Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-05-01
WEEKLY SENTlN Ell.
WE6NEsDAY.......a........uAY !, 1854
me Policy of the south.

Nothing is definitely known as to the policy OF
the Montgomery Government. The intelligence
from that quarter is exceedingly contradictory.
jar. DAVIS is reported to be at Richmond,
Charleston. Pensacola and Montgomery. late
account states that he is at Montgomery seriously
IN. This is probable. His Congress meets there
.O-day, called to decide upon the policy which it
hall pursue, and it is not probable he would be
absent at so critical period Then twas stated
that BEAuREGARD was at Richmond, marching
with an army towards Washington, but it turns
out that he is at Charleston making preparations
for an expected attack there, and no movement
of troops North was anticipated. STEPHENS is
also reported as having addressed the people on
his route to Richmond, urging an attack upon
Washington, while other accounts represent that
he advised them to pursue their usual avocations
as he thought peace would soon ensue. A cor
respondent of the New York Tribune. writing
from Havre de Grace under date of the Doth inst
gives the following rumors in reference to the
position of STEPHENS and the feeling in the South
ern States:
have very interesting intelligence from North
CarONna, GeOrEla, NTglnld anu OOutu OdEOiiiii
given me by one of the most respected citizens
of Brooklyn. L. l., who arrived this morning on
his way home from Southern trip. he saw
Vice President and Assistant Arch Rebel Ste
phens at Goldsborough, N. c., on Sunday last
He heard him speak, and saw him drink. The
entire population, one and all, great and small
turned out to hear him, and with them went my
friend. Mr. Stephens appealed to the God OF
Nations and Battles TO witness that this conflict
hQ Qi1 of tho South n and
which no honest Southern man could shrink from
without endangerng bis eternal welfare, and
presume he added bodily comfort. He was then
on his way to Richmond and Washington, and
with his long skinny finger pointing to the flag OF
the rebels, he said, with startling emphasis: Es
AND TO WAsHINGroS, tchere, please God not long
hence yon beautiful emblem of our liberties iriil
lcare in triumph and t0reUer." The enthusiasm
created by that announcement cannot well be
Overestimated The people all shouted with a
great but broken shout: they cried but with happy
tears and the fair ladies waved their dampened
handkefchiefs in feeble imitation of the flag, and
threw bouquets at the thin and almost spectral
prophet, with graceful earnestness he lifted
hand and eye to heaven. All through these States
SAYS my friend, the enthusiasm is very great
Boys wish to enlist ladies cheerfully equip their
protectors, ministers exhort their charges to GO
forward to this religious war, and but one senti-
ment publicly pevvades the country. On Sun
day, troops left Goldsburgh for Fayette, at which
point there is a fort, which fort they intend to
take.
The dispatches to the Cincinnati Gazette from
Washington states that Mr.. STEPHENS at the last
dates was at Richmond, and that he made
speeches all the way up from Montgomery
eounselling the people to be calm, and telling
them that peace would prevail among them
There may have been intention on the part
Of the DAVIS Government to have taken the
capital in case of the secession of Virginia and
Maryland, but there have been no movement OF
troops yet Of sufficient magnitude to attempt such
a design. The attack upon Hrper's Ferry and
the navy yard at Gosport, was undoubtedly a
movement of Virginia exclusively. and for the
purpose of securing the arms known to have been
at both of those points for the purpose of arming
her own soldiers. The Governor of that State
was empowered by act of her convention "to call
into service of the State as many volunteers
az may be necessary to repel invasion and
emergency" but beyond this there is no evidence
of aggressive intentions. Is it probable that so
important and decisive movement as an attack
upon the Capital would be made by DAVIS with
out ample forces, guided by the best military
skill of the South More than this, the Mont
gomery Government must be fully aware of the
state of feeling tie North, aid the impossi-
bility Of holding Washington even if it could
have succeeded in capturing it by coup de etat.
We believe the policy of the leaders in the Con-
federate States is strictly defensive excent to
take possession of the forts and public property
within their jurisdiction. Beyond this there
win be no aggressive movements. With the
South it is fight to maintain its independence
and they know, as well as we that it will require
all their resources to succeed in such a struggle