States, or that he
has dir. used from others lie seBse he eDtertaos Of
their extent and ygor. The days assigLed for the lie
of the secession have been numbered over and over
again and secession has not yielded up the ghost The
"bravado" Of the South has been sustained 6y deeds
which render retreat from its advanced po+ion I'M.
possible Mr. Seward will probably iud himself hard
pushed TO maintain his views III the Cabinet In the
face Of recent ever t. which will doubt, be uoed
with effect and skill by Mr.. Chase, who is understoodt
TO be IN favor Of letting the South go as II lists without
ment of weakness in the body polite while be would
be prepared to treat treason any attempts in the
remaining States Of the Ubion to act the doctrine
of secession. But the Union party must pre-
vail As vet 1 do not know whether the views l ex-
pressed relative to The destn, ion OF the greater part
OF troops and stores sent from the Norm were cor.
rect for il connot be leaned how many ships were on
Sumter when Il surrendered; but Notwithstanding
what bar occurred reerate the assertion thai the
Washington Cabinet always said and say they had no
intention to provoke conflict there, and that had tho
autho ties at Charleston continued iheir 70
the garrison procure supplies IN their markets. there
would have been immedi ste action on their part 10
pre,itate the fight, though they were determined to
hold it and Fort PickeIs well Tortngas and hey
West and to vctual and streDg the ga rsop OF inc
former as soon AS thew were able Fate was against
them. The decision and power OF Their opponentS
were against them. Bat their defense Will be toa$
they couo not do anything I'LL they got troops ana
ships, and munitions Of together, and that
they did AZ much they could In a month";
Sumter 10 fact, ia tie Jaws OF the cat,
and the moment an ATTEMPT wac mace TO reiesSe,
the prey by external influence, the Jaws were cios-@
and the mouse cispoed Of The act will produces
believe in spite OF what rec, very deep impresS
SIGN throughout al the States and Will tend 10 Dring
about immediate collision between the hgh'ninoeo
parties on both sides. When Mr. Lincoln came into
Office il was discovered that promise had been mais
BY outgoing members of the preceding Governments
TO surrender the Southern forts. That promise wn
ignored By the incoming Ministry. The Southern
Commits toner's insist that apart from the COM
pact Of Mr.. BurhaDans Cabinet, pledge had been
given TO the South that attempt would be male t6
reinforce the forts without notice to the Government
NJ Montgomery, and lar can be ascertained tho
authorities ut Washington did cause 10 be conveyed to
| the southern Confederation the expression OF their
intention yictual sumter; but whether they do &c
ia respect to their pledge if existed, in
squence OF the decision Charleston 10 prevent tbs
issuing of further applies to the sarison Il uncertain
The wiihiiawsl Of the permission TO market was an
bat an act Of war. Ii the United States Governments
would oct on the hypothesis that the Southern Confed-
GRAFTON was AN independent Power, it would surely
have considered The proceeding as PRELUDE TO imne.
oiate hostility. But the course thus adopted arose on"
OF the preparations made by the United States Goyerne
men. ia trg expeditions the object OF which was
scarcely dub The Commissioners OF the Southern
States ut Washington, Dever acknowledged, NJ iass
met with decisive rebuff lust a. virginia saw nef
representatives from the Convention on their wav TO-
ask Mr. Lincoln 10 explain bis intentions. The Com
uiesoners were given 10 understand that Their pres-
once useless, and that the forts would be TO-
enforced and ntel euce thus furnished 10 the
Government at Montgomery IL was resolved TO act oy
slnInonirg Ma or Anderson 10 surrender before suc''
cor could arrive and Ia event Of refusal by compelling
him 70 yield in the sight Of the wouldbe relieving
squsdron. IS soon rs the Commissioners found that
| Mr. Lincoln had made lis decision, trey departed irj
no very yielding temper and washed their hands III o
ysledctOry pap of The results IL my intention,
to have LETT Washington eaIly in the week, aud to,
have rea he'd Charleston before these gentlemen haoi
| departed but the heavy storms and floods which,
wnshol away part Of the railway between Washing
ton ana Richmond At the other sde Of the Potomac
prevented nv departure, ard not only arrested ths,
mails from the South and the journey Of the Nrgsnau'
delegates for several days, but obliged the Connis-
soEers tae tie roundabout couIse by a 10 Baltfs
more thence by steamer TO Norfolk Virginia, and then
on by rail TO Charleston, which am now pursuing
one day later.
Although the Ministers at the capital affected 10 disc
the existence OF any design to seize upon tho
city their acts indicated an apprehen Of danger.
or at lest II desire take all possible precautions
against ,reasbery. The district militia called GUS
sId sworn for service, and the result showed THAI
tuere Were more citizens in the ranks ready TO stand
by he Government than there were Secesslonists whc
would defend it. Tuesday, "Wednesday, and
| Ibursdsy la,; were very busy DAVIS The companies
forming tie oattaons Of the district militia were mns~
ered aud marched OIL from their various quarters TO
| the Enclosure in front of the War Department wheTS
ey took or refused the oath of service, a the bumot
moved them. Ii is scarcely possible 10 imagine Hore
looking body of men, thel variety OF
| uniform, of clothing. and OF accoutrements was "a
great a. il specimen squad hal been taken from tbs,
Uattslious Of tue Grand Army of lsl2. The genera
eject oil the men and OF their habiiments is decidedly
| French and there seven small company OF Lonavees
but cannot uudersand how these little independent
bodies are be brought into line Of battle depended
or or united action On the days above mentioned tbs
monotony Of The vide, li,l streets was broken "a
intervals by the tap OF the drum beating pos III .s
nh fashion, aud then came the crowd Of idiers VINO
an, fond OF cheap Dauial display. 10 conn any o.
40 rluk aud file there generally two drrmmers anc
xix officers or more, and the glory o. elaa-
lettes shines out brsvey through the cloud OF French
yray and light NJ u dark blue capoles. Inc nius'es
are not am told tley should be. There are sOIS
psle faces, roun d.d shoulders and weak frames III le
ranks hat the majority very fair specimens OF
iine race of men, ana companies were compose"
OF -oldier-iike stout fellows, Who only required a's
service to ret them up for any military duty: NJ =
f,urth of those bound TO serve were ready, ho"o'o'
to forward aud light for the GoseiSn, nm .,
Washin gton aud il PROBABLE that nothing snort OF >
trpol for jiie or death wond induce oue-hali w se