The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-13


Encouragement is expressed by some of
our Northern contemporaries at the fact
that SO little Union feeling is manifested
at New Orleans, despite our hopes to the
contrary. There has hardly been time for
free expression of opinion yet; but, even
should the general aspect Of things in that city
be more than surface deep, there would be
nothing surprising in it. No place in the re-
volted States had a greater stake and interest
in the rebellion than the Crescent City. There
was held out to it the hope-a reasonable one
that the independence of the South would place
it, as regards the European trade Of this conti-
nent in the position that New York now occu-
the bitterness resulting from the disappoint-
ment of such magnificent prospect. But, sup
posing that neither in New Orleans nor in any
of the other Southern cities that may fall into
our hands Is a spark of Union feeling to be
found, are we for that to forego our duties in
the vindication Of the authority of the federal
government and in the punishment Of traitorse
By no means. The Union feeling that is want
ing we can soon manufacture by promoting q
military emigration from the North. Very few
of our soldiers that 60 South will want to re-
turn here, and thousands will be found eager
and ready to follow them. We are told that
the rebels are resolved to convert their terri
tory into bowling wilderness sooner than
yield US peaceable possession of it. Be it So
We will soon send plenty Of hardy pioneers to
reclaim it, after the fashion of our Western set
Elements. After al, this would, perhaps, be
the very best thing that could happen the South.
1t would infuse new life into it, and teach it
that it possesses other resources than those de-
rived from forced labor.
STATE OF THINGS AT RIcHMoND-We publish
to-day very interesting budget of odds and
ends illustrative of the present condition of
things in the rebel capital of Richmond. The
city is under a panic its inhabitants have
given up the last shadow of hope that the
army of Joe Johnston can resist the advance Of
General Mcclellan; the money changers are on
the alert, under the very noses of the rebel
authorities, buying up all the United States
Treasury notes they can lay their hands on
famine prices for provisions, groceries and dry
goods prevail; choice butter, fer example, one
dollar and twenty-five cents per pound, and
other articles of necessity in proportion.
1t appears, too, that cotton and tobacco on
hand, bought up on foreign account, are, on
the approach Of the Union army, to be burned
with the stocks Of Southern citizens share and
share alike. That Virginia warehoused tobacco
of August Belmont, or of the Paris Rothschilds,
or Of the French government, as the case may
be, is therefore in q very critical situation,
those late mysterious visits to
Richmond Of Monsieur Mercier. In q word,
terrorism, despair, dsstitution and universal
confusion and dismay are the fruits which the
unhappy people of Richmond are now gather
ing from their ripensd and rotting Southern
confedcracy.
As . graphic picture Of an old secession
toper's views of the present condition Of vir-
ginia and the rebel cause therein, we refer the
reader to our extracts from Governor Letcher's
latest message on the subject. The old proverb
has it that "when the wine is in the wit comes
out;" and it il very clear from Governor
Letcher's ideas Of an aggressive war that this
old maxim ID equally applicable to bald faced
whiskey. What o sorry spectacle il this be.
muddled and befuddled Governor, preaching,
under the present state of things in Virginia,
an aggressive war against the United States
through Maryland into Pennsylvania.