The sun., 1861-11-26
THE NEW YORK SUN
TUESDAY MORNING, NOV. 20, 1861.
The New York City Press,

| UyOul' JOhn COchtane in lis late speech to hi,
regiment, the sentiments OF which was report.
ed to have been coGcurrcd in by the Secretary
ot War, docs not seem to he understood ,likc
| uy the papers. The construction put upon /.
by the following letter, brought to light bv the
Tribune, may probably be the correct one. The
writer will lie recognized a. the editor Of the
Albany iJyYs, during the many years when
that paper greatly influenced the polite. of the
state, and ever an incorporating Hanl Shell
Democrat. Ills views, it appears, arc endorse /
by Mr. Dickinson:
Ngw YoRK. Nov. 2O. l~5I.
MY DEAR SE: Your eloquent ntl 4 ,iguittlu.
: speech To he Chlsscur-, with its indnr. .1i.ii
/ uy the Secretary Of War has produced A u,rka 1
sensation IN all quarters. am glii thu, YOUR
positions on the subject are such A, thry ARE
and that you have taken them without ami
| guitv or hesitation. As the middle ground be-.
! tween extreme action on the one sdc-,hc sur.
/ render OF escaped or captured sltNos to tn. ir
| owners, rcbCl or loyal-lnl extreme action ON
the oihcr-thc abolition dc,hn'ions of eman,i.
| patirn-it viii meet with general approval ~
,'gh'iy nders'oo5, excepting in abolition quar-
tcrs.
The distinction is a mic, ono, but as think.
Obvious Fremont lvOws tn Shibholcth of
Aholitonism, and ignores the right Of property
IN slaves. You recognize it, anl seize The slave
as any oihcr rebel property AMI convert Dc tp
public uses precisely ,s you would rebel muri.
tions OF inIlcncntsof war, ani turn It against
the enemy, or hand it over to loyal or Uuon
citizens.
You disclaim and rcpuliit Abplilioni,m.
Fremont prociiims EaIlcipt'i,n a, a primal
oigect snd result oi the war AMI captured
slaves, nsicdd of being used a. material OF
war, arr to hc let loose upon free or Slave COM
inunitica as thcv may prefer You capture
them a. you wOull ship 4 llrt an SO.pnundcr
or muskct, and, as a military necessity, de-
puVc the enemy Of q material Of war, aud anply
II To the use. OF the cap,uis. In this light Il
becomes an element Of strength, not only In the
conduct Of the war, hut in the enforcement of
the Laws and vindication OF the Constitution
over the designs OF treason and rebellion. In
the Abolition or Fremont sense ii becomes AN
element Of weakness AMI division, and inter
rupts vigorous and united prosecution Of the
var
The first great duty il IN rut down this cause
less anl most hnqiiou. Rebellion th, next, to
restore ths luion 10 its inliyi.ibility OF the
full performance Of the first, and much sooner
than many, myself included, thought practical
hlc, have nov no doubt. The second will not
he without its dificul,cs. Ii We ts.c,tablsh
the Constitution, after rcprcssing and Furnishing
the Secession violation OF IT, AMI require implicit
obedience To IT, provisions, no EXTENDED question
OF difference AMI irritation can arise that will
produce sctiru, agitation and conflict But. If
"c seek to accomplish th' first great pur-
poSc-thc suppression Of the rcbrlliUn-hv
\huhtiyu mrins AMI positions, We shall r..
tud TINT mugh-dc-ircd cou-umna'iDn, AMI
probably Illustrate the second m ucrisL putpn.,
u the war OF at least, Law the iuuu lttipn of
iutmc d,ss IsioUs, ucrimun.cs uui alterations
The I'DnNe aul the Ecs,iHg Pact end d,i,or to
convey tho impression thar you go further in
tho Abolition direction than Fremont. 10 NV
Wow, your positions ato antagoui.iicll to IRE
mont; aud they constitute tho dividing line e.
tween the lmini,trtti on aud the Uaipn f.elint
oi the country ul tn, one side, AMI Ab1litiouism
ani Secession (both looking to the permanent
dtsintesratlon Of the CniOn) on the other. But
10y dly AMI the energies OF tho government
will prevail.
selrciafy GaTmcroin GT" Rias e8RdEdtsY nr ribllNAih
our great lee, under tho difficulties viii \
environ "A government unaccusomcl TO war,
aId especially civil war, has won for him tn,
admiration OF the country, and a position Of
high favor with the people.
Sincerely your friend and ohcicnt servant,
EUwlN CRoSWElL.
Col. JouS Cocm,Nr.
P.S.-Mr. Dickinson, who is now in my of
flee, allows me to say that he fully cOncurs in
this view OF the question.
The correspondent OF the Times, under date Of
St. Louis, November 10Th, gives the following
account Of the now gun and tugboat,, fleet
which are being prepared to descend the bli-i,-
sippi:
This morning paid a visit to Carondelct,
and other points where the gun aud tugbOats arc
being constructed. TIL" greatest activity pre-
walls, and II is promised ON the part Of the build
ers that the fleet will he ready for service in
three week. | cannot give the exact fore,
but there Is q sufficient number, | think, to
make passage TO New Orleans via Memphis,
a, 81 IL,
boats, the Benton has a flagstaff erected from
the upper deck, from the top OF which ilOits the
American flag, while on the bottom is nailed
sign, "For Memphis ani New Orleans"
Tho Benton look, as il this somewhlt ylunt-
ing advertisement could he male true with no
great trouble. II l. built 50 that, when ready
for service, little will be presented above the
water-line save the muzzes Of the guns and the
top OF the smoke-stacks. All tho machinery is
under water and this part is 50 divided into
watcr-tight compartments that, in case ball
should enter one il can do no material damage.
The sides are slOpcd at an angle OF about forty
five degrees, and are covered win iron plates
two and Onc-hali inches in thickness, securely
bOlled 10 each other anl through the heavy
timber beneath. Each plate has been sub
mitcd TO adequate tests, and is calculated 10
resist any missile known to modern warfare.
The low is pierced with four port holes,
through which viii prOtrulc the muzll Of four
i2-pOuud ParrOtt guns; ,he stern will have two
pieces Of the same sort the sides will have each,
six Of those formidable ten-inCh columhiil',
whose range is only equalled 10y anything tri-
fe less than iniinity. The magazine is perfectly
inaccessible TO accidents of any kind, and il
placed bsow The watcr.liuc near the stern. This
brief outline of the Benton will serve as a spac-
men for nearly all the balance, The tugboit7
are like all those black dlpper-lookins little
! craft that may be seen anywhere where there !,
a tolcrsJlc amount Of ofuayigation.
|