The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-05-07
MIR. RUSsELL'S LETTERS TO THE
LONDON TINES


ing his ''eariy impressions -
1t Is difficult for one who has arrived re-
Gently in this country, and who has been sub
lec ted 10 such variety of statements, to come
to any very definite conclusion In reference 10
the great questions which agitate it. But as
far rs / eau l shall form my opinions from
what see, and not from what hear and as
/ shall proceed Sonth in a few days, there is
a probability of my being able 70 ascertain
what is the real state OF affairs in that direc-
| tlou. AS far as L can Judge-my conclusion
| let it be uaaers TODD, being drawn from the
prevailing opinions OF otbers-"the South
| will never 60 back into the Union.' On the
same day | heard q gentleman of position
among the Southern party say, mo conces-
sion, no compromise, nothing that can be done
or suggested, shall induce Us TO JON any Con-
| federation of which the New England States
| are eInhers )" and by another gentleman,
| well known as one OF the abiest OF the Aboli-
| tionists, / was told, "If could bring back the
| Southern States by holding up my liltie finger,
| should consider it criminal to do so.''-
| fhe friends OF the Union sometimes endeayor
| 10 disguise their sorrow aud their humiliation
| at the pros pect presented by the Great Repub-
| lie, under the garb OF pride in the peculiar
| celienee OF institutions which have permitted
| such revolution ~ secession without the
| loss of one drop of blood. But concession
averts bloodshed II l give up my purse to
| the tootp.4ft who irese ts a pistol III my head,
| satisfy all his demands, and he must be IA
| stnguinary miscreant If lac pulls the trigger
| after wards, The policeman has, surely, no
| business to boast OF the peculiar excellence,
| IN such a tran sac ton, Of the state OF things
| which allows the transfer TO take place with
| out bioodshed. Government may be SO
| elastic as, like an overstrained lndia-rubber
band, to have no compresslve force whatever,
and tnRt very quality is claimed for the Fed
eral Government excellence by some emf
| nent men whom j have met, and who main
| tanned the thesis that the u. >. Government
| has no right whatever To assert its authority
| by force over the people OF any State whatever;
| that, based on the consent OF all, it ceases to
| QlSSent-;t
| which no one need analyZe who unders lands
| ~ hat are the real uses and ends of government.
| The friends OF the existing Administration, on
the whole, regard the 81 ceesion as Il tenn pordry
| alteration, which a "Inasterly inactivity
! the effects of time, inherent weakness, and
| strong reaction, OF which they Halter them
! selves they see many proofs III the southern
| States, will correet. ''Let u.s. they say,
| IDEAL with this matter in our own way. DO
| not IN tertere. recognition of The Secession
| would be an interference amounting to hos
| tiiity. In good time the violent men down
| South will come to their senses, and the trea-
son will die out" They ignore the difficulties
| which European States may feel III refusing
| TO recognize the principles on which the L nj
| ted States were founded when they lind them
| embodied III Il new Confederation, which, 80
| tar as we know, may be oail intents and pur-
| poses constituted iii entire independence,
| and present Itself to the world with claims 10
recognition 10 which England, at least, hav-
ing regard TO precedents of de JuctO govern
ments, could only present an illogical refusal.
eTs are founded on the want of capital in the
| slave States; on the pressure which Will come
| upon them when they have to guard their own
| frontiers against the wild tri bes who have
been hitherto repeled at the expense OF the
| whole Union by the Federal troops; the
| eXIgencies of trade, which will compel them
| to deal with the North, ana thereby to enter
| INTO friendly relations and ultimate re-alll
| auce. But most impartial people, at least in
| New York, are of the opinion that the Sou tn
| has shaken the dust off her feet, and viii
| never enter the portals of the Union again.
