Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-08-12

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srR. RUssELL's LAST LETTER.
Curious aud Instructive Reflections
on the Change that has Dec urred In
| His Notes by tho Way from New
York 10 WaShtnEton.
There never was people that rushed so
rapidly to the conclusion that the argu-
ment of force was the great solvent and
settler of disputes as our American breth-
rem. See New York now-iust recolleet
what it was towards the close of last
March. Sumter cannot have made all
these banners, filed all these streets with
soldiers, turned these Laodiceans into
phrenzied UniOnists, and shut the mouths
of the disafFected. People who argued
philosophically about the right of seces-
sion and the impotency of the Federal
Government to restrain states from exer-
cising that right, have all of sudden be-
gan to find out that I'VE must save our
glorious Union! We must have coun-
try = and then they go Off into sophstical
arguments on the other sides about the
Mississippi, and unity of peoples and po-
litical necessities.
Had you always held this language,
good gentlemen, you might never have had
this present contest. You strengthened the
hands of the secessiouists, Just as you
weakened the Llnds of the United States
government, by indifference ornctual hos
tility to its measures which you displayed
when it most required support. One half
of theindignation, one half of the strength
you have exhibited since Sumter has fall
en-, might have prevented its ever being
attacked. Why are the Southerners so
much more irritOted nj New York than
any other pnrt of the UniCn but because,
in their own words, "she deceived us at
the Inst momentl Up to the taking of
Sumter, she pretended to be friendly, but
then, when that happened, whichshe SEEM
ed to approve, she turns on us more savagely
than even the Black Republicans" In
fact, though the government may not now
wish TO recall the circumstances, the tone
of the North in reference to points in pol
icy must have perplexed it almost as much
as the hostility of the secessionists.
1t is all very well to talk cf the outrage
on the flag, but before Sumter was fired
on, the flag had been exposed to insults
sufficient. IL had been hauled down by
force from United States Arsenals. The
Star of the West carried it as much as Ma
jOr Anderson's command, and she was
fired on one shot as eGSus JeHi or cdusa
bsii is as good as twenty. Why, when
arrived in the United States the newspa-
pers were treating ofthe surrender fFort
Sumter rs an abstract question, and the
headings about it and Pickens barely excl
ted languid curiosity in the minds of
ny men, aud Northern journals, not mere
ly in New York, but in Pennsylvania and
other States seriously warned the govern
Nel,s, : 70 hnlH IN
one or reinforce the other, they would be
responsible for the destruction of a Union
which at the time was manifcstly destroy
ed. How the tone is changed now!
can recognize no reason for the change in
l+events; butI can understand that behind
NIL this surface show-tlis varuish coating
which pretended to reflect public opinion
there was Il solid, deep and powerful
mass, inert, however, and needing strong
excitement to set it in motion, which only
hogan to heave upwards and burst through
1.-THE glaze when heated by the news that
the Stars and Stripes had been shot away
by rebel bullets.
| The mass is now at work in enrnest. 1t
is rolling over the land in lava streams
II may be that if an attempt be made to
check it the red hot floods will again break
through the official crust. While Mr.. Sow
ard, with the modest confidence which
distinguishes his vaticinations, was pro-
phesying that the "policyn of the govern
ment would win back the rebel States at
the rate Of one month, not only were the
seeded States preparing TO hold their own
4 in the course of secession moro strongly
than ever, but the Northern States were
beginning to agitate the question at issue
| in manner which might have inspired
one with doubt as to a peaceful issue. 1t
lis not improbable that up to the moment
of the fall of Sumter there were in the
| Cabinet at Washington statesmen who
| thought they could patch up tile quarrel,
and unite North and South byrunuing Ca
NADIA as a drag scene under their noses
! Indeed. it would certainly be an agreeable
| result if the 25O. 600 Northern troops now
lin the field could be united with the
| Southern forces in common raid on Brit
| ish North America aud on the Spanish
possessions. But North and South will
not agree to join. What may come after
battle who can say at present dismiss
| entirely from the mind of England the
idea, no matter now It may originate, that
there will or can be peace, compromise.
Union, or Secession till war has determined
the issus.
NEW YORK IS ARMS.
>How gay New 1ork Is Win uaSs! lne
stars and stripes AOOt on the faiuting AR
in the warm highways the shopwindows
are full of prints of martial character
soldiers. fremen, or corps of eccentric cos
tune, Ellsworth. Scott, Greble, battles and
charges, Tomkins and Sig Bethel. There
arc little Zouaves led by nurses aud old
| light infantry men, abdoEniuous and spec
tacled, on the tTonoirs. All the cleric tribe
arc in gray or blue glories. There are tents
in the public squares, rows of sheds in the
.splaces," wherein are soldiery quartered
who came hither ON their way 10 the sent