Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-16
w. d. WALLACH.
Mr.. RUssELL,s LETTERS TO THE
LONDON TINkS


6ept. 18th. We subjoin extracts:
TRAVELLING AND CoNsULs.
may as we'll warn Englishmen who intend
coming over here to visit the South, that they
will not be permitted to do so. Their pass
ports, without which they cannot travel in the
States, are countersigned by Mr.. Seward in
these words: 1t is expected that the bearer
will not enter any of the insurrectionary
states" Passes to visit the lines are given
with reluctance, and sometimes are refused
altogether. Permits to 60 South are refused
on the ground that the Presidents proc lama
tion fOrbids all intercourse between the United
States and those in revolt; and new the road
through Kentucky, hitherto open to those who
were not bound by the terms Of their passports
to remain in the United States will be closed
How our Consuls are to act it is not easy to say.
They cannot communicate with Lord Lyons or
with their chief at home, and they cannot get
their salaries unless q ship of war be sent to
communicate with their ports. The utmost
delieacy and caution must be observed in the
preservation Of our neutrality 1t would be
well for our American cousins could they un-
derstand that there is difference between
neutrality of a nation and neutrality Of senti-
ment the part Of the persons composing it. A
nation may preserve neutrality, and the SYM
pathies ofits people may be nevertheless all
on one side.
POSITION OF WASHINGTON
Washington is the National Capital, and
whatever distinctions the Americans of the
Union party might have drawn as to its pos
session BY either a foreign or internal foe, the
effect or the nations Of Europe Of finding Mr..
Jefferson Davis in the White House and the
Confederate Senate in the Capitol must have
led TO something more decided than mere neu-
tTality and non-reeOgnitiOn. 1t has beer sug-
Eested to me that Washington himself was in
duenced in the selection Of the site by consid-
erations Of a military character, which related
TO an absolute defensive power in the position
itself.
1t Is not easy to believe that the general ever
looked 30 far in advance as to provide against
q political contingency in which the Capital
would be menaced either from the North or
the South but if he did, the ground was
chosen well, especially in view of that which
is now taking place. The success Of the British
expedition is no proof that the place was badly
selected as regards naval operations and for
elgn enemies inasmuch as there were no defen-
sIVe works on the river at the time.
Whatever the military value of Washington
may be, there can be no question that those
who are happy enough to live in it are exposed
20 some disadvantages at the same time in con-
sequences Of the alarms Of war to which they
are subjsct. Every gun fired sends thrill
through the city. The people run out TO the
door steps and to the windows-others get on
the roofs Of their houses-some cluster on the
front Of the public buildings and gather on the
lofty rising grounds. Soon Rumor comes with
tremendous twanging long bow and lets off
awful squibs and CRACKERS among the men and
women. along the avenues, and up the by
streets and narrow lanes.
THE cOsFEDERATEs.
The path of the Confederate Generals is be-
set with difficulties, the greater part Of which
have arisen from the want physically Of trans
port, and morally Of enterprise and daring,
and in the torpor which came over them after
the battle Of Manassas. They have now an im-
mense body Of armed men to oppose any move
thew rna maka Whila airht
they would have met only mutinOus mobs. Act
ing on the larger and from the outer circle,
they are exposed to the operations of the Fed
erslisss, who can move on infinitely shorter
lines.
The Potomac is an immense wet ditch, only
10 be approached at three places for 40 miles
unless roads are made over the mountains and
mas .es of rock covered with forest, which form
its banks from Harper's Ferry to Washington
almost uninterruptedly. The confederates are
suffering much from sickness; but the worst
part OF the season has yet to come, and the
South rings with applications for warm cloth
ing, medicines, shoes, and similar necessaries
for her troops.
AN IMPORTANT FACT.
The officers Of the regular army, however
much they may love the Union, do not, as
body, love the present government On the
contrary, they regard the greatest number of
the Cabinet with aversion, and detest their
principles. II is hard for men to fight for q
cause with good heart, and at the same time
hold in contempt those who have that cause in
hand at the moment. I was talking to an off,
Ger the other day in front of his tent, around
which were standing six other officers The
conversation turned on Gen. Fremont's procls-
nation, and one said, ''if this be made a war
against slavery shall resign, no matter what
the consequences may be-" I don't think there
j1in in and say, 81 would do the same" On
inquiry / found some were Marylanders, one
from Delaware, one Virginisn, one from Ohio
and one from New York, andit was remarked
70 me that every one Of them had voted against
Mr.. Lincoln.
PHASE OF SECESSION.
The black republicans. somehow or other
are not considered ''genteel {" They are noted
ss Questionable and low, and il is odd enough
TO see men who tobacco sugar. and ri9e
merchants, swelling with indignation at the
idea Of being ruled by set of hungry lawyers
and politicians, sprung from the very lowest
condition in society All men are equal, but
it by no means follows that the man who sells
tobacco behind q counter is equal to the man
who grows tobacco for sale on bis own estate
The North has got the taint of commerce upon
il; the South, from its broad fields Of profta-
bic crops, worked by negroes, turns up its re-
fined nose at the smell OF the lucre, though not
indifferent to the thing itself.
Asone ofmy friends expressed il, ''the North
may put what construction they please upon
the war, and shout for the Union as they please
We are determined never 70 be ruled by a set
Of Iow-lived blackguards, and" excuse the
vords) "sufer our property to be at the mercy
of the loafers in these oyergrown towns This
Is a DaT of gentlemen against tie rule Of
SH06s." The snobs are not always beaten in
such battles, and, according to one definition
Of that peculiar race, IL may not be easy to de-
tsrmine how far they may be distributed on
both sides. Any way, it is most miserable
war, and the sooner it is ended the better for
America and mankind.
GEN. xcLELLAx's POPULARITY WITH rHR
ARMY.
To-day there were two alarms, the first sbou {
2s'clock. One was created by firing across
the river, which died away, and proved to be
from the guns in the works, which it was
deemed desirable TO reload. About 4 o'clock
the noise Of q cannonsde up the river towards
the Chain Bridge reused every one again, and
in spite Of the rain and threatening weather
the people got on the house-tops. Gen. McClel-
Ian and bis staff rode at full speed to the
bridge, which is about FIVE miles distant, but
before they arrived the affair was over, and
A. arriva1 tr A. k.ar