, 1862-03-08
g ~ II \
masbin9ton Statesman,
SATURDAY MORNING, March 8, 1862.
The News.


We publish the bulk of the eastern news
on the outside of to-day's issue. While
one view of tits highly indicative of the
speedy triumph of the Federal Govern
ment, another view-that of the anticipa-
ted acceptance of the prOfered protectorate
over the Southern Confederacy by England
and France, is disheartening in the ex-
treme. There has however been no Off
cial action on the part of these govern
ments to this end. The English gov
ernment demanded the release of Mason
and Slidell, and they were promptly given
up. On this ground, then, there is no pre-
text for a war On the question of the
acceptance of the protectorate there has
been no official action. The English press
has talked great deal about the Mason
and SEdell affair, the blockading of South
ern ports, the inhumanity of the present
conflict, ETC.; and some of these papers
have been ready to favor war upon the
slightest pretext, or even none at all. These
excessively vindictive journals are general
ly in the interest of scheming capitalists,
who see no path to their pecuniary gain
but through the opening of the cotton
trade. We cite to the London Times as
an illustration. The RothschiIds, who
WELD a power in Europe, have control of
that sheet, and it is easily seen how pa
pers controlled by such men as these can
be made to favor any scheme, even a war,
that has for its end the acquiring of com
mercial advantages in which these men are
largely interested These violent papers
never reflect the European sentiment In
our opinion, the only serious ground for
apprehension in regard to these powers ac-
cepting the protectorate offered, is the fact
that English and French fleets have been
placed in the Gulf of Mexico and along
the coast. There is evidently a design in
this; but it may tend to another purpose.
According to the position held by the
American Government regarding the for
eign States on this continent, a system of
strict neutrality exists. England and
France, then, have no sht to occupy the
Gulfof Mexico or its seaboard with their
fleets. This looks mrHh like a secret prep
aration on the part of these powers for an
advance step. By tie next express we
hope to receive the solGtion of this whole
matter.
career csHmlfH2Hu efFsetagJJ{9tfr fet MaFn RaI
becoming as notorious as that of the cele-
brated Floyd, has wisely resigned his place
in the cabinet. This is most gratifying in
telligence. Cameron has met a better fate
than Floyd, however, having been sent as
minister to Russia. His appointment was
an unfortunate one. Aside from his dis
honesty, he has evel been a violent, ram
pant spirit in the cabinet, and went out of
it committed to the doctrine of arming the
slaves to assist in suppressing the rebel
lion-and he would no doubt as soon have
committed himself to the same means. for
the purpose Of general slave instruction.
California has been visited with another
food, the account of which VIC give in our
columns 1t was far more terrible than the
frst-the whole valley of the Sacramento
having been inundated. Sacramento is in
jured to such an extent that it is said she
will never regain her former position.
Nine-tenths of the property in the city was
destroyed. The Legislature was com
pelled to adjourn and go to San Francisco,
where it is holding its session. 1t is ex-
pected that many lives are lost, as those
persons living back from the river were
not provided with boats. This second
flood did not extend to Oregon.