New-York daily tribune., 1861-11-04

fuence of which the South is in rebellion ard the
North would rise if it could. The sentiment of the
North il becoming, not united, but unanimous.
" The Union the whole UDion and nothing but the
Union,p is the cry. The Democrats shout it as
loudly as any, for fear of Lafayette the devices OF
tie RefuLlicans who would direct the popular cur
rent aganst them; and, indeed the Dem0ctanc
party could as little afford the disruption OF the ke-
public their antagonists.
| The idea of the Union is, in plain English, the
idea of one sole dominant power in the whole Coz
tinent of North America. And if / were native
Of the United States Of North America, would
fight for that idea. Tie contrary notion may spread
rapidly if the South succeeds. Already we near
IGalf Republic and Texan Confederation spoken
Of; long ago there was talk Of party in California
anxious for separate national existence for that
State which will probably increase II 1t is found
that the United States can give it no more OF the
national property in roads, expresses, and pcslai
expenses And now there are hints that IN the
fnllness of tine the States in the West and North
West may think it expedieBt to form Repuhllc
Of their own, inasmuch as they have no particu-
lar interests in common with the other States, and
derive special advantages from being governed
at Washington. There ID no fear OF the failure
Iof republican institutions, except in their demon
strated rover as agency by which to govern
and keep together one vast Confederation. No mat
ter how many separate States might be formed,
there can be 10 doubt that IN all would the form
Of Government be REPUBLICAN in greater or less de-
w
olina and fewer in other States, who express ahkng
and preference for Constitutional Government or,
at all events, for strong Government, the prineple
of repabcanisIn is grated deeply IN tho hearts OF
the American people and they could not be other
wise than Republicans if they desired it. Sure,
said an Irish overseer on the railway the other day,
/ "God help them they've got no gintlemen IN ms
country at all at all" Ire social syrtem is Ike
their street railways, very accommodating Tor tne
mass but utterly destructive 10 your peace II you
IN d,iv in n pViy en-
which aristoeracy could be formed does Lot eA,t
TO any extent the Upper Ten Thousand with all
their graces wealth, and luxury-their accomplish,
nents OF good breeding-do not desire to and could
not march in the mail Of Howards, Lindsays or the
Monimorencis. So far republicanisin is fate,. :.
At all events, the people Of the Northern States
are going TO fight their battles IN their own way hiu
their ground, without interference VL con.,v,
Mediation aud compromise were rejected long ago
Even the Cars friendly letter produced from mr.
Seward only q brief Acknowledgement, ana mas ro'
leo TO any suggestion Of arbltraton Ihet otlhs tue
case why don q the armies hght Inc Oohe9eie'eS yer
do no. ght because they DO not wish to risk the iale
of their army on single battle in front OF WaShinS
ton. and have the utmost confidence In deiGy-why
il is scarcely possible TO show eonclusively. liner
troops are not TO be trusted in an stack on the hhe
Of esrthworks and batteries which cover NasninBtoh
and eNtepd from Alexandra TO the Chain Bridge nj
IIttle Falls. They are just at present on Tue ue-
lensye and hope 20 eniioe the Feuerasts 10 ATTACK
them. No one knows what is the real posie9n o.
their right on the Potomac, but begin 10 DOUBT IL
they have the means or lhe guns 70 couiana .ne
river. though can scarcely think that any OF :heir
Generals would wilfuly abandon the plan OF dong
IT. With guns and men enough. 1t III perfectly
plain they could command the Potomac completely,
and over an army under their iire shouiu II 30
please them much more readily ana safely than 10y
any foIding of the Upper Potomac. As have mao
occasion 10 point out, the ground occupied by inc
armies ID uniayoratlo to fighting ana ltis no Sls,
paTagement 10 the men TO eay they coui1 nos 20 @
on 10 march acroes the open up 10 weltei'eu guns
in heavy works and take them st the point OF ths
bayonet The Eedcralists have weltfounded dislike
10 make another advance on Manassas. Drlii. aLu
reviews will do much, but Time Is neeced lor ei'hei
to do it, work The difficulty Is with the officers
rather tnan with the men. One OF Tombss troop oil
IS,sgal Artillery, who was over here looking iof
s.rvieo after turn IN Italy with Garibald sad TO
u4e the other day, " Why, Sir. We seen oincers OF
cavalry here VINO don't know how TO get upon
horse 10 sit him. or 10 get down when they are on.
They don't know how TO draw their swords or
return them when drawn" Bat tne gunner was
rather q ZOus. To nave 80 many otifers Win some
idea Of their duty is marvel.
Tie more look at the situation the more the dif-
Gculties Of Generbl McClelan's position gIow upon
me. He has not sufficient troops, considering their
inexperience 10 divide bis army just Row into two
bodiesOne TO proceed against the enemy, the other
adequate 20 hold the works round Washington, and
10 make them quite safe in Gaze OF reverse or reg
ular assault Ii is quite oeria!n that the Conieder-
ates have fallen back upon Manassas, aud are there
Ia yery great force. IL is Just close c,uongb
10 Washington 10 render II impossible for Mcclellan
tO move an army ont on either hAnk without bring
ing on 81 action which must lead him TO face the
old position Of the Confederates from Bull Run
aud Manassas to the hills on their left, covering
the approaches 10 Richmond. Although tho Mary
landefs may be discontenIed, there would he no
manifest Inconsistency In Beauregard remainii g
still and inviting attack whereas the programme of
tho North must be carried out by oilenfive opera
/ ii ns by TN invading army Sooner or later
Mcclellan must beai to move, and think that In
eight OF ten days from this time he will make n
demonstration 10 feel the force Of the enemy, which
may lead TO a general action. or may decide him to
try the fortune Of war by changing bis Poeion and
operating in another quarter. An English subject
who has just arrived from Richmond says that there
has been good deal Of sickness among tho troops,
but that they are rapidly recovering, that the food ia
plentiful, and that the men well clad in the best
spirits and perfectly confident of victory. The talk
il the army indicated an advance against Newport
News, and against Fortress Monroe IRON Hampton.
The latter must prove tremendous blunder. Moth
ing short Of siege can reduce the work. The
Norfolk NavyYard was a scene Of great activity; |
all the sunken vessels had been raised, and nearly
all were ft for service, and it was expected they
would run past the fortress, and get out TO sea,
where they may operate serious diversion. Ger
tanly, il they do, the United States officers must
have ost the art Of keeping bright lookout" for
which they are not undistnguished. The escape of
the steamer Bermuda from Savannah, if true, is
another instance Of the neglect of the officers. Her
cargo invaluable to the Confederates; among
other necessanes were 20 tuns of gunpowder, the
supplies Of which, owing TO tho want Of sulphur,
weie very short in their army.
The expedition, which viii sail soon after the dis
patch of this letter. will proceed from the Northern
ports and from Annapolis TO rendezvous of the coast
Of North Carolina. The force from this place will
consist, as I informed you, of 1900 men, under
Brigadier-G General Egbcrt Viele, formerly In the