The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-06-19
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser,
THURSDAY. JUNE 10.



BY the SpeedlceH and Phantom we are in re-
ceipt of foreign papers. from California to May
3lss, with kilograms from Washington to May
oath, being from the latter point, some fifteen
days later than previous advices. During that
interim, the city of Norfolk, which is an i'm
portant naval station, was taken possession of,
on the 11th of May, by Gen. Wool, with 1000
troops. The Navy Yard will Immediately be put
in repair, and again become a principal resort
for government vessels. The destruction of the
rebel iron-clad vessel, the Merrimac, by her crew
is no great loss, as she could never have been of
much service to the government in the war, and
would undoubtedly have been condemned. Her
destruction removes one source of anxiety from
the Northern cities.
We expected to hear that Richmond was taken
and occupied by the federal troops but large
armies move very slowly. At the latest dates,
May "A, M'Clellan's forces were within five miles
Of that city. and if, as a Prussian officer says,
his army is perfectly irresistible, he will not re-
main long before it, but pass through and beyond
it. The Rebel Government, including JEFF. Davis
and his Secretaries, with the records of their
traitorous acts by courtesy called archives, had
fed southwark to Danyille, q small and safe re-
treat, to abide the result of the advance on Rich
mond. That city has no very important fortii-
cations about it, yet the rebel troops will un-
doubtedly make a stand there and fight, but as a
retreating army can seldom be placed in a posi-
tion &c insure a victory, they can only fight
against hope. Where the rebels will retreat
to is simply a matter of speculation. Their
bounds are daily being narrowed, and a surren-
der of the leaders will soon become inevitable.
The proclamation of Gen. Hunter, Comman-
der-in-Chief of the Union forces in Florida,
Georgia and South Carolina, p~roclaiming free
dom to erery STARE in those States, is n most re-
E.arkable and bold step for any general to take.
Il is somewhat similar to those of General
Fremont in Missoari, and Gen. Phelps in Missis-
sippi, but goes much farther, proclaiming abso-
lutte freedom to all, slaves of loyal or rebels. AS
a consequence, it is reported that there had been
n serious instruction of slaves in Charleston.
The President promptly disavowed the edict, and
that it be revoked, which places the
slave question just as 1T was before-all g con-
trabands'' the property of rebels, seeking protec-
ton, will be received by the federal forces and
employed as servants, not to be returned to their
From the recent action of Congress in abolish
ing slavery in the District of Columbia, which is
warmly approved throughout the North and
from the resolution recently passed by the same
body, that slavery in the territories, which are
the national domain, as much as is the District
of Columbia, is new and shall forever be pro-
is evident that the public senti-
ment of the North is undergoing a great change,
and that some action in regard to the manumis-
of slaves, 50 far as it pertains to the rebels,
I'll - - l. -
restrain this growing public sentiment is the
task before the President, and a most difficult
one it is. 1t belongs to him to hold back the
popular spirit rather than to urge it on and this
appears to be the position which he has taken.
Born and brought up in II slave State, he is not
unacquainted with the peculiar institution he is
called to deal with, nor with its arbitrary advo-
Gates and supporters; and while he has enough
of anti-slavery sentiment to approve of any judi
cious measures brought to operate against it, he
will not seek to move in advance of the popu-
lar sentiment. His conversative course thus far
has won over to him such men as Mr.. Crittenden
of Kentucky, who at the time of his election
had no confidence in lis ability. but now admire
his policy.
The State of North Carolina appears from the
advices To be wheeling back into the Union line.
Gov. Clark has sent JEFF. Davis word that no
more soldiers can be obtained from that State,
and all North Carolina soldiers in the confede-
army are to be recalled, and further that no
forces will be permitted to pass
the State ercept 10 return 10 fheir homes. |
his looks very much like backing out of the
ebellion- The governor would never have taken
hese steps unless supported by TIE majority of
ne people Previous to this decisive union ar