Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-26
DAN. MAcAuLEY, Adjutant.
An Eng lishman's View ON the Ameri.
can War..Mr. Russell,s Eighth Let.
ter to the London Times.

can Nar-.Mr. RusseIl's Eighth Let.
ter to the London Times.
MosrcoxERr, Mayo.
The exultation of the South when the flag of
the United States was lowered at Sumter has been
answered by shout o indignation and battle
cry from the North, and the excitement at Charles
ton has produced reflex action there, the energy
of which can not be described The apathy which
struck me at New York when landed, has been
succeeded by violent popular enthusiasm, before
which all Laodcean policy has melted into fer
vent activity The truth must be that the New
York population did not believe in the strength
and unanimity of the South. and that they thought
the Union safe, aud did not care about it. / can
put down the names of gentlemen who express
the strongest opinions that the Government of the
United States had no power to coerce the South,
and who have since put down their names and
their money to support the Government in the
attempt to recover the forts which have been
taken. As to the change of opinion in other
quarters, which has been effected 40 rapidly and
miraculously that it has the ridiculous air of
vulgar juggler's trick at fair, the public regard
it so little that it would be unbecomng to waste
a word about il.
expressed belief in my first letter, written
few days after my arrival, that the South would
never 20 back into the Union. The North thinks
that it can coerce the South, and am not pre-
pared to say they are right or wrong; but l am
convinced that the South only be forced back
by such conquest as that which laid Poland
PROSTATE at the feet of Russia. 1t may be that
such a conquest can be made by the North. but
success must destroy the Union as it has been
constituted in times past. A strong government
must be the logical consequences of victory, and
the triumph of the South will be attended by a
similar result, for which, indeed, many Southern
ers are very well disposed To the people of the
Confederate States there would be no terror in
such an issue, for it appears to ME that they are
pining for strong Government exceedingly
The North must accept il, whether they like it
or not. Neither party, if such term can be APP
piled to the rest of the United States. and to
those States which discaim the authority of the
Federal Government, was prepared for the az
gressive or resisting power of the other. Al
ready the Confederate States perceive that they
cannot carry all before them with rush, while
the North have learnt that they must put forth
all their strength to make good title to their
lately uttered threats. But the Montgomery
government are now, they say, anxious to gain
time, and to prepare a regular army. The North
distracted by apprehensons of vast disturbance in
its complicated relations, is clamoring for instant
action and speedy consummation The counsels
of the moderate men, as they were called, have
been utterly overlooked.
have already endeavored to describe the por.
ton of the State through which / travelled, and
the aspect of Charleston, and will now proceed
at the risk of making this letter longer than it
should be, to make few observations on mat
tiers which struck me during my visit to one or
two of the planters of the many who were kind
enough to give me invitations to their residences
in the State. Early one fine morning started
in a coasting steamer to visit a plantation in the
Pedee and Maccamaw district, in the island coast
of the State, north of Charleston. The only
nf ain in If
from the report that the United States
squadron coming to blockade the port, which
would have cut off our line of retreat, and com.
PEELED us to make long detour and a somewhat
difficult journey by landing. seeing that the roads
are mere sand tracks, as the immense numbers
of rivers and creeks offers some excuse for not
improving the means of land communication.
Passing Sumter, on which men are busily en-
gagged, under the Confederate flag, in making
good damages and mounting guns we put out a
few miles to sea. and with the low sandy shore
dotted with soldiers and guard houses, and
clumps of trees, on our left, in a few hours pass
Santee river and enter an estuary into which the
Pedee and Maccamaw rivers run few miles fur
ther to the northwest. The arid barren pine
covered sand hills which form the shores of this
estuary guarded by rude batteries mounted with
heavy guns and manned by the State troops, of
whom we can see strolling along the beach, or,
with arms glancing in the sunlight, pacing
up and down their posts. On the
left hand side there are said to be
plantations, the sites of which are marked
by belts of trees and after we had proceeded few
miles from the sea the steamer ran alongside
Jetty and pier. which was crowded by men in uni
form waiting for the news and for supplies of
creature comforts Ladies we're cantering along
the fine hard beach, and some gigs and tax carts
fully laden rolled along very much as one sees
them at Scarborough. The soldiers on the pier
were all gentlemen of the county. Some, dressed
in gray TUNES and yellow facings in high felt hats