Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-24
WHOLE NO. 1,101.
Special correspondence Of the Chicago Times.
Important from Washington.

Important from Washington.
Relations Existing Beturesn the General-in Chief
Of the Army and the Secretary Of Wdr-The
Key to the Pacific Declaration ef N0poIeOn-
Effect of the Recent Union Victories on the
Probable Duation Of the War-On ichdt b.
sis shall the Union be Recommendations
dent Threats of the English AbOlitiOnists.
WAsHISeroS. February ID.
During the last three days, the Generalin-
Chief of the army has been in constant commu-
nication with the Secretary Of War, at the house
and request of the latter. On each of these
three days important orders have been sent, both
by mail and telegraph, to Gen. Halleck, Gen.
Buell., Gen. Hunter, and to two other Generals at
the head of divisions, signed, as such orders
always have been signed, by the General-in- Chief
of the army One of the New York papers,
which was at first duped by the silly story of Nc
Clelan's degradation to the mere command of a
division, now retracts its errors, and gracefully
says that Mcclellan continues TO direct, as he
has heretofore directed the grand national cam
paign; and Secretary Stanton is too happy TO
have such an arm 10 lean on" Yes-the bril-
liant victory at Somerset: the capture of Fort
Henry, which isoates both Columbus and Bow
ling Green and renders them both untenable the
brilliant expedition up the Tennessee river to Al
ALBANIA and Mississippi, the very heart of the Cot
pVocCootoAi
Island, are all parts of the grand plan ofthe cam
paign formed by the General in Chief. and the
execution of which he confded TO men whom be
knew he could trust.
Since my last letter. the full text of the address
of the Emperor Napoleon 20 the French Chambers
has been received here and scrutiRized by every
one with the greatest interest. There are great
many French gentlemen now in Washington.
and they all agree that the passage in the speech
which refers to America may be construed into
highly beIigerent sense while it is impossible to
put upon it perfectly pacific construction. Read
the passage in the original, and it will be seen
that, when the Emperor says that our civil war
has great, compromised the commercial interests
OF France, he uses the strongest possible expires
sions. And facts at this day exist which substan-
tiate what the Emperor says At this day there
are in the tobacco warehouses of Richmond,
Lynchburg, and other cities in Virginia. FIVE mil
lion dollars worth of tobacco owned by citizens
of France. bought on the spot between the
months of January and June, 1861, and paid for
in French gold coin; each cask. hogshead or box
bearing the distinct announcement that it belongs
to a French citizen. There may be i've times
that amount, but that much know Of. There is
Also in the interior cities of Alabama and Mis-
sissppi, twelve million dollars worth Of cotton
in bales, the property OF French citizens, bought
and paid for in the same way. The owners of
this property live in France. They feel no un-
easiness at all about their property, satisfied that
they will get it in some way.
1t is possible that the recent Union victories at
Somerset Fort Henry and Roanoke Island will
speedily be followed by others at Fort DOnelson
and Columbus, and by the occupation of Bowling
Green. the Cumberland Gap, the North Carolina
railroads and those in Kentucky and Tennessee.
These successes of the Federal arms viii not ter
inmate the war, but they will give it an entirely
different aspect from that which il has worn du-
ring the last three months. Their greatest effect
will be abroad. If the French Emperor has not
already committed himself to a hostile policy, he
will, in the view of the possible final success of
the Union cause, pause for a few months longer.
and wait the course of events. If. during the
next few months, the blockade of the ports of
Mobile, Savannah, New Orleans, Galveston, Mat
amoras and Charleston be made really effective
by the actual presence of ships of war, the proba
biites that the Emperor will not interfere for
the present. But if the blockade shall remain as
Ineffective as it has been, and if Beauregard shall
succeed in stemming the tide of Union victories
in the West, there is not the slightest doubt that
both England and France will actively intervene
in favor of the South. If these expected Union
victories take place, the Southern military lead
ers will merely retire to their next defensive lines
and make an effort to hold them. But if there is
as much Union feeling in the other Southern
States as has been recently manifested in Ten
nessee, it will then unquesonably manifest itself
and lead to efforts, both at the North and South,
to put stop to the and reconstruct the Union.
The question, "On what basis shall the Union
be reconstructed7' is already engaging the atten-
ton of the leading members Of Congress, and
will probably soon be discussed in their speeches
The only plan yet actually proposed is that of that
crazy fanatic. Charles Sumner, briefly alluded to
in my last letter. You will not be surprised when
l say that this detestibe project of annihilating
at one fell swoop fifteen sovereign States, and
blotting them out of existence, actually finds sup
l-s1- -
When first introduced it was laid upon the table
on Summers own motion, and is liable TO be call
ed up at any time. From present indications, it
will not only be called up, but will be discussed
at length. 1t is understood that no less than
eight Senators have expressed themselves IN favor
of the measure and that four more are '-open TO
conviction" on its merits; while in the House no
less than thirty members have declared that If il
was up in the House to-day they would vote for
it. These facts are boasted of by the friends of
the measure.
The conservative members Of Congress (alas
that there few of theml) are in favor of the
ultimate restoration of the precise stafu quo ante
beliHm. But as this is not the work Of day, and
some of the States will probably be wrenched
from the grip of "the Southern Confederacy"
than others, it is proposed 70 follow, in the
OF all States willing 70 return to their alleg
ance the course that has been pursued in the case
of Maryland, as nearly as may be. Maryland is
at this moment nominslly Tree and independent
State. But in reality she is anything but that.
Her Governor and Legislature have been elected
through the forms of law, but really under mill
. tary dictation. Her Governor and Legislature
are mere ciphers beside Gen DIX, whose power is
absolute. Never. however, was absolue power
wisely and justly used.
A prominent member of the Senate. whose
name will not mention in this connection, but
whose abolition fanatcism is well known all over
the country, has received by the last steamer from
England no less than three letters from the titled
abolition aristocrats of that country, which have
been shown to many gentlemen in and out of
Congress. These foreigners have the audacity
to bully and threaten Us. They say that they
have thus far prevented the interference Of Eng
land in our affairs, by assuring their compeers IN
Parliment that we would make this a for
the abolition of slavery; but that, far, our acts
have belied their words; and that, IL we do not
quickly adopt policy that viii result in emanci-
patton, England will interfere TO protect her com
mercial interests, already greatly compromised by
her forbearance. Could impudence and audacity
90 furtherl The recipients of these epistles viii
probably introduce them in their speeches, and
argue that, if we viii only do these pseudo
philanthropists wish, England viii not interfere
with Us, but permit 20 thrash the rebeIs at our
leisure. But we will probably do what thrsshing
we have 10 do in our own way.
rE-"we make no apology for this wicked effort
a., L.. Wa