The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-05-10
Mr.. Russelfs Third Letter to the London
Times.
WAsHIxaroN. April ath


| secrecy Never before under any Admins
tration was so little OF the Councils of the
Cabinet kno Tn to the public or 10 those " ho
are supposed TO be acq cquainted with the opin-
ions OF the states men in office. Mr.. Seward
has issued the most stringent orders to the
officers and clerks in his depar tment TO OBJ
serve the rules which heretofore nave been
disregarded liza reference TO the conIlden tai
character OF State papers In tnelF Charge
The sources of the fountains OF knowledge
| from which friendly journalists drew so free
| ly are thus stopped without fear. favor, Or
affection towards any. The result has been
| much irTi itation in quarters where such Sin
| reference" is regarded as unwarTantdoie, or,
| at least, as very injurious. The newspapers
which enjoyed the privilege OF free access to
dispatches are Matching cdndFds, which they
| let hy along the telegraph wires with amazing
| productlyeness ana fertility OF conception and
incu alton. Hence the mons trous and riolcu
| lous rumors which harden into type every day
| hence the elamors for ga policy" and hence
| the contend1ng accusations that the Govern
| ment is doing no thing, and that 1t is also pre-
| pairing 10 plunge the country INTO clNil Wdr-
| Zach member of the Cabinet has become Il
| Burieigh, every shake OF whose head perpiex-
| es New York with Il fear OF change every Sen
| ator is watched by private reporters, who
| trace 1.-The days disasters in his mornings s
| face" Ii II weak company of artillery is
| marching on board a ship, its movements are
| chronicIed in columns OF vivid description,
| ana it's footsteps are made TO sound ike the
| march OF Il vast army. The telegraph from
| Washington has learnt its daily message about
! Fort Sumter and Fort Pickens by heart, and
| the world has been SOothed daily by the dsSur-
| ance that Gen. Bragg Is ready, and that
| the South Carolinians can no longer be re-
| strained. But there Is always a secret under
| standing that Gems. Bragg and Beauregard
| VIII be more ready sui next day, and that the
| people viii be more understandable by next
! telegram. When l landed in New York, the
| first news / learnt was that Fort SGmter
| would oe eYac uated next day il not, that the
| supplies would be cut oil and that the garri
| son would be starved out. | have learnt how
| 10 distrust prophecy, and l am going South
| in the hope that the end is notyet. The South
| eTn Commissioners state that The Government
| here has promised them efforts shall be
| made 10 reinforce Fort Pckens without pre-
| vIous notice 10 thenl-a very sing guiar promise.
| Inc Government, however, denies that
| it has been in communication with them.
| Fort Sumter must be considered as gone, tor
| there is no disposition apparently on the part
| of the Government 70 hazard the loss OF life
| and great 1lsk which must inevitably attend
| any attempt TO relieve or carry OFT the garri-
| son, now that the channels are under the fire
| of numerous heavily armed batteries, Inch
| the people of South Carolina were permitted
| 70 throw up without moiea tltlon. Inc opera
| lions of a relieving force would have 10 be
| conducted on very large scale by troops dis
! e1nbarking on the shores ana taking the bat
| terles in reverse, III conjunction with an at
| tack from the sea and, after ALL such eXpedi
| ton would be futile, unless II were intended
| TO occupy Charleston and try the fortune of
| war in South Carolina-an intention quite
| opposed To The eX pressIons, and, believe, the
| feelings OF the CABINET at Washing ton, not to
| speak oi tie people ot the Border States and
| large remnants of the Union. From your
| CORES pondent at New ! ork, YOU Will receive
| fun particulars OF the movements OF troops,
| and OF naval preparations which are report ted
| IN the papers, and which create more cuTiOsl
| W than excitement among the people meet.
| My task must be To describe what see
| around me.
