Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-08-09

, States can cooperate with each other for the
common defence against foreign invaders; Tor
mutual frcc-tradc between themselves; for
uniform duties upon imports from foreign
countries; for q common post office and mall
system. w
sible. then arrange for n pcaceable separation
and a Dro rata division Of tho common proper
ty, with reciprocal treaties Of arnity, commerce,
mails, &c.
Whatever plan, either Of reconstruction or
seuaralion, might be adopted by the convcu'
ton. should only become binding upon the
States after being ratified by three fou!ths OF
| tho eleven Confederate States, and also by
three .fourths Of the twenty three United States.
Nh suppression Of hostilitiss for three months,
and the turning of mems thoughts to plans OF
mutual benefit instead Of mutual destruction,
would be almost sure 10 open the eyes Of both
sections of the country TO the wick
ednrss OF the war, on the one side or on both,
and to result in its speedy termination. This
alone would be n great point gained, and would
probably lead to u satisfactory arrangement o.
the main question at no distant dry.
THEY WANT orR COTTON.
\ New York letter to the Baltimore "Sun,"
of las, Saturday, says:
The nriva'c mercantile lcttrrS from London
and Liverpool by the Africa are pretty much Of
the same tenor ai those received by the pre-.
yious arrival. Tho anxiety in regard to the
supply of cotton is increasing. 1t is said that
there is, or soon will BE-, 4 strong pressure Of
! the Government 70 unite with the French En-.
peror in y formal ni:r Of arbitration, not with
the expectation That tho Federal Government
! will accept, but that the Confederate accept.
Ing, 4 prricyt will be thereby afforded for
some sort Of European intervention which will
not only solvo the cotton question, but give
tho North other work TO do besides making
war on the South.
Tl!:l:D OF SOLDERING.
The Baltimore Sun" Of Saturday, says:
Yesterday afternoon the First New Hamp.
Shire regiment, Col. II. c. Tappan, the last Of
the three months troops attached 10 the army
of the Shenandoah, arrived at the Camden sta.
! ton in = train Of Ears from Sandy Hook, Har.
prr's Ferry, and passed through North. The
regiment numbered about $50 men, and they
brought with them their arms and camp equip
ucnts. They leave behind, in General Banks
camp, one invalid soldier, and seven prisoners
in the hands Of the COnfcdsratcs. They were
captured while inraging rear the Point Of
: Rocks.
4 train reached the Camden Stallion at an
early hour yeSteidly morning bringing $50
troops from CUl Mann's Pennsylvania reserve
regiment, who had refused to be sworn IN;
consequently tlicy were detached from The
regiment uld ordered huHe, their arms being
retained.
The remaining companies OF the regiment
arc so much dlsC-gaaizrd that they vii! either
be attached % some o.hcr regiment, sent home
or d:sb:rdei. II is more than probable tina,
General Mccall, g? Pennsylvania, will snpar.
sedc General Eaaks il the command of the
army Of IL; Shenandoah. i majority Of the
regiments composing That army a7e from Penn
~sylvania.
The early train from Philadelphia, which
reached here about I o'clock yesterday morn.
inC, brought on = command al $50 regulars Of
the United States service, who proceeded to
Washington in the S 20 train.
The week which closes to-day has been dull
in military movements, as compared with the
twu previous weeks. Oalr about ., 900 troops
have passed through Baltimore for Washington
and the upper Potomac, while not less than
TO- 900 mcu have returned home from Wash
ington and this city, thcir term nj service nav
ing expired
THE SOBER SECoSD TI0uuar-rIG rEAga or
KETALIATIc%.
Tic New York "ri:ncs" says:
The letter from JEFF Davis 10 President Lin.
coin, in regard to prisoners O. war, raises a
question Of a great deal Of aelicacy, but ofatill
more Importance, and which will very speedily
demand a decisive answer. He states that if
the privatccrslneu Of the Savannah, now in
custody in this city, are executed or impriSon-
ed as pirates, he will ret .iiatc on our prisoners
! who may be- in his hands. Il, OF the other
band, they are treated as prisoners 0! war, nc
is ready to regard mad exchange them as such.
Davis unfortunately has it in his power TO
. make this threa: effective. He has in his
hands u very large mnmber OF oir prisoners,
and will Internationally ~rc:aliato upon them
! whatever treatment We may extend to these
pr;ratctrs. President LlncoiG, III MS p:ocla.
nation, has announced hs purpose 10 treat all
who may accept letters Of marque and rcprIsal
! from the Confederate Government as pirates,
| and the general sentiment Of the public would
! unquesiionab!y sustain him in so ding. II
| cannot be concealed, however, that the current
Of events may render il necessary to act with
caution in this matter and not take q position
which may augment greatly the horrors, great
enough al best, ofttlis civil! war.
By taking and holding prisoners at Ill, 1t
would seem to br recognizing the Southern
States as bel ;gerents.
We do nor, therefore, concct!c TO them any
civil rights, nor in the slightest degree commit
ourselves 20 4 recognition of their political
existence. But We do conccdc that they are
entitled to the benefit Of those ssusages which
obtain among all civilized nations in y state Of
way. We exchange prisoners with them; We
treat their men taken in arms rs prisoners OF
war, and not Us rebels, and We recognize the
sacredncSs OF fl1ys OF truce. Vie arc by no
mcuns sure that We 10 nc! thus put ourselves
in n position which will render it necessary to
recacrize their issue Of letters Of marQuc, so
far al least, as to distinguish it from piracy
We shall, undoubtedly, soon have a PROPOSE
ton from one side or the other, for an exchange
Of prisoners; and then this matter must be
finally settled.
Greeley, whose paper set out with fierce
abuse Of various officers Of the "Grand Army"
whom he charged as the authors Of the woes
Of the 2lst Of July, has completely backed down,
under the fire he has provoked, and begs for
quarter in the following:
I'VE wish it to be distinctly understood that,
so fer rs We are concerned, we admit that every
| General or other commanding officer engaged
in that derlcrablc battle, did bis entire duty as
4 stra,eaist and 2 hero, and that no blame
whatever should be attached 10 anyonc. And
now, having conceded all this, cannot we be
| relieved Of Ihesc u~n:1nely discussions? r
The "Tribuno" says, the rebels confess to
the killing and wounding at A1anassa "of ITO
of the celebrated Black Horse, or Hampton
Lcrion.' Confusion COMPOUNDED.
The corn crop in. New York will require q
warm Augus. aid September to make even