The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-24
NEWS FROM the STATE CAPITAL.
Our Albany Correspondence.

Mdson ana Su0ct ana Engdnd--Ame'Icdn Feetiftg at
War Point-The Steps Taken to Erect Fo'tiGeations on
tho Boundaries of The Empire Sate--What New York Has
Done in the Volunteering Line-7hc General Gopenment
Orders No More Enliamssis Under State Authorities
Preparations for the Assembling Of Lawnakers-7ne
Contest for The Observation-Disclosures Of the Aspiran for
Speaker and CLrk Of the House. ensiue Movements Of
the Lob6y-New Fork City Agaivs, dc.
inc great question Of the day, overshadowng and
eclpsing everything else is tho attitude OF John Bull In
regard TO Commander Wilkes seizure OF Mason aud Sl
dell. All expected that the British Lion would grow
shake his head and mako the hairs his back stand up
straight as soon as the intelligence reached him Of the
noble action Of Commodore Wilkes but the people gener
ally were under tho impression that would be only mo-
mentsy and even now thcro general credencs given
TO tho report that orders have boen
for the release OF Messrs Mason and Sidel and the
people generally look upon tho outburst in England only
as tho giving vent to the long pent up sympathy tho
Southern confederacy that the Mason and Slidc AFFAIR
has given them good opportunity to or At the
Same time they consider that II England gets UP war
with us upon that point only shows that the govern
mont has BEEN from the start, determined upon kicking
up with us; and II the government should deliver
up Mason and Sde England would got up some other
pretext the worry first opportunity and declare war; Or
In other words John Bull is determined upon war and II
he cannot get up plausible excuse to 1ght us on one
shown itself 80 hearess and in fact SO hypocrtica
since our troubles commenced that all feeling OF
respect for tho has disappeared from tho
American mind and there is now but one feeling in this
quarter except with tho abotonsts-the curse Of tho
oountry-and that is to stand ground and let tho
worst come No doubts bat in such an event England
will be the greatest sufferer in the end only in regard
TO heavy osses but will lose that moral influence among
tho nations Of the world that has heretofore gone 80 far
and done much to decide all controversies with other
nations in her favor She pretonds for freedom
but her real god Is the almighty dollar, and war with
us will remove the mask and show the world the black
heart that lies beneath the pharsaical cover Lot John
Bull declare war If he desires to; no will find when
his armies and Geots reach our shores that old
and young will! be ready to meet him. The senti-
mont in that respect is almost unanimous Tho Irish
especially ubiant tho prospect Of war; and de-
clare Ireands opportunity for revenge The idea of
this government for moment entertaining the idea of
giving up tho captured ministers Is hooted In every
direction. Had tho English government, at tho com.
menccment Of the rebellion declared itself in favor Of
the federal government, aud that consideration
would the weight of its influence be thrown in favor OF
the South, the wicked and unjust1able rebellion would
havo long since been at end. and the cotton mills Of
England been fully supplied with cotton John Bll has
been biting his own nose of since our trouble COM
dig at his eyes, which he will some day see to his
unloss his eyes far destroyed in the melee
hat he Is trying to get up with that will not be able
% anything. So much for the Mason and sdc tenn
pest
great deal has been said and done about PLACING
he seaports and boundaries Of tho State in a better
,tato Of defence; but little is known by the |
public generally in regard to the position Of this
question Immediately after the letter instruction Of
Secretary Seward to the Governors Of the States border
ng Canada. or having exposed coast calling their
ttenton to the necessity Of erecting aud repairing forth
lcatons, Governor Morgan addressed letter Secretary
oward stating that he, behalf OF the State Of New
Fork, was ready to cooperate with the govern
nent Secretary Seward immediately replied that the
subject had since his rst letter, been referred to the
Engineers Bureau and he woudno doubt receive call
rom Of the officials Of that department Governor
Morgan Immediately notified the officer IN charge that bc
was ready to furnish him with any information in his
power or cooperate with him for the purpose carry
ing out tho wishes Of the administration Before this
letter reached Washington, Of the principal .ocas
in that department started out of inspection
and examined every point Of interest on the border
Tho officials in Sdargc OF tho fortincaions in New
York harbo were at once given power to proceed
all necessary work and they say that State mid will not
necessary. Governor Morgan was informed what had
been DONE and that 1t then known whether any
assistance from the State Of New York would be neces-
sary And thus the matter rests as the action OF
State officials is concerned. The Governor does not
know himself whether 1t will be necessary recommend
any State legislation on that subject not whether
Congress- that is in session, will immediately tako
such action as will be sufficient to make the State mpreg
nae at all points likely to be attacked in the event OF
with England. And thus the matter at present
The general government are however, by virtue of the
per sona inspection the forts by an experncod officer
posses OF l the facts necessary for prompt and
immediate action Let Congress drop The niger for one
day and attend to this important question
The general government has givca notice that no more
volunteers sapted; the State authorities are Wow
ever to fill up al regiments commenced, and forward
them soon possible This notice is believed to DO in
bad taste fer there is doubt but that upwards
thirty regiments could be resulted during the winter IL
allowed continue. The federal government intend,
however, accept enstmsnts under their auspices
but far can learn this win be confined to the filling
up and increasing the ranks of those regiments already
the service Tho following statement shows what tho
State Of New York has done in the volunteering ine
besides the three months men. Tao Military
Board, created by the last Legislature, organized
hrtyeight regiments There have been raised by indie
pendent sources, and by the Governor and his staI
fyseven regiments of infantry ten Of cavalry AMI two
OF artillery, besides several independent batteries and
companies accepted for least sixteen regiments
and all with far less noise and urnp than that which
characterized the action Of the famous Military Board
This places the forces Of the State in the following cond
ton
Regiments Of cavalry 10
Regiments OF artillery ........................ 2
Total ). ..........,..... .1o7
There are also nlno independent batteries of some one
hundred and sixteen cach also fragments of regi
not yet organized into regiments, numbering
which there over sixteen thousand enrolled The
latter will be speedily consolidated into regiments as
their ranks filed up, that at least sixteen regi
menis win BIO filled up TO their full number This viii
make a volunteer force, aside from what has fur
nishsd for the navy and the regular armywhich together
numbers several thousand-of fully hundred and
TWEEN -four regiments, force Of about hundred
and twenty thousand-and all of that In less than
nine months Of time. And yet the resources of
the State are not in the least Affected war
with England would bring out that number
in less than three MONTHS aud then tho military capacity
Of the State will not be exhausted What other govern.
nen that Of the United States that has military
organization except little handful of regulars and has
made no prctensons at being warike Power could 20
ard do kewiseY And II this DO done put down
rebellion on borders, where may VIC place the
bounds OF power in a war with foreign naton2
from the and rumors OF wars, the marshalling
OF the brave for the great contest that awaits ma
ton turn TO the gossip aoat in regard the or
ganizaon Of the next Legislature We confess that 1t Is
like taking the reader from subject of Importance
from question that tho entire nation Interested into
one that only few housing politicians for. But 1t
Is only from these tto and apparently unmportant
jects that others formed which demand notice.
The hotels have been ro0cd swept and garnshed ready
for the approach Of the lawmakers and the vutres Of
the lobby who always follow in their wake as IL they
with their hands in all manner Of corruption and filth de-
served coan room and bed Congress Hall has been
overhauled painted inside and out rescoed papered re-
fitted and halls changed, until II looks like hotel