Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-04-05

l ing from Washington TO transfer the crew
Of the Powhattan to Norfolk. The men
were placed on the receiving ship, and imme.
diately prepared Tor their embarkation 70 the
South. This order was countermanded al a
/ later hour, and they were again placed on
the Powhattan, which will be fitted out as
! quickly as possible and proceed to sea on
/ Friday. Her destination is most probably TO
the relief Of Fort Fickens
The store ship Release has received her
crew, and will sail without delay, probably
to the same destination.
Attentisn has been turned 81 the Wabash,
which win be got in readiness and pro-
visioned in order that she may all in about
three weeks.
On account Of the resignation of officers
unwilling to serve in the coercion service,
much difficulty has been experienced in hav-
ing the ships properly commanded. oil
The Paymasier attached to the Powhattan,
G. W. Clarke, ha resigned. His place has
been filed by W. G. Marcy.
A Washington dispatch to the same paper
says:
The army and navy are suddenly being
put upon war footing, and the knowing
ones state that it looks toward Spain, grow
ing out of her designs upon st. Domingo
Such activity in both these arms of the SER
vice has not been visible for a long time
The Government is fully apprized Of the in
tentions OF Spain towards that island, and
will not permit her to take possession of it.
Undoubtedly the Government feel that col
lision in that direction would divert the at
tention of the country from our internal
quarrels, and lead to favorable termination
of our own troubles.
It is known here that an understanding
has existed for some time between the
English, French and American Governments,
not to allow Spain or any other Government
to obtain q foothold upon that Island. In
relation to this matter, their policy is not on
ly important 70 US, in support Of the Monroe
doctrine, but is peculiarly so to US at the
present time, in view of our domestic troubles.
An officer Of the navy stated this morning
be had reason TO believe that q rupture would
occur with Spain within twenty days. 1t is
kE,,Wn that orders have just gone out 10 hold
themselves in readiness for immediate SER
vice. The Powhattan, now at New York,
whose crew was discharged the day before
yesterday, is ordered to at once receive back
her crew, and prepare for sea. This is re-
garded as very significant.
From the dispatches and correspondence
of the N. Y. Times, we take the following:
MILITARY POWER OF SPAIN.
The startling movements of Spain in the
West Indies attracts attention to the growing
power of the Government of Madrid, and
there are few who will not be surprised to
learn how large a force Spain is able to
muster. In her navy she had, in 1860, the
following number of vessels, viz;
Ships of War, 40
Steamers-for war purposes 29
Other war vessels 50
Total l37
Besides these Spain has numerous smaller
vessels for coast service, and had on the stocks
last year ships of-the-line, of so guns, and
with !, l,OOO horse auxiliary steam power, and
5 steam frigates of from 300 to 600 horse
power each.
SHALL FORT SUMTER BE REINFORCED?
The Administration is still being pressed
with great force and earnestness, especially
from the Northwest to reinforce Fort Sumter
at any cost. The Cabinet however, contin-
ues very discreet-not disclosing the tend
ency of the Administration view of this
question even to Senators-so that the public
will be left entirely to conjecture. Never
theless on one point there seems to be set
tied conviction, viz: that no other fort than
Sumter viii be abandoned, and in relation to
that the question is still an open one.
THE COMING EUROPEAN FLEETS.
Whatever the motive of England and
France, in ordering large fleets into Ameri-
can waters just at this juncture, it is a well
settled fact that the movement was not antici-
pated by anybody here, in diplomatic circles
or elsewhere, and that its purpose is a matter
only of conjecture The prevailing opinion
is that the coming fleets are merely what
your correspondent said they Were-squad-
rons of observation-designed to watch the
turn Of affairs, and to be ready to take hand
in whatever may transpire affecting British
interest. Lord Palmerston, it is well known,
does not entertain any cordial good will for
the United States; nevertheless there are
abundant evidences that he desires to see
prevail here the peace which is essential TO
British interests, and that the great peril of
civil war which has threatened US, has
awakened in his bosom the liveliest concern.
Two things seem to be palpable, in con-
nection with these events, viz: First, that
Spain would never have dreamed of taking
the bold step Of seizing st. Domingo, but for
the weakness and prostration of the United
States, and without the expressed or implied
concurrence Of England and France. Sec
Ond, that these Powers would never have
assented 10 the measure, except with the ex-
| illicit understanding that Spain was to give
up all idea of its reinstatement. Indeed, it
seems to be highly probable that Spain has
been permitted and encouraged to make the
conquest on the condition Of entering fully
into the schemes of the great Powers for the
suppression of the slave trade, and the ex-
tinction of slavery. Your suggestion, that
the reconquest of Mexico is part of the pro-
gramre, seems to be highly probable; and
this, if true, will add strength to the theory
have given, that freedom, and not slavery,
is to be the future policy of regenerated
Spain.
That Power will be amply compensated
for the expense and Inconvenience of abol-
ishing slavery in Der West Indian possessions,
by the acquisition Of Hnyti and Mexico; and
cannot doubt that if Napoleon and Pal
merston have consented to these additions to
Spanish power. it Is on the terms here sug-
gested. Napoleon has avowed, more than
once, his appreciation of the spirit of the
age,-that is to say, the spirit of Liberty;
and we know that the English Government
would not dare to countenance or permit the
re-intrOduction Of slavery into countries from
which it has been excluded. Mol These
great nations Of the Old World have seized
the opportunity afforded by the secession
]
by abolishing it in the Island of Cuba, and
circumscribing it on the Continent. They
mean to break up the slave trade by destroy
ing the demand for slaves in the only country
where it is tolerated; while they, at the same
time, surround the Slaveholding Oonfederacy
with free negro islands and continental prov
inces inhabited by freemen, white, red, yellow
and black
/