Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-05-22
Prom the London Tines Of The Sd Inst,
Tur rtvu. wlpfy AMERICA.

the ruler Of people bound by traditions or scIse Oh
duty 10 obedience He has not like an European soye-
reign the power of enforcing his requision either by
his authority, or by the assistance OF loyal Legsa,
ture He is eimply the first magistrate oil NUMBER oil
varying and jealous communities, each having It's own
organizaton it, separate interests and Judces ana
being fully capats Of making these prevail against inc
demands Of the central Government week did not
eapse from the proclamation of war to the second dis
ruption of the Union. Mr. Lincoln, at the middle oil
April was still the head of Confederation oil twenty.
seven States By this time these are PROBABLY reduced
to twenty-one. The energywe may almost say the ie
rocity-with which this has been entered INTO on
each side indicates conflict in which the doverpmect
at Washington will lose its control over events
The first effect of its action is to rsuse the two sections
of the Union into excitement, which, ACCORDING 10 al az
counts has not had parallel since the early DAYS Oh tue
French Revolution.
The long suppressed aumosity between the North and
South has burst into hlme To direct the course CT
this civil couhagraton would seem beyond the power OF
Lincoln on the one side, or Of Davis on the other-
Every Southerner has been suddenly filled with the Spii
OF the save-owner, while the vast communities OF the
North and West seem animated With all the Zeal o the
Aboionts Ii cetainly passes understanding that the
New Workers. who few months ago would nave ex
clu led negro from omnibus and were dsposed 10
Thick the ausavcry party very little better than the
blacks favored should thus on sudden rush TO the
extreme of animosy against the Southerners, win
whose claims they formerly sympithizcd whose trade
they mainly carried on aud whose plantations, IL eon-
mon fame does not belle them they have not nhirequehy
helped TO stock by importatons from Africa But To
doubt the fervcur of the New York populiuon Is I'M
possible and i is ,qused by the excitement AT fhua
delphia Cincinnati aud other great ciies- PRESIDENT
Lincoln has given the signal, but the battles VIII be
fou hi by independent associations regiments and COM
pauies arrayed against each other
The warlike character of the United Statess popuii-
ton has, no doubt, large part in these results FROM
his earliest youth the American has been accustomed 10
m ary display and to hear OF military adventure While
vet child he learns the of pistol and e IN the
towns there ara ling and marching, aud drumming
and fling almost daily, in which he az one, takes an IN
terest and soon to bear part His fancy IS IN
famed By stories OF the Revolution and OF 1877 tte
mythical it may be- but not the less insprtng Ali TINS
time however he feels that fates adverse TO hln
He il forced 20 play war; while his fathers and the
great he reads about had tie good fortune 10 wage
IT, II he takes 10 business he may forget these martial
instincts for tine but there are all over the states
young men in whom the love of adventure never be
Suppressed.
Even in the full tide Of prosperity an innate restless
ness often temps the American to sell out and migrate
to some distant part Of the Unon where the white
color merges into the wilderness 1t may be- tco that
the commissions of Europe, the battles sieges romantic
ex editions the downfall of trannies, and the e1al-
toa OF heroic names may have stirred the blood OF the
New World. However that may be, no sooner does tue
trumpet sound than the American people rush INTO the
conflict with aacrity which can scarcely ascroe to
political causes As far discern, the Northern
es have not stayed moment to inquire what Is the OBJ
iect OF the war; theJ not what Is feasible, or
prudent or advantageous. To conquer the Southern
States and to hold them By conquest is the Intention
which we logically deduce from the Presidents pro-
camation but the North thinks OF nothing but punish
ing traitors and pulling down the Palmetto tig IN other
words it 10 fight and probably any plan Tor wear
ing out the South by long blockade withou: fighting,
would be received with general dissatisfaction.
