The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-08


soon be also in position to return thanks for
the like favor. We hope 30.
The Impending Battle I'm Virginia.
The intelligence which Is hourly received
over the wires from Washington, renders it
evident that general engagement may very
speedily be looked for, between the federal
troops in Virginia, and the Confederate army
at or near Manassas Junction, or Harper's
Ferry. Outpost skirmishes have already taken
place and the two armies are 80 near each
other that conflict cannot be long delayed.
The Southern press is sanguine of approaching
victory, and foretells the entire triumph Of
their cause, before the lapse of many days. A
considerable number of influential republican
newspapers in the North, forebode, also, the
defeat of the patriotic hosts under Generals
Mcdowell and Mansfield, and entertain the
conviction that they are not numerous enough
to cope successfully with the greater strength
they imagine Jefferson Davis can send into
the field. If this sad anticipation should be
realized; if insurrection should gain tempo
rary Roadway, within the coming fortnight, it
will not alter the final result of the war that
has begun, for Northern energy, means, and
determination will be certain TO overcome in
the end; but it will raise an Outburst of Just
Indignation against the administration, not
easily to be quelled Such disaster, as even
the loss of single battle, would be solely at
ribuable to the lukewarmness of Mr.. Lin
coins advisers, and the country will hold
them responsible for it.
The people Of the loyal States, have been
aroused to their present state of enthusiasm,
in favor of the maintenance of the integrity
of the republic, by no ephemeral or tran
STORY feeling. The law Of selfpreservation,
would sufficiently account for all they have
done, and are willing to sacrifice, rather than
permit our nationality to be destroyed
Added to this, patriotism, reverence for the
past, and respect for established authority,
have excited the public mind to fever heat, and
the programme inaugurated on the 18th of
April last, has been approved because it is
founded in that imperishable love of country,
which will not permit the REIMBURSEMENT of
any of its parts, but prefers every other Gala
nifty to its disintegration. A cause so sacredly
cherished must eventually prevail. Men, mate
rial means, and money, abound, and have been
lavishly offered to the government, for the pur.
pose of crushing out the rebellion at single
blow; but, if more time shall prove necessary,
it will neither exhaust the patience, nor in
fluence the determination which exists never
to lay down the arms that have been taken up,
until the flag of the United States shall once
more float victorious, without the loss of
single star.
The leaders Of the instruction have staked
its whole future upon a single die. They have
chosen Virginia as the field where the desti-
MES of secession are to be decided. If they
win, in the coming battle, they may gain short
respite from overthrow; but it is too poor,
and the political elements over which they
hold sway, are too disunited, to leave them any
chance of accomplishing their ultimate objects
A large proportion of the Southern population,
even in the seven States which first withdrew
from the Union are loyal at heart, although
they silently acquiesce in the heartless reign
of terror established over them because they
have no means of resistance. Their voices
must eventually be heard, and momentary
triumph in single locality will not pre-
vent q reaction in their favor, from taking
place, before any serious lapse of time. The
defeat Of the Confederate forces would, Of
course, break rebellion into fragments at once
A panic would take the place of the over
weening arrogance that now prevails, and
treason would have ceased to show its head
before the expiration of three months. Had
the Washington administration, been alive to
the exigencies Of the occasion, such result
would have been as inevitable, as it now b
considered by the republican papers as doubt
full, and the lives and treasure that may have
to be expended, could have been saved.
It has become automatically certain, as we
long ago predicted, that the requisition of
troops by the President, was wholly INSULT.
cient to effect the purposes for which the war
was begun. Popular sentiment of the North,
has manifested its distrust of 80 small an array
of force, by the voluntary prefer of four times
as many men as have been demanded. Five
hundred thousand soldiers could have been
armed, equlppeo anu i'll tne nelu IL tuer services
had been accepted, and there ought to be at
least half that number on rebel soil to-day.
If the melancholy Vaccinations of administra-
ton organs are fulfilled, and reverse is sus.
tanned at Manassas Junction, or Harper's
Ferry, instead of a signal victory being won,
an outcry OF resentment against the govern
ment will echo from Maine to the Rocky
Mountains. The people will feel that they
have been the victims of lukewarmness, want
of decision, and red tape ineficiency, and will
not pardon loss Of life and advantage which
proper forethought might have prevented.
The resolve to restore the integrity of the
Union will remain unchanged; but they will
call to bitter account those who have caused