She Is confident in her own destiny. She feels
| strong enough To stand alone. She believes
| her mission Is one OF extension and conquest
her leaders are men OF singular political
| ability and undaunted resolution. She has
| but TO stretch forth her hand, rs she believes
and the Gulf becomes an American lake
| closed by Cuba. The reality of these visions
| the South is ready to test, and she would not
| now forego the trial, which may, indeed, be
| the work of years, but which she will GER
! tainly make. All the considerations which
can ba urged against her resolves are as moth
| ing in the way of her passionate viii, and the
| world may soon see under It's eyes the conflict
| of two Republics founded on the same priu-
ciples, but subjected TO influences that pro-
duce repulsion as great as exists in two bodies
| charged with the same electricity. III ever
| the explosion come, il will be tremendous in
| it's results, and distant Europe must feel the
| shock
Mr.. RUssBLL's SECOND LETTER
| Was written on the 5th of April while he
was yet soourning at Washington The fact
that these letters may have considerable in
fluence in giving direction to British senti-
ment, induces us to give place to the subjoined
| extract. / must be borne in mind that even Is
OF stupendous nature have occurred since il
was written, and for the purpose of inform
ing himself correctly on the points at issue,
Mr.. Russell is now at the South:
Without the means of enforcing an author
Of aQ nd
most OF the neutral parties, denied to it, NJ r
Lincoin's Admins ira ton finds itself called
upon 10 PROFOUND a policy and to proceed TO
vigorous actlon. The demand is scarcely rea-
sonable. The policy of such men suddenly
lifted 10 the head of affairs, which they can
not attempt To guide, must be 10 wait and
watch and their action must be simply ten
tutive, "a they have no power 10 put forth
with moderate hope OF success any aggressive
force
BE satisfied OF this the United States Gov
| eminent will give up no power or possession
| which ii has at present got. BY its yolun ia
| ry act 1T will surrender nothing whatever
| No matter what reports may appear III the
| papers, or in letters, dstrust them If they
| would lead you TO believe that Mr.. Lincoln is
preparing either TO abandon what he has now ,
| or TO recover that which he has not.
The United States Government is in az
| titude of protest; it cannot strike an offensive
| blow. But II any attack is made upon t. the
Government hopes that il will be strengthen
Ell by the Indignation OF the North and West
TO SucH al extent lndt 1t can not only repei
| the aggression, but possibly give stimulus
| to a great reaction i'll its favor.
On these principles Fort Sumter and Fort
Pickens are held; They are claimed as Fed
| eral for tresses. The Stars and Stripes still
| float over them Whatever may be said TO
the con trary, they Will remain there till they
| are removed by the action of the Conf eder-
| ated STATES. The Commissioners of MIR. JEFF
ferson Davis's Government "hdve reason to
say that il any attempt be made TO throw re-
| Inducements into Fort Pickens, unless sthey
| receive previous notice OF IL as prom
| ised, it will be breach of good
| faith" From all / can learn in
tenton OF strengthening the fort is at
present entertained, butt may be doubted If
| the attempt would not be made should any
favorable opportunity of doing so present it,
self. All 1.-THE mo ;einents of troops of
Which you Will see accounts, are preparations
aganst-not for-aggression. At most they
amoant TO the march of a few companies
anu guns 10 various forts, now all but
undelehded. Fort Washington of W hich
L shall nave few words TO say hereafter
WAS tiit lateiy neld by a very nadeu uate force
As member of the Cabinet said 10 me,
couio nave taken 1t last week with a little
whiskey," that potent artillery being applied
TO the weak deteuces of the aged Irish arIills
ryman VINO constituted "the garrison The
formidable military force concentrated in
Washington OF which you may read in the
| American journals, consists of ahout seven
hundred men of all arms as far as csn sec
| and four brass Held guns. There ia a oood
deal of drumming, nhng, marching and m
sic going on daily. L look on and See a sm.u
band in gay uniform, a small BODY of men in
soInbre uniforms, varying from fifteen To thir
| ~ rank and hle, armed, however with e.cel
lent rifles, and a very large standard pass nv
and next day read that such and such n com ;
| pany had a parade, and '.attrac ted much adj
miraton by their efficient and soldierly n
pearance, and the manner in which, Gc.r
| But these military companies have no In tan