Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-08-12
Iae Lassail Aad c. Glops in Tho souLh-Noes Oh tna
War ..

One of the leading merchants of Richmond
now in the South, furnishes us with the fol-
lowing very interesting letter. It is dated at
V~ickshurG, Mississippi, and reached us a few
days ago. The writer says:
One o! the ~scyerest droughts tina, ever al
tllcteu thus region.of country bus at hast cul-
minated IN ralil-yes, it rains at length-a good
o!d,iashtoned summer rain-with millions in
dollars to the country. AS I passed through
South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama my
breast swelled with emotion. sc NV sirht was
iesa1eu Win helds Of waving corn where
is'ely doomed the kmgly staple OF the South.
LAST year l made a similar tour of these
oG'es' and saw immense fields of cotton, but
ho corn save Il few little patches for plantation
ose. But now the reverse is the case-a little
paech,ot cotton aud. a big field Of corn. Had
Tue raln fallen & little earlier it is no exagger-
"oon to say that corn would have to 20 beg
gins IN our markets for a purchaser. as il
80 we stall have q s~uperEsundant crer, No
iears need be entertained as to our ability to
Ieed the armies CT the ConiederacJ.
The planters, with rare unsnimi;T, have
installed John Barieycorn and dethroned
hlnS Cotton. a greater self-sacrifce on the
altar Of country was never before required
OF any people. When the new crop is gath
cred and added to the old, we may, with tole-
raote correctness, estimate the whole number
Of bales at six million less, two million sup
posed to have been already destroyed or, in
round numbers, ready for shipment, four nil
hon bales. After our ports shall hare been
opened, or rather Inc hearts Of our people, i,
Will take from three to six months before sup
Plies Will reach their places of destination.-
Who can ioru, = proper notion Of the distress
which must o7ert&ke the great industrial in
teresis Ut the world II the meantime. Many,
very many, on this side of the Atlantic have
seen tue seedS sown of a mighty revolution
10 aI-the great commercial centres Of Europe.
1here was G tlme for sctloa-resolute, deci-
slVe a~c1lon--on the part of the Great Powers.
1Aers was q tine when the statesmen OF Eng
land ana France, HAD they been bold and far
seeing, might LaTc prevented this desolatipg
war. 1t is now to iaee tc save themselves
or 10 save as England will be as :upotea,
now, to arrest this revolution, as she was to
arrest the great revolution begun il France,
Ind whlc. cost her millions Of lives and
money and & twenty years ~I7uitless struggle.
Europe may now escape revolution, but must
uccept the gage of battle that viii be thrown
in tue teeth otthe Caited States. She cannot
avoid il; she may pos!pore, but cannot avoid.
line vii! tell. II her worab are many events,
ibe delivery Of whi:h will startle the curious.
1t may be reserved for the nineteenth CEN
tury 10 wi;cess one Of the proiGundest revo-
buttons Of modern :;nes. 1t would argue
weakness Of intellect 10 suppose that the
/ fronn nf i -~o-iSo on,a o,- a. s.&.- 49,. -.
world, should nos have a powerful influence
fer evil wherever it had hitherto extended
Our commerce is 50 interviewer with the
commerce Of other countries that an inter-
rrpt!on ia the reguisr channels produces
confusion III the remotest rsnificatioDs.-
II wars must De tolerated,
must 90 unrestricted *: those who love -
r5ht, light On, bu; rot presume 10 close the
regular channels OF trade. The laws oe pc
tons must be altered il this respect. j
blockade is 6 barbaris:n, and sooner CT later
must be repu6tsted oy the enlig htened states
nen CT the niue;scnth century. Before !
close ! shaQ make a fey more rsGcc-
tioua CT The wonderful iasta Of the Ar
kansas, exhibited before an aoLnirin;. audience.
The Merrimac has been decidedly ecIipsed.
she fought no such fight IS the ,Ark ausas did.
FcT nardihood aad daring. Mississippians may
challenge the world. They don't know hom
to surrender, and refuse 20 Learn. The acton
OF Gov. Pettus Of this State IS worthy OF
nigh praise. When military nen were averae
70 for1ifyins EicksburE-wher the citizens, il
their Respondent Zood, were about 10 Zee 20
the swanps before tie victorious tread Of the
| oppfessor, and tasTa watch aud wait the op
perfume monen TO strike a blow for their
liberties-Gov. Hst:us came iorrarc aud "a
sisted that FicksburS should lie defended 70
i the death,
Jacksonville, ne vas not afraid ofsssur:rg
q responsibility, and never Stopped to inquire
the probability of & defeat. IL Is we'll
known tina: Generals Beauregard and Lowell
were opposed to making q defence.at
V.clsbufg. But fortunately Mississippi
| has 6 Governor, who, like her so1s, does not
know hoT to surrender, ard refuses TO learn.
Tbs bulldog courage and strong common
sense OF the Executive have by, general adj
mission, saved the State Of mississippi from
temporary occupation - bloatsd soidierv.
Nay, this timely action has saved The rraa:
valley Of the mississippi aud given our ANS
confidence ali over the country. i has IL
spirited the leg!oos Of this Stste wherever
their standards ere L0tEc il. the fa-c cfa CON-
mon eneIry.
Little E~;cksbuTE has been much Battered
By the shots Of the eneny's grnboats; aod
yet it ig surprising how little damage il has
sustained from such an incessant rain Ct 1u;s-
siles. There is more sound and fury il these
terrific commandments than harm. Don't be
frightened when tie suoooets nske their ap-
psarsnce before Richmond. They are as
terrific and as harmless as & thunder storm.
~. ".