The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-17
New York, Friday, May II, 1861.
THE SITUATION OF AFFAIRS.


THE SITUATION OF AFFAIRS.
The receipt of the London journals of May 4, by
Che Europa, last evening, has set at rest all doubt
a. to the policy of the British government with
regard to the South. The apparent ambiguity Of
Lord John Russel's language as to the blockade,
and the belligerent condition of the Southern
States, is cleared up by the tone of the leading
London papers, the comments Of which we pub
lish this morning. The Post the organ Of the
Premier, says that to preserve that neutrality
which Lord John Russell $50 forcibly expressed"
is clearly the duty Of the country it says that the
war now existing in this country must be left
to work itself out, however disastrous the
result may be to foreign trade and the manufactur-
ing industry of England. The position in which
the rebel States are regarded is clearly defined BY
the Premiers organ when it says that the national
government is at war with insurgents whose indie
pendent existence either de j'ure or de focto, has
never been recognized by any Power in the world;
that in the contemplation Of public law they are
simply rebels and that Mr.. Lincoln has undoubt-
eddy the right 10 declare blockade Of the South
ern ports and to treat and punish all Southern
pri,a;eers as pirates. There is no mistaking the
meaning Of this language, and coming from an
organ Of the government it may be taken as deci.
sye in favor of absolute neutrality on the part of
England, and the non recognition Of the Southern
Tba tnnp aft ba urltx ali prpa upn
rally sccords with these views, the privateering
system Of Mr. Davis being denounced by the Lon
don Shipping Gazette and other influential jour.
mails as piracy.
The intelligence from Washington last night is
highly important, and sounds OF immediate war.
II was understood that Is, 900 men, comprising in
the number nine New York regiments are to be
concentrated at once in and about Fortress Monroe
aud that offensive operations will probably COM
mence simultaneously with those AT Harpers
Ferry. An order was issued b. the War Depart
ment yesterday for nine Of the regiments from
New York, accepted at the instgaton of Messrs.
Draper and Aston to proceed to Fortress Munroe
members Of the Union Defence Committee viii re.
turn from Washington 10 day. and make mme-
dlaie arrangements with General Sanford for the
transportation Of their regiments. twas believed
in the federal capital yesterday, that government
had Just received positive intelligence from its
special agents in the South, that the plans Of the
r. l. Wal I,
snd that The capital !. threatened with assault
bgan Overwhelming force. IN consequence, large
achievements viii be called to Washington, and
General Scott haS ordered the immediate occupa-
zion OF Arlington Heights by heavy batteries.
The New York and Massachusetts troops, en-.
csmped on Federal III, Baltimore have returned
10 The Relay House. Twelve hundred men of the
Michigan regiment and some unarmed companies
passed though Baltimore yesterday for Wash.
ipgton without any disturbance occurring. A
Train returned TO Baltimore last night. the pas.
sengers reporting that the bridges between the
Relay House and Harpcrs Ferry had been de-
stroyed. and the passage Of the train INSTRUCTED.
twas rumored that large quantity of arms
were expected to arrive at New Orleans from
Europe very shortly.
We learn from ST. Louis that the enlistment of
troops for the government is going on brskly in
that city An cncampment Of 200 seccssionsts,
armed with guns taken from the Arsenal at Ii
berry, had been dispersed on Monday. The
blockade Of the Ohio and Nj. ssippi rivers will
be vigorously enforced. The government, il about
10 place armed gunboats at the disposal Of the
authorities Of the cities on these rivers Zoe that
purpose.
Both houses Of the Massachusetts, Legislature
yesterday passed the Appropriation bill o.
S. 900 OcO and the Seven Million Loan bin unan.
nously.
The report that the sacred remains Of Washing.
Is s IL .~.sq9vaf from Mount Vernon creates
l. utar :tl Iy1s csi
&at 1 't'M; - Tfs:, i,Fs
W 1si - teoI ttgas LA y. DOC yen ,yed
&C use II Impression prevailed that the people
OF the North intended to remove 4 from the family