New-York daily tribune., 1861-09-11
THE CIVIL WAR I'm AMERICA.
isl COnespondenee Of The London Time.

ror BoVu UT ior e' inc Issue between the North and
Souh is rapidly approaching to that which the soutb
predicted and feared and the North at first disayowed
and does not now altogether accepts the struggle if nj
continues, VIII oe narrowed TO contest betweenI
Slavery and Abolition 1t Ii not improbable thai in
day or two, the President will declare that all slave,
within the lines of the United States arrny becom.
free. On the very last day of Congress the bin which
sets free slaves belonging TO Rebels engaged in war
was signed with reluctance by Mr. Lincoln, and Wa
all but lost by lapse of time, for had he not been per
suaded to overcome bis scruples, the Congress would
have adjourned without the signature of the Presden
having been gwen to that act. Indeed but for III.
prolongation Of half hour agreed upon, the .eps.
ture could not have been obtained as the President a,
first refused peremptorily to put bis name 10 tie b
alleging that "it will lose US Kentucky" bu, there
was pressure Of Senators put upon bin. ard h.
yielded Mt last but ten minutes before the Houfes ro,e
On such occasions the President comes down 10 his
room in the Capitol and atxes his name or receives
official visits of the Legislators and if the clock had
not been put back, and the sttings carried on be-
yond the time agreed upon for the adjournment,
this bill conld not have been presented 10
the Senate. But now after the lapse Of q few days.
il ia said that step far in advance Of thai measure
will be taken and that the glove viii be thrown down
to the South and the Democrats of the North we.
If So there can be longer any doubt 10 the ma
ture Of the fight as to the means TO be used in it,
but it argues the possession OF courage and
self-reance the part of the Republicans TO offer
battle on the question at the very moment thai the
Democratic Convention Of New-York has refrfsed to
act in common with the Repub leans, and when "a
peace at apy pr1ce and compromise you party
il beginning to make itself heard IN the Northern and
Nortb-Western parts of the Union. In revolutions
the moderate politicians who start up before the last
act of the drama approaches IN order to become med
ators or to propose terms TO the conendng factions
are generally crushed between the upper and the
neither millstones; but there exceptions 10 that
rule-the violent and fanatic sections sometimes
either neutralized absorbed by the asts
miiieu. Much Americans might wish for such
result, and greatly as European politicians wOnld
really desire the reunion Of the States by the agency
of compromise it is hoping against nope to expect they
will be gratilied.
Before Manassas some wonderful combination Of
good luck and dexterity on the part Of The devil OF
COMPROMISE" might have led TO an adjustment, OF
patching up of the torn seams and tatered nag OF the
Republc. The North could not now IN honor submit
to amalgamaion with all the taint OF base metal on
her part Of the compound The continent OF America
could not bold Northern men IN the face OF defeat,
insult and contempt from the men OF the South. Ae
well might the comrade OF ancient Pistol hope 10 hive
ON GOOD conditions with his trucuent friends became
he had submitted quietly 10 the pulling OF bis
and the kicking of his person basis Of amity and
equality. Philosophic statesmen, like MI. Sumner,
NAV not be affected by such considerations. They
look like him, to great principles. Mere Ame1esL
politicians, caucus-mongers, wire-pullers, IKE Mr.
blair do not appreciate any result which does not
produce an immediate effect on the votes Of the
Houses the appointments to office, or the egerdeman
of official lite, in which they are all gorying and dis
porting. Men who have studied patiently and long
he whole of the political mechanism Of the Umon are
40 much enamored of the fneness OF the machinery
and the beautiful play of ts parts that, like Mr. Sew"
ard they think if all the bits are put together little
oil applied, and the steam got well up, with good
whistle 10 clear the way against England Spain OF
some European power it 10 sure TO preserve its con-
sistency and run ts course ae OF yore.
Meantime troops are pouring INTO the neighboYhood
of the capital. Although Gen. scott Is perfectly Tsn-
oniI and ia quite satisfied the Confederaes can make
no aggressive movement without signal chssisement
aud defeat Gen. Mcclellan il most uneasy and sppre
hensiye of danger, and is urgent in demanding
men. He prefers his demands on all who come near
him. and Senator, one al least, was 80 much im
essed by his statements that on bis own respons
Dity and without any communication with the Gov
ernment he teegraphed TO the Governor OF his
State 10 send on at once every regiment he could
ter TO Washington. Acting on his own account and
/ without Gen. Seotts knowledge, apprehend, Gen.
Mcclellan has also from time TO time sent regiments
TO points which he conceived TO be menaced noet In
need Of reenforcements He s very short IN proper
confinement Of cavalry and field artillery. Hls troops
are as raw be; the officers not whit better as
vet thsn the Bull Run officers In fact, his army is
not a fighting machine which can be handled as a
whole nor do think the Confederate are much bet
ter in sny way except IN cavalry. The material Of
some of the Northern regiments cannot be eIcellsd.
Splendid men, young tall, robust, intelligent, and
customed 10 adventure; II the workmen knew thelr
business there is plenty of stuff 70 make good army
in their hands Ny estimate Of Mr.. Jefferson Davis
forces in cavalry and guns not far wrong bat by
this time he has probably received reenfoFcemens TO
bis horse power and has certainly increased his sri-
lery But after all what will another battle effect
ESen ii the result at Manassas be reversed there 10 NJ
Tie likelihood that more will be done than increasing the
feeling of bitterness between the Extremists and fresh
loss OF lfe for the Federass would be as little able
| 20 improve victory the Confederates were, and
! even the possession of Richmond or OF Washington
would not enable the vctors 70 dictate peace II s all
very well to talk of army OF 5OO,OOO men. IL u
large force; but if it be- America is still larger than
its action rapid development Of the Railroad sys.
tam has ef parts Of America In which this war must
he waoed destitute of ordinary roads, and the difficulty
OF moving provisions and mat<riI enormous IN com
parison with any part Of Europe Nor Is the country
IN for such marches be made across the steppes
as in India or the open lands Of Europe. Such roads
as exist are generally cut deep in the SOIL with high
banks the land is covered with high forests and the
cleared fields filed with stumps fatal 70 horse OF
wagon. Then there are great rivers and mountains
passes foodless and desolate An army OF o0O,0 men
scattered over the Southern frontier Of the United
States with the right extending down into Missouri
on the borders Of Arkansas and it's left resting on
Fortress Monroe represents feeble chain which could
be broken at any place. IL 1t forms IN strong corps
the difficulty of transportation of food and 50terI
arises 1t is greater than one would imagine wnc
has not seen how widely scattered is the population
/ The State Of Georgia, for example, whieh Is IA
( large all England, has less than q million o.
/ people. The further these corps advance, TIE
greater must become their difficulty They must
divsrge as they advance, aud the enemy will get 10
between them and operate in their rear and on tne
communication with their bases. The people OF 10,
South declare they ready for guerilla war and
ths remarks have made presuppose there rs no ares
amount of Union feeling in any OF the seeded Siae'
which would revive aad become active on the appear
ance of friendly army. II we were TO Judge of the
States generally 10y what is taking place IN Missouri
however, il would seem rs II q large number OF the
inhabitants preferred 70 let Unionist and Seeess onis,