Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-11

1t may readily, then, be imagined how Gen.
Frenonts proclsmation increases the difficulty
the sections Of the Cabinet. Lest it might be
supposed that the la. eonfsosting slaves who
bad been employed by their masters against
the United States in any way, which Congress
passed at the last moment, and which the
President signed 60 reluctantly, has been taken
by Gen. Fremont as his authority for the edict
he has put forth, it may be as well to point
out that he goes so far beyond the terms Of the
s'atnte as to lberate the slaves of masters who
are IN rebellion against the government, and
30 far as his district extends, therefore, he
would, If successful, hberate nearly all the
slaves, because there can be but little doubt
that vast number Of the masters in the South
are IN rebellion against the government of the
United States. To the democrats of the North
wao are at this instant talking Of guarantees
for the South, and the revision of The constitu-
ton In the same breath in which they speak
OF the vigorous prosecution Of the war for the
Union, and denounce secession rs revolution,
the doctrine, founded as it Is on the underlined
powers Of martial law, must be particularly
Questionable. 1t may be q bold stroke Of Gen.
Fremont to attach to himself a coherent mass
OF the Republicans, or 1t may be simple act
OF war without any dTrtere peBSse. At all
events, 1t Is embarrassing. The commander
OF the forces in the West Is an ambitious, bold
and enterprising man, but 1t will surprise me
to ind he proves very great man. He is pro-
fuse In expenditure, energetic in action and
speculative in plans, but still I doubt whether
he can effect all that Is expected Of him the
material at his disposal.
OR OBSTACLES AND ENCoURAGENBnTs.
1t will require success in war and great dex-
terity to make Kentucky safe for the Union;
greater still to recover Missouri in spite of the
extreme weakness, feebleness and Ignorance
of the Confederate leaders, and their inability
TO turn their advantages to account. The war
ofthe colonies with Great Britain must have
oeen conducted very much in the same fash
ion on both sides. The vast size of the States
and the enormous distances to be trayersed
THnder It impossible for mere fighters to do
s-ything except kill and wound each other in
guerilla, I'll a leader, some soldier who
kro~s something about the A Gf his pro-
teS:'"a, rises up and reduces the efforts of his
followers to systematic mode Of warfare Ii
Il pitiaOle to see the Union distracted as 1t is
out fear the condition Of things will become
worse instead OF better.
The CLEAN Of sunshine from Hatteras has
thrown dark shadow across the South It
has revived the hopes of the North, and gilded
the Weathercoeks Of the Navy Department, not
forgetting the msch-abussd and ard.working
Secretary, Mr.. Gideon Welles.
Bat for the present it is not considered pru.
dent to attempt the reduction of the fort de-
Tending Beaufort, or Of other works further
south, where all will be put ON the qmi vipe
lor detenes oy the recent operation. For q
snort time to como they will have . respite
The land forces are, as you will see, engaged
In sklrmlsnes and In the preparation for deeds
to come, and 50 great are the issues and so
thoroughly bent are the northerners in their
object down here that no one who believed in
the report OF Mr.. Jefferson Davis's death-and
there were many who did so-spoke of it as an
event which would influence the course of the
- a. r.
though some considered il unfsir that he
should be permitted to baulk their vengeance
and escape the gallows. Gen. Beauregard has
been feeling his way along the front of the
Confederates, from Alexandra below, to Great
Pals above the capital. There are the usual
doings in scoutings and shootings going on
daily, and Munson's Hill, which is only two
miles outside the Federal lines, and can be
Plsinly seen with glass from the navy yard,
Is occupied, and is said to be fortified by earth.
works and batteries. Is General Beauregard
abost to try second Sebsstopol? 1t would
be curious and interesting military spectacle
to see an investment Of the south side" over
again aud two armies engaged in making sp-
Proaches 70 lines Of earth works, and defending
them, with q city on the water, and a long
bridge, and q navy yard, and q good
many other things incidentally resembling
the position before the Russian strong
hold. Scarcely, I think It is quite Ger
march on the 18th Of August to cross the Po-
tomac, aud cut OF Bank column, when be re-
ceived the news that Gen. Mcclellan forseeing
the probability Of such q movement, had bsf1
fed him by ordering Banks 20 withdraw from
harpers Ferry and concentrate his forces
nearer to Point Of Rocks. In the present state
of things Q serious action may occur at any
mousnt From Gen. Smiths troops mp at
Little Falls / hear accounts unfayorabie to
success IN battle, as the troops are said 10 be
IN very bad order, though the officer in quss-
tion Is one Of the best in the service. The
army here seems to be in better order, and
Gen. Mcclellan considers IL is making very
fair progress. Still IL is difficult to Judge The
men are kept in their camps; q Gordon Of sem
tries Is drawn round each regiment, and not
msn is allowed to 20 out unless he has a pass
or Is permitted 70 bsthe or market There
have been all kinds Of rumors and alarms of
Usr-nOcturnal marches Of infantry and bat
tsries through the street. The night before
last distinguished little crowd came to nv
window st the small hours to ask the meaning
OF movement Of troops towards the Chain
Bridge and Little Falls. Gen. McCIellan, at
midnight sent out two brigades and q reserve
OF guns in consequence Of intelligence that the
enemy had approached in force across the
river that day, and there were the Ministers
OF two foreign Powers, rich banker, and
anxious 70 know "R the Capital was goins to
be attacked" -..--- =
In bis letter Of Sept 10th, Mr.. Russell writes
ss follows respecting --4
THs RErIREKESr OF fHs REBBL LIMBS
All that can be seen or heard leads to the
belief that the confederates are preparing for
some great effort, and that they have retired
portions Of their force from before Washing
ton, either as q device to blind their antago.
nist while making it, or 20 cooperate with the
rest Of the army by . serious demonstration
above and below the city. If the COnfederates
have moved, they mean to do some mischief
They can scarcely retire and hope to make q
better leap by doing 80. In inactivity on both
sides, coupled with prodigious expenditures,
re the be-' Il not the only chance Of oompro-
mise AM peace Success on either side reyives
the hJFss ct Doaplste ultimate triumph Of the
oDa, and stimulates the animosity and the dis
play Of the reso drces OF the other. There is
one thing to be taken into consideration as
al element Of peace During the winter
the armies must 20 into quarters Even
20 far south ~ Virginia the weather ia fire.
Quenty very severe; snow lies many feet deep