The national Republican., 1861-07-01

regiments now here are encamped on Meridian
Hill, in close proximity TO the Columbian Col.
lege, all Of them west Of Seventh street, except
the fifth regiment Col. Daunsll, which Is tie
last arrival. We took stroll through their
camps yesterday. The appearance Of the men
indicates the general good health which is re.
ported by the officers, and all the surroundings |
are as comfortable as can be expected in camp
life. The spirit of these regiments is excel
lent, and if they are called into action, they |
will come up to the expectations excited by the
reputation of their State.
Col. Howard, of the third regiment, who has
been dangerously III, was decidedly improved
yesterday,
A SKIRMlsB WITH THE REBEL PIckETs.-On
Saturday morning, picket guard Of the fourth
Pennsylvania regiment were attacked by band
Of rebels, who fred into them, killing two of
their men. The Pennsylvania boys immedi
ately returned the fire and pursued the rebels,
stumbling over, as they went, dead body some
distance of, showing that the rebels must have
carried the man to that place before they let
him fall, and q number Of pistols, side srmI,
&c. A number Of the rebels were undoubtedly
wounded, but how many is not known. One
of the killed was brought to the city yesterday
afternoon, and sent to his friends in Penns5l.
vanis.
AIr No marks Of the presence of pecuninry
stringency are visible about our military city.
The tradesmen are doing well. The old house
of Bininger & Co., of n. Y, who this season
established branch here, inform us that their
trade is steadily increasing and, we doubt not,
the same may bs said Of other houses. Mr.. 10.
seph P. Wilson is the Washington manager of
the Bininger house.
MILITARY CAPACITY OF THE SOUTH.
If the South could protect itself from inva-
sion, it could bear, with as little inconvenience
as any country, the consequences of being cut
off from intercourse with the rest of mankind.
The idea of starving the South by blockade, as
a permanent policy, is entertained by nobody.
The capacity of the South to raise food is in
definitely great. lit has not produced enough
for its own wants heretofore, it is because cot
ton-raising has been more profitable than corn.
raising, or was thought to be so. In addition
to this, the corn crop of the Southwest, last
year, was almost q total failure, while there had
been two years of failure in the wheat crop,
also, in the fine, farming State of Tennessee
Under these peculiar circumstances, it was pos
sible to inaict q very serious damage upon the
Southern rebels, BY cutting of their access to
the granaries of the West, and the Admiuistra.
ton has acted promptly and wisely in that di
rection, although greatly embarrassed by the
anomalous position of Kentucky. But mere
war of blockade, as permanent measure, in
stead of starving the South, would simply de-.
velop its capacity to produce food, and, in the
end, do the South more good, In that respect,
than harm.
The South can bear blockade, although, of
course, not without great inconvenience, bat
it cannot bear invasion. One half Of the pop.
ulation Of the original seven Confederate States
il always disa6ecsed, is kept in subsection only
by the daily use, or manifestation, Of force, and
will aock TO the standard of any invader, by an
impulse as irrepressible as that of water to run
down bill. And /. is this incurably dsafec,ed
half of the population Of the extreme South
which does all the work, and without which the
social system at present existing there tumbles
to pieces. "The mere presence Of hostile
army soN dem0ra!iss oar slaves" This was
the agonised exclamation Of john Bell, who, 10
right of bis wife, owns, or did own, a good many
of them. 1t is invasion which Is the genuine
terror Of all shareholders, and It is that which
will destroy them utterly, they do not yield to
the practical menace Of 1t, which will be con
veyed by movements in Virginia, which canpo,
pow be long delayed.
PaonorED,--Jobn Williams, who wss cap
tain of the main top on board the Pasmee, was
promoted masters mate on Saturday, for bis
noble conduct in the skirmish at Matthias Point
in which Captain Ward was killed. 1t will be
remembered that he told his men, while laying
of in the kpat lbat every man must die on hi,
thwart sd "a leave a man behind, and
when the hkg5lGG9 9l his boat was shot away
and the ensign a. although suffering from
q gunshot wound m 6e thigh seized it in his
band and bravsly waved it over his head