New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-01-07
Letter from Virginia.

Special the New Orleans Crescentl
RICHMOND, January 81 1861.
1ir. Edito": truly regal day attends the Odd
Year to his tomb. When the morning came, the
white frost lay heavy on THE grass in the Capitol
Square, the black, leafess limbs of the elms gis-
tened in the melting FROST and the pure braeing air
shone brilliantly with the tints Of sunlight. All
was life and animation in the streets, for the great
hiring day was come. ts ..
Let Is be as hopeful as nature is cheerful for an
impartial retrospect ustities US in being so. Our
armies are not in Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Louis.
vile and St. Louis, as we wished, and as, perhaps
they might have been if We had pursued different
policy. Neither are the Yarkes armies in Rich
mond, Charleston, Memphis and New Orleans, as
they threatened. We are not recognized as an in
dependent nation, although we have given a thou
sand proofs of our ability to maintain that indie
pendence But we are on the eve of recognition,
without the sense of dependence which we would
have felt had we been recognized and aided early
in the war.
Our affairs have been administered efficiently,
as general thing. Allowance must be made for
the obstacles thrown in the way of Mr.. Reagan,
and for the almost utter lack of means in the de-
partment of Mr.. Mallory. The War Office has eX-
hibted marked Improvement since Mr.. Benjamin
assumed control, and, in any event, we could not
possibly be as badly off FOR Government as our
enemies, for they are cursed with thieves and
tyrants for rulers, while we have gentlemen, and
IlOsu Vi Luelu lneH Ot ueciueu ADllty. buL why
extend the parallel, which is so apparent to every
rejecting mind
In the formation of the Confederacy, no one an
ticpated Utopia Many, indeed, desired con
tinuation OF the Republic as il was and despite the
oppression under which the South had groaned for
forty years. But so it coad not be-. No choice
was left us between tyranny and war. We took
up arms in behalf of our liberties. and we have
maintained them against fearful Odds The year
ends, and we are free, though we are fighting. No
man doubts that we shall triumph goriously in the
end. perfect governments not allotted to man.
but we shall be nearer to it than any other people
on the globe. We must remember, however, that
it can never be with us again as itihas been here
totore. Henceforth, the ills that aitct other ma
tions will attlict US.
1t is not probable that we shall ever know a last
ing peace with the pestilent race we are now
fighting. Yetit becomes people of our pith and
manhood to look the common ills Of nat!ons-wars,
standing armies, national debt, heavy taxes--un-
tnching in the face. We can bear these troubles
as braVely as any race in the world: for GOD has
given US courage and the elements OF national
wealth in as great IT not greater degree than to
any other of the So of men.
With regard to ne news from tile United States
and England, little need be said. Our Ministers
have not been given up, nor has Lyons made a
peremptory demand for them. Much the same
efforts are being made on both sides to oavert war
as were made here to prevent the disruption of
the Union, and the issue, think, will be the same.
The Judicial madness which has seized the North
rassed in England and France, will bring the war
on eventually. France has declared that she will
make the case of the Trent her own. The pas
sions of the British people are nlamed; the value
of an alliance with the Southern Confederacy is
gravely discussed by the Post, the organ of the
Premier and, what is even more noteworthy,
Stewards deep laid, as he thinks diplomacy has
been coelly thwayted on three very important oc-
casons. First, his transparent attempt to muz
zle France and England by accediDg to the treaty
of Paris. Second, in his effort to constitute an
etfectual blockade by sinking vessels in divers
harbors Third, in his aim to enforce the Monroe
doctrine, and to forestall intervention in Mexico
by offering to guarantee the payment Of the inter-
est on the bonds held by parties in France and
England. .E-F -.-s i. -~s,e-,,. =
In all of these cunning Yankee schemes he has
been easily cheekmated. Hence his temper (even
supposng MIN to be sober, which common rumor
and the remorse to which he'must be prey, rem
ders doubuuD cannot be favorable to the adjust,
ment of quarrel II is fair, then in view of these
Considerations, to conelade that war between
England and the United States is more than prob