New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-05

Your obedient servant C.M CLAY,
United Mini ter Penipotensry &C. 70 ST. Petersburg
Morcp't, LoEe0H, Matl1
From TIE London Tmc,, Nays.
From the last accounts we have received from the
United States two things appear very evitent--one
that the North till emily reluctant TO draw the
sword is now embari in the contest not only III an
ardent but in vinoitiye spirit bent not only ON de-
Tending the Union from attack, but on taking eXem-
plary vengeance the rebels and traitors who lave
risen in against the rights Of the Conf,deracy
dissipated her treasure, attacked her foTIehes and
cOntscated her property; the oiher that TIE ma con
tett in which the South will have TO stand for re or
death must from the impeTiOus necesses OF climate
and from the lees mperiOus necessity Tor adequate
preparations be deferred at least I'LL the month OF No
Vember Of the present. year. To many pers0ns tbe
second of these propositions appears very considerably
to modify the first. Now that Washington II secure,
il il argued there Is no reason TO approhend southern
invasi, II OF tue North. The spit Of patriotic enhus
asm which has eyed all classes and oil Partes,
Democrats as well ar Republicans throughout the
Northern States has called armies into existence or If
by magic and at once put an end to the vain boast that
before the LIST OF May the PalmettO flag would wave
from the summit Of the capitol Indeed, this result
would have been produced much sooner but for the
wavering and dilatory policy Of Dir. Lincoln, who,
honest and well-meanlDg, but weak, inexperienced,
and laudably averse 10 the shedding Of blood wasted
in frutless deiOeratiOn and inexpicable delay the
priceless during which the peace OF the coun-
Try might pofsibly have been secured Reused al last
from bis revere by the capture Of Font Sumter, be
and with uch resdlets 10 his coll that be terrified
at bis own success scared by the sound himself bad
made" Henceforth it ID the Presidents fate to follow
where he might have led. The people have taken the
matter into their own hands and, with the President
or without him. determined 10 repay to the South
in OVERLOOKING the in uries and insults Which
they have received.
hection-six months, during which passion may cool
prejudice soften down. aud once take pos
session Of the reins which anger Las rested from her
hands. We sorry TO say that Tor our own part We
can only regard this another Of those delusODs by
which American patriotism for the lft siA monthe bias
been endeavorng cheat herself into the idea that the
last dreaded and abhorfed alternative Of civil war
would by or other, be ayerted. 1t Is per-
fecy true that the South cannot be attacked Ia the
Southern States until the Winter has fairly ret
in. The troops Of the North would slcken and die
among the residential swamps aud tangled jungles Of
the Gulf States; and the final catastrophe whatever
the DISPARITY of numbers, must therefore, OF necessity
be deferred. But it does not follow that the North
cannot employ the intervening time quite as protatly
as In marching from the chores of the Potomac 10 those
of the Mexican Gnlf. Tie sea is open, strict block
ade may be established, and descents made on the
in such force and 10 places 50 distant from each az
10 keep the whole seaboard in alarm, and keep back
large portion Of the forces Of the COnfederacy from the
scene of decisive action
That scene seems likely in the first instance 10 open
in Virginia This beautiful aud temperate region,
watered by noble rivers, spreading out into verdant
valleys and intersected by considerable ranges OF
and zeal GARD possessing several harborf oiers asplen
did theaer Of operations to the forces Of the Northern
States That part Of Virginia which lies between the
esterp slope of the Aleg hauies and the Ohio ia in
babied by free settlers firmly devoted to the Union.
The whole forces Of the North may therefore be con-
centraed on the conquest Of Eastern Virginia, which
must be overwhelmed unless the South come IN force
10 its support Should the conflict here terminate IN Ia
yor of the North advantage would he gained which
would very probably decide the tate Of the campaign,
or even the war. Eastern and Middle Kentucky
strongly favor the Union, and, should Virginia ial,
the Stale hardly he preserved for the South In the
face of an overwhelming force. Missouri with Kansas
on the west Iowa the north, and Illinois On the
east occupies position peIlonsly advanced beyond
the other Slave States and Al hardly hope to maintain
hos ity neutrality. Thus II Is reaeopable 10
suppose that the commencement Of Winter will find the
North advanced along its own pe and in possession OF
the rch and powerful States which form the rst bar
rier between the South and her invaders. We urge
these considerations not as proving what will be The
result Of the conflict, but only as showing that With
out venturng into unhealthy climate tue North may
find full scope for te energies III the subugauon OF
Virginia Kentucky, and Missouri or even In Pene-
traliuQ vet further toward the South. We conclude,
therefore, that enforced pause is likely TO intervene,
and that cival g. is just az inevitable as If 1t was to
be carried at into the heart Of the Gulf States
Turning from these specnlatlons, we call attention
10 the letter Of Mr.. Clay, Minister from the United
States TO ST. Petersburg. This lively letter-wrlier
proposes six queftions-three relating TO his own
country three relating TO England. The rtt question
~
"What are we fighting for 7" We are fighting"
saws Mr. CLAY, Hfor nationality and liberty. We
can understand fight for nationality between differ
ent races but fight for nationality between men Of
the same nationality il us, candidly confess it,
an inexphcable enigma nor can we better understand
how people fighting 10 put down rebe lion, 10 force
their fellowcitizens TO remain 10 confederacy which
they detect and 70 submit TO Institutions which they
repudiste can be called the champions Of liberty. II
the South seriously threatened to conquer the North
TO put down trial by jury freedom OF the press, and
representative government, the contest might be Tor
liberty: but as this is not So the introduction OF such
topics il mere rhetorical application. Can you
subdue the revOlied States "Of course we can,
says Mr.. Clay. So ON that point there is no more to
be said "Can you reconstruct the Union when one
half of it has conquered the oiher T. Nothing
easier" Gays Mr.. Clay. The victim OF to-day will
become the confederate of Tomorrow; the traitors
will be cast out and the Union frmer than ever
witness the happy results of the conquest OF Ireland by
England, repeated over ard over again, and always
repeated In vain.
Having answered the questions which he supposesto
be addressed to him by England, Mr. Clay becomes
the 0uegtioner and asks us where hoDor would
place us in the contest. Clearly by the ride Of the
Union, because be says, If Slavery be extended in
America il must be- restored in the Wet Indies. If
ary one doubs the force Of this demonstration we are
sorry for it, for Mr.. Clay has no other to offer Our
examiner next asks 10 consider interest. Clearly
he saws is TO stand by the Union, because they are
our best customers, and because, though they have
done ill they can since the separation OF the South
gave them powcy 10 ruin their trade With rs, they
will in spite Of TIER own hoste tsr remain our besi