The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-10


ne eseres and detcncss along York r.vsr.... 4NcO
pa,esas and dsteuces along sappshaanOck river 4000
BatE esve, Charlottesville aud GOrdonsvile..... 5000
Stsupton NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1900
VIE batteries ct and near Aqua creek ....... 1000
Guerr.lss torgsnizea) observation-disclosures. 5000
7o,a, in the aeld ani under orders. .ls7 700
And aso another ssasenen: showing that there were
aaion 10 600 troops under aud resdy TO march
N MOTH Cora, which could De concentrated ut Weldon
ard tropeh. 20 any point IN virgus where they ught
BE reesed, In very short time. The plan whca ne
msed was foT three corps darmse OF % 900 each to
vance On Alexandria and Washington, to be drawn from
Richmond, ~ nchbuJg, Manassas Gap, Fredericksburg,
Petersburg and Cupepper he places OF these troops to
be supplied by fresh ones) With these 10 600 men, and
Syllable parks OF artillery he felt confident Of being able
10 take The capital and he trusted to the enthusiasm Of
rte South 10 raise 30 600 10 rush 10 Washing
tcn and prevent s being retsken II II deemed ad
vhatie u hold IT, The deaiis of the plan showed 1t 10
be vel c1reidsred and to hold out at least possibility
CT succefs. But 1t wss steadily opposed rom the first;
t!st oy JEFF Davis, and after wards by ener Beaure
gsti, it quickly abandoned, not because 1t was
regarded absolutely mpractcable because 1t wa
judged iney peden to take Washington ani difficult
perhaps even impossible. TO hold II.
On the question Of Harpers Ferry, also, was under
f:cod there vas some disparity Of views. General Leo
for oeosive operations here also. Ee deiired to
strengthen General Johneon 10 enable him to leave
he batteries web served while he him elf with 6O000
Eocps, gh9ula attack ard rout the Ohio troops
General GcCeand, and drive them out Of Virginia But
10 fuch We've prevailed
j. was understood that the general features Ct the
csmgsgr, fusly agreed on, these-FirBt that Il
be strictly Defensive that the Potomac is to be
ceesed IN auy event. that the various bodies OF troops
are 10 remain for the present where they ars as ud
Gated IN the table above that Earpers Ferry ia 10 be
held as long it seems practicable but abandoned
CT not, as circumstances may warrant; toat
the Lice Of The Manassas Gap Railroad, extended
10 the mouth OF Aqua creek, liz to be the
fret base of military operations That this Iue no de-
fenced by So 0o0 men, to be strengthened by Is
cre if deemed necessary, but that it ia to hold stand
made there, and battle fought there, before 1t shall bs
pdoned.
This Plan was first suggested by JEFF Davis. /. was
warmly seconded By Gen. Be1uregard and Gen Lee has
cordially sssented to It, 1t involves Of course the fate
q Gen Johnston and he does evacuate his post Il viii
be much strength added to this line TIE possibility
OF being defeated this line hardly entertained by
The rebel eaders. lady however, asked JEFF Davis on
Monday evening what they should do If the Norhernere
forced Them back from Manassas There will be few
Jeff, madam replied JEFF, to be forced back But If
such fate, have other lines defend AM other
hards TO defend them
while thus guarding the Northern approaches, the
rebel chiee not unmindul of the fire in their rear
threatened by Gen, Butler II is feared at Richmond
that there s deep significance in tie apparently dila
tory movements Of that officer. You will remem
Der that in q former letter described the prepa
rations that hsd been commenced, in order to
defend Richmond from an attack from York
river and the impressions that prevailed even there w,
weeks sgo,) that II Richmond attacked it would
by troops sailing up York river aud landing twenty
miles from the city These preparations have been CON
tinued since, and, although not completed are al
ready formidable. They consist now Of the numerous
batteries along York river, which, 1t is said, million
duas have been expended OF extensive breaetworks
rd Ireuc hments and both masked and open batteries
places where She troops land and Of earth
works and Publications from ha. point TO the city and
batteries the hills in the suburbs So that while fear
ing possible attack from General Butler they are pre-
pared &c give him warm reception.
Look out therefore, for all sorts OF rumors OF an at
Warrington. But believe them not. Let the eve
CT The observer be fixed On Manassas Gap Junction
There the FIRST battle win be fought aud it will be
bloody one,
THE BLOCKADE OF THE SOUTHERN PORTS
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
good dc al has been said about the legality az respects
foreign nations Of the blockade established by the Pres
dent of the ports Of the insurgent States
10 respect to Brazil at least there is no nesd Of any
discussion.
In the FIRST place. Congress has the right and has exer
cised IL Of directing what ports shall ports Of entry for
the unloading OF forcigu vessels subject to a compl
with the constitutional provision that no preference
is 70 be given by any regulation Of ports
of State those OF another Congress accordingly
for sufficient reason abolish port OF entry
foreign vessel OF commerce (bockade blockade
would have right to enter the abolished ports without
danger Of forfeiture.
FoTther Congress has the right and has at times ex
ercised IT, OF determining into what ports of country
foreign vessels OF. war may be admitted.
The treaty stipulatons with Brazil in regard block
AIDES ana free ships Tree goods apply TO mmeree
Of Brazilian vessels with nations at with Uosd
States and not TO OF Braz liam vessels With
insurgent sections OF the United States Itself.
There is provision in our treaty with Brazil, that II
any vessel OF theirs has ed port Of an enemy Of
the United States and taken 10 her carg, before the pr
actually blccka FED by the United States that she
shall not be prevented from quitting ouch port with he
cargo.
Even this provision is not applicable to the case Ia
nand for the porte of the neurgent states not In h
principles OF international law, recognized as
mics, do they ''belong to enemy Of the Unte1
States but they in the possession Of insurgept
zns OF the United States and they belong TO the United
States
Snen Congress in 1912 prohibited any vessels from
leavi the ports Of the United States except vessels ia
ballast with the Of the President the term OF
ninety days provision was inserted in the act that
SUN prohibition should not apply foreign vessels
ballast or with the goods put on board OF them before
notification oil the act.
This wss done to prevent other nations from having
any claim asant US 10 Indemnity Tor Injury thsif
commences and so in the we I'VE now 10 deal With
il for the good OF the country lid be necessary D.
reiuse departure flon potts of vessels OF
other rations whose cirgoes were actually oa led
potts before they had notice of our Intention 10
blockade them and TO stop commerce with them ~ Gle
principles would be bound TO indemnify such oretyn
natl for the injury they sustained in I1eucc III
such and il fefueed 10 do 1t they would nave jus
csUse OF complaint against US.
The true course would be let 'egn essels in bal
last leave southern ports at and TO allow aem 10
depart with ther cIrgoes laden before To had notice
OF The intention Of the government 70 blockade such
I@r;s.
linen lie; Congress, when it msets, abolish all Southern
ports as ports Of entry for vessels OF nerce a11
designate the ports witho which foreign ermef veseIs
sha be permitted 10 Understanding, OF curse from
the list the ports Of the nsurgent States
Il0ckade e co.oiu.