The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-10-31
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSDAY, 81.

THREE vessels arriving from San Francisco
in as many days, have thrown on us a months
mail matter for perusal. 1t is no less true now
than in years agone, that -e can only expect
'sa feast OF a famine The news received is
exceedingly interesting, albeit no bloody battles,
victories or defeats are recorded, unless we ex-
cept the skirmish which resulted in the surren-
der of Lexington in Missouri to the rebels. In
that State the rebel cause Is evidently gaining
ground, or was ut the latest adyices, (Sept. 2S,)
the whole force (some forty or fifty thousand
men) being concentrated in and around that
village, which, as will be seen by reference to
Il map, is situated ON the Missouri river, in the
Western part of the State. Great complaint
has been made against General Fremont, who
commands the Federal forces in that State, for
alleged inactivity in his movements to meet
these Rebel forces. The complaints, however,
are confined mostly to the Eastern papers, while
the Western journals are as loud and firm in
defending his course.
Another cause of complaint with the General,
is the bold position taken by him in his pro-
clImation. which will be found on the next
page. That proclamation, however, Is based
on the act of Congress, which treats the South
ern Rebels rs traitors to the national govern
ment, and recognizes them and their property
as subject only To 4 traitors doom. This is the
real character which this great rebellion question
must ultimately assume, and such Is fast becOm-
ing the unanimous verdict of the whole world.
Look 1T it n we may in it, most favorable light,
color il in Its most favorable hucs, il is still nat
tempt on the part of a minority to destroy their
government. In the language of 4 cotemporary,
the - sole cause of the war is the desire Of a
class to possess the government and to rule the
country for their own purposes and interest, by
virtue of their being shareholders. Defeated at
the ballot-box, they resort to arms TO carry their
end by force. The sooner we accept this issue,
the sooner we shall try conclusions on the real
merits of the question"
But leaving tine question of the ~propriety of
Fremont's proclamation, which is one of the
boldest pro-nunciamentOes ever issued by Il sub
ordinate military oficer-we find him occupy
ing at the latest adyices, the most prominent
position of any man in the American Union-to
whom all eyes are turned-some dcnouncing
him as unfit for the place that he holds, and
calling loudly for his removal, while the West,
almost a unit, stands up for his defense. Ere
mont Is now on his trial, with thirty million
spectators watching his movements. At the
latest adyices, he had just set out from st. Louis
at the head of Il large army of p, 900 men,
well furnished with every necessary equipment
that money could provide. lie evidently realized
his position. and was fastening on to meet the
The game is Il desperate one, and on the
issue rests his future reputation. If he wins
the battle and conquers the strong forces ne has
gone to meet, the whole North will shout such
praises rs no conqueror has ever received; on the
other hand, if he is beaten and the rebels win,
he will he denounced rs i coward and Z sham,
and it would be better for him, SO far as his
future reputation Is concerned, if he left his
body on the battlefield. The next news from
will probably tell the story, and will be
exceedingly interesting.
Turn we now 70 the Fast. The dark cloud
has of late been hanging over the devoted
of the Republic, is beginning to brighten.
the glimmering strcaks of light which are
now seen through it. show that bright skies will
soon Tighten up around it. y mail or two ago
had adyiccs of the capture OF Fort Hatteras,
and the surrender of Commodore Barron of the
rebel navy, and go rebel officers and men. Be
yOnd the fact of an engagement and surrender,
little notice was taken of the occurrence. Ii
now appears that this Is one of the most import
mt events of the war. To understand its i'm
portance it Is necessary to state that ~ilattcras
Inlet. which is about ten miles South of Cape
is the principal and only practicable
,ntranee from the sen To that extensive range Of
inland navigation known as Pamlico Sound, Al
Sound. Currituek Sound. Bark Bay, the
rivers Neuse, Pamlico, Tar, Pungo, Roanoke,
Jhowan, Pasquotank, and North, with the Dis
nal Swamp and Albemarle Canals leading right
- Norfolk. and to Wisc's county of Princess
L. L. In .--..-Is tLn trnl- If NnNLrTn :