| 1t may be AS we'll to state in the most posi-
| tive terms that the reports which have APP
| peared in the American papers of communi-
| cations between the English Minister ana the
| American Government on the Sub beet OF a
| blockade of the Southern ports are totally and
| entirely destitate of foundation. No comm u
| nication of any kind has passed between Lord
! Lyons, on the part OF the English Govern
| Inent and Mr.. Seward or any one else
| on behalf of the Government at Wash
| ington. 1t would be most often
| sive proceeding to volunteer any intiIna-
| ion OF the course TO be purs ued by any Euro
| pean Power respecting contingency OF ac lion
| on the part of the United States nor wonld it
| be necessary, i'll case a blockade were declared
to formulate Il supererogatory notice that il
| must be such blockade rs tae law of nations
| recognizes. The impor tance of q distinct un-
| derstanding ON that point is all the greater in
! cOnnexion with the stories which are afioat
! that the naval preparations of the hour
are intended to afford the Federal Govern
| ment the means OF blockading the mouths of
| the Mississippi and the Sou thern ports with
| the object of collec ting the Federal revenue
4
| doubt and peTpleXity which prevail it is that
| Government viii 30 nothing whateye to pre-
| cipitate 4 conflict. 1t would Ill become me-
In such a crisis, TO hazard any authoritative
| statements as 10 the conduct of the Admins
| tration under the very great variety Of com
| phcationS which may arise hereafter or
| this, however, be assured Not IL ship or q
| gun, or a man, will be direct ted To rnaka am
attack, or 10 begin offensive movement
| against the Confederate States If anv nro-
| mise was made by the buchanan Administra-
uon TO INFORM The members of the Southern
Government or It's representatives, of their
course OF nc ton, it VI i'll not be considered hind
| ing on the conscences of Mr. Lincoln's Cabi-
| net, composed as it is OF men who look on
| their predecessors as guilty of treason to the
STATE: An attempt may be made to reinforce
| Fort PicKens but neither that nor auy o other
| position occupied by the Federal authorities
| will be voluntarily abandoned
| once Tor all, let IL be impressed on the
| minds OF the English peopla that whatever
| reports they hear, and however they NAV
| come--no matter whence or in what guise-
there is no truth IN them If they indicate the
| smallest intention on the part of Mr. Lincoln
| to depart from the policy Indicated in his in =
| augurai address. AS strongly as words can
| do 1t, repeat that the forces which have
| oeeh assembled are only intended for the re-
| lnlorcement OF the strong places at Fortugas
| and Key West, which have been left short of
| every necessary of occupa tion and defence,
| and Tor the es establishment of posts of obserya-
| ton, which are eseentid in case of hostility
| and TO guard against surprise or treachery.
| have dweit in previous letters on the obvious
| policy OF the Government OF the United State
| and beg your readers to have firm faith that
| there VIII be no departure from 1T. By con-
| ceutratipg forces at Key West and Tortugas
| very valuable political results are obtained in
| face of the present disputes, and ma terial
| strateglcal advantages III case those dispu tes
| should lead 10 rupture, which will not ha
| lnl ,ated by the Cabinet at WaShington-
| These places are within a few hours sail OF
the coast; they are healthy. and can be easily
supplied, as long rs the United States fleet
| can keep the sea and cover the movement of
| Its transports. Their occupation in force can
| not be taken as an act of open war, while it
| is undoubtedly alarming menace which
| Will keep the Contederates in a state of con-
| stant apprehension and preparation, leading
| TO much internal trouble and great expen Sc -
| BY confusion of metaphor which events
| may Justify, the eye To watch may be turned
into arm strike.
| The Virginia State Convention yesterday
passed the following resolutions by vote on
| division OF 10 to 63
| " Whereas. in the opinion of this Convention
| the uncertainty which prevails in the public mind
a. 10 the policy the Government intends 10 pursue
towards the seeded States is extremely INJURIOUS
to the commercial and industrial Interests OF the
country: tends to keep up excitement hieh is
untavorable TO ad dlastInent OF ths pending diff
cuIties, aud threatens disturbance OF the pu bile
peace Therefore, be 1t
- Resoped, That committee OF three Delegates
be appointed to wait the President OF the mi
| ted States and respectfully ask him 10 commani-
ca.e 10 this Convention hat coarse he Intends TO
THAT the people of Virginia hereby declare
their consent 10 the recognition OF the separate
independence Of the sceeded States; that they
shall be treated ss Independent Powers, and that
proper laws shall Do passed to effect their separa-
ton"
Messrs W Ballard Preston, Conservative ::
Alexander FL. II. Stuart, Unionist; and Geo.
w. Randolph Secessionist, have been appoint
Ell to wait on Mr.. Lincoln, and have arrived
1or that purpose.