The New York herald., 1862-04-23

sula Magruder was fully prepared for his re-
ception
IL further appears that the rebels OF
the York peninsula are still erecting forti-
6cations in that vicinity Hence, to further
| guard against q possible attack in their rear,
Williamsburg. some Eve or six miles above
Yorktown, is to be fortified; and, accordingly,
requisition has been made son the slayehold-
ers of Prince George and Surry counties for
one-half their negroes between the ages of six
teen and fifty years, to 60 to Williamsburg to
work on the Notifications in that vicinity" We
find this in the Petersburg Express, which gives
the opinion that in consequence Of this abstrac-
ton from the labor of such fertile counties (the
corn planting season being at hand) "they will
contribute but very small quota Of the staff
Of life for the support of tho country another
year."
We think that The facts we have thus grouped
together are sufficient to show that the task
| undertaken by General Mcclellan, Of passing
| up to Richmond by way Of Yorktown, las been
anticipated and amply provided for by the
rebels, and that the siege of Yorktown, if not
laborious and protractcd, can only be ended BY
terrible and sanguiuary struggle Having,
however. brought the main army of the rebel
| lion and all its hopes to stand at Yorktown,
| let us be patient, in view Of the great work in
hand of holding them there till all the plans Of
our army leaders are perfected.
John Bull and His American Flunkcy.
Philosophers assert that a demand always
produces supply. In fact, this is but another
way of putting the old adage, of biblical orr
| gin and universal application, that they who
seek shall find. Exceptions 10 this general
principle readily occur to us: as the demand Of
England for cotton, which is still unsupplied;
or the search made by England for proofs, not
yet found of the incfficiency Of our blockade;
but still exceptions only prove the general
rule. Indeed, were the exceptions twice as
numerous, no one would venture to doubt the
principle, in the face of so signal and triumph
ant an illustration as it has recently received.
For very long time the English government
has demanded, the English press has sought,
an American funkey. They have found him
at last in the person Of the Hon. Henry John
Thomas Raymond, Speaker of the New York
Assembly and editor of the New York Times.
In very short and sweet article the London
Times tells the whole story. ''What we have
sought for in vain in the federal chambers"
says the Times, Eve have just found
in the State Assembly Of New York
an American funkey II the English
searchers had not been befogged by the COM
mon British ignorance of this country, they
would have sought their turnkey in the Assem-
bly, at first, and not have wasted their time in
the federal chambers Bad as we think our Con-
gressmen, we never believed that they could
be hired by John Bull. Nevertheless, England
has thought differently, and we could name
many of our leading politicians who have been
offered. at high wages, the same menial stua-
ton which John Thomas Raymond has ac-
cepted. John Bull bid largely for Secretary
Seward at one time, and lavished such adula-
ton upon him that some of his friends advised
him to accept the hunkeyshp. Seward had
more wisdom than his friends, however, and
believed as firmly in the "irrepressible conflict
between this country and England as in that
between freedom and slavery. Being, then,
more of an American than all abOlitionist, he
declined the situation, and stood by his own
country. Since that refusal Seward is no
longer petted and praised by honest John
Bull but, on the contrary, his name is never
mentioned without revilings, and the London
Times rings the changes upon Seward and
Canada, Canada and Seward, through columns
of abuse and detraction. Seward would not
do for John Bulls American dunkey.
Nor. indeed, would any of the leading abo.
ltionsts, in or out Of Congress, accept the situ-
alton. At one period Senator Sumner appeared
to be putting on the English livery: but he
Strengthened himself up on the Trent affair, and
split his English jacket open at the back, as it
was much too small for an American Senator,
though just the size for an abolition agtator.
Lovejoy had been gradually bought over to
the English service by the intriguers of Exeter
Hall; but he hated the shareholders more than
he loved the English and, when Mason and Sli-
dell were delivered up, he came into the House.
frothing at the mouth, with spread eagle bun
combe. decorated from head 10 foot with Star
Spangled Banners, his coat tails hung with
Fourth Of July fireworks, and then and there
abured England forever, and solemnly devoted
his two sons, aged respectively three and FIVE
years. to her utter and final annihilation. Thus
il happened that John Bull sought in vain in
the federal chambers" for an American funkey.
In all this great country no such mean speci-
men of humanity could seemingly be found.
Even when the rebels seeded, and transformed
themselves from Americans into traitors they
had enough of saving grace left in them 20 re-
fuse to rub their noses in the dust before
John Bull, but asked his aid haughtily,
and seemed really relieved and rejoiced, even
in the midst Of their most pressing necessities,
when he was compelled to refuse them assist
ance. A situation which abolitonists and
traitors alike scorned. we could not suppose