Ga the other hand the South is no less eager for the
fray. The Virguaus proud aud impetuou' and chahng
under the reproaches OF the Scesionss have met the
proclamation OF Mr. Lincoln, not only by immediate se-
cession but by acts of warfare which seem not nrpre
medtated. No sooner had the Ordinance OF Secession
pissed than Harpers Ferry the scene OF John Bro~ns
luckess exploit attacked by strong force OF Nr-
gniaus For the credit of the Federal officer il COM
mand we may say that he did not surrend-r 60
to the enemy. The place on the banks OF the Poto-
mac and the other side Of the river is 10 Maryland The
garrison destroyed the arsenal arms and munitions OF
war and escaped abross the river continuing their
treat l. appears, till they gained the more friendly re-
ron of Pennsylvania. But more important event, if
true is the closing Of Norfolk harbor by the Vrgusns
AID the possible capture OF the United States shpsoi-
war which at that celebrated station. Among the
vessels detained is the frigate Merrmac, among the
finest in the Federal navy The fact of the channel be-
ing eifeotusly closed is however, denied.
No wonder that the news Of these great events was
received with rejoicing at the South Virginia, from
her ent her population her position, commanding the
capital and the Chesapeake, her historical rdpnta ion
aud her gre, influence with those States to the West
which coonzed by her, will be an accession OF the
gre importance to the Southern Conederacy The
Virgiuians there can be no doubt, have entered ia
TO the struggle with extraordinary ardor They know
that their country will be the seat Of war; that on
them the first storm of Northern animosy mast fall;
that only river divides them from the City OF Wash
iugton where the troops OF some dozen Northern States
will be shortly collected burning with desire TO attack
L. 10 49, ia,
ment TO save the navy yard at Norfolk in short that
their lives their property and their existence as al nde
prudant Commonwealth depend on their courage aud
resolution during the next few weeks They will, IT ap
pears be at supported by the North Caronians,
Who though they cannot formally secede until Con-
yenticn meets have declared against the United
ates and seized the Federal forts On the other hand
We think it quite possible that the western part oil
Virginia viii decline to in its lot with the rest. The
region of which Wheeling is the principal city, has very
few slaves and the people almost much reeSoers
in opinion the people OF the Northern States IL may
we'll be that county will think itself justified in set
ling up the c,iT State, and will secede when
the general policy does not coincide With It's own no.
lions of duty or interest
NJ. EwarL's question last night not inopportunN
for the papers Just received give the proclamation OF
President Davis, authorizing the issue Of letters OF
matque. The South has few ships; the people OF the
slave States are not sailors, and allow their trade
to be carried on in Northern bottoms; so that the
North has every advantage in waging war, 80
far a. blockade and The transport OF troops by sea are
concerned President Davis ventures on the EXTREMIST
act OF hostility TO which ruler can resort. Privseer-
ing has been abolished by European Powers since 1885,
bu it will be remembered that wten after the Congress
OF Pans in 1856 England propose 10 the Uaed States
to on in this combination secretary Marcy scted the
propos al the ground that privateerDg Jus hi-
Die in ITSELF and absolutely necessary for nation which
did not keep up great naval armameuts In the present
he (ioyernmeut Wasliup threatens
10 treat pIvaeers es pirates, the ground that the
thcrity they sail under has legal existence. Should
this be carried cut and Southern privaeer be hanged,
We look for bloody reprisas the part oil the Coneder
ate States The passions Of all classes are aroused
and no one can ay to what length the fury of civil
will carry them.
DESPERATE AFrAiE IN 81. Lops.-The st. Louis Re-
publican OF Monday contains the following Item:
Night before last duriug the wild excitement which
regned everywhere the streets aav Occurred at
the Broad Gauge Saloon tetweea Dr.. George B. San
deson aud Judge Aylette Bgckner, two well known cit
izens. Dr. Sand, rson vas fatally stabbed receiving
three wounds either of which is sufficient prove
tai The particulars of the affair eaid by eye-wlt-
nesses to be as follows!
DR. Sanderson and a friend we're engaged in discus.
sion in the saloon when Judge Buckner passing by the
door, recognized by Mr. Scott acquaintance, aud
induced to enter the room The Judge did so, and at
once commenced conversation with Mr. Scott on the
events OF the day. dnripg which he made some RENAL ks
that DR.. Sanderson supposed applied to him. The DIR.
at retalated by striking Judge Buckner over the
head with his cane and the latter seized the assaint
without, as he AYERS, knowiDg who he was. A short
sculs ensued when the Dr. suddenly loosed his hold
and staggered against the wall excliIng He has stab
bed me-" Dr.. Sauderson at once conveyed 10 MS
residence and was found to have received three cuts
of which penetrated bis liver and the other two his