Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-08-07

sands Of Northern homes the birthday of American Tree
dom was being kept with mingled hope and fear with
blended memories OF Joy and sadness OF pride aud hui
initiation. Throughout New Eogland, and the popuous
Middle States and the vast Northwest 10 cities that
date back from our heroic seventeenth century, and
IN cities that have sprung up within tie memory of v
ing men upon the site of worllold forests and virgin
aries around the Pilgrims Rock, and on the gold sown
rand of the Pacific, citizens of the Great Republic
spake with trenuous lips, as beneath the shade OF
laurcls twined with cypress, of their fathers legacy
OF freedom and Of the deadly struggle In which their
own brothers and sous wrestling for the preserva
ton OF that glorious heritage the Uuon sacred alike to
liberty and law They knew not that on that very day
the God of their country and of their ires-the God
of Justice and Of mecy-had vouchsafed to the Com
monWealth a great deliverance. Their broken rail-
ways and telegraph lines delayed the happy tidngs
that on that same Fourth Of July the flag of the Union
had been exalted the obstinate stronghold CT rebel
ous slave masters had arisen upon the great
est OF their hosts dire retreat Whatever remains to be
done or sueredA hatever battles be fought for
tresses to besegethe armies and people Of the Union
may ateast rejoice with unutterable gadness and thanks
giving that the boasu progress of the enemy has been
turned back and the very cOeest OF his deences broken
| down.
OF the surrender of Vicksburg we have no details
Not even the number of the garrison and guns is given
But the fact of unconditional surrender is officially
ported both by Admiral Porter and Gen. Grant, and
has been the subject ospeeches from the President and
his Minister'S in reply TO addresses OF congratuation.
Confident as VIC have been that the event could not
much longer be delayed, confess to its unexpected
arrival The last intelligence from the West spoke with
renewed certainty of Johhstons approach With army
sufficient TO compel the Federals 70 give battle; and
the res ppsarance of the Conlederates on the OPP
poste side of the river; whence they could rein
force and supply the garrison, was also asserted.
We are curious to learn whether the resolution 10
surrender was the consequence Of some uureported
success on the part of the hes egers, or Of the eE
hauslion OF provisions. Rather would We believe that
Il was occlsoned by sudden access OF loyal sentiment
and penent determination to return to the Union ona
day peculiarly appropriate to the deed Can be that
A similar emotion seized upon the (oned rate Cabinet
at Richmond and prompted the extraordinary errano
which Sr Vice President Stephens was not allowed 10
fulfill But may be quite sure thatno such patriotic
weakness actuated the commander Of the army Of iu
vasion GenC raj Lee may excuse bis retreat from
che hard iou ght field of Gettysburg, Federal com
mauders have done By the hostility of the elements
The wind and rain that enabled him 70 retire unob-
served the right Of the 3d. and that delayed the pur
sni' were undoubtedly additions to the forces
with which he had 10 contend. An invading army can
not siord to have swollen river in its rear victorious
army in its 'front.' and cloud of militia on its i1rk.-
Bus was the victory OF the Sd that mad the wind and
rain such formidable auxillares 10 the Federals. II
Meade had given way under the shcct of the forces
hurled upon him. Lee might have comfortably quartered
his army in the towns aud villages Of the Cumberland
Valley until the weather cleared up. And there shines
rough the modest ruthfulness OF Meades dispatches
the clear light Of a decided though hard won victory
From the London Herald, Goth.
Another episode in the American war is over The
second invasion of the Northern States by Confede
rate army has terminated like the first without result
and the eombalants are once more confronting each
other on the bnks of the Potomac. After two years
slaugher-after the sacrifice OF at least 200 600
10 Virgria Maryland and Pennsylvania the position Of
affairs is unchanged. The South is still too weak tor
successful aggression, the North finds each fresh effort
at invasion more disastrous ia lure and Set there is
not the fAntest prospect Of the end of tbs struggle
For aught We ste, it may last twenty years. Mr.
Seward is beginning 70 his ninety days promises
| The fall Of Vcksburg has gwen him new lease Of
power He Is evidently forecasing the date at which
the fighting material OF the South will have become ex
| haused a the rate of million million and half
of NOrtherDers for 100000 Contedora es. And
as Washington is safe, as Philadelphia is
not in flames, and the guns Of Fort McHenry still
press sec ssion in Baltimore he Is confident the day Of
exhaustion is not far distant. The news Which he vii
receive from this country by the next mail will strengthen
his hopes lie will know then, that he has another six
or nine months for the execution of his hendsh work.
He wi learn that the world which might have given
uece to continent and possibly saved the veSOt fifty
thousand mcn has not been spoken. lie will be that
the English G)Yernme; which is prepared TO accept
any issue in behalf Of people Of ael race, language
aud faith, wagng war not SO much by naive valCr
as by foreign aid shrinks from acknowledging the
independence of which asks from it aosou'ey
nothing beyond formal recognition and which, after
two years of ncessant Sighting half continent,
maintains an uumpeached authority aud magnificent
army such as other people striving for freedom has
ever attained in the G.s or last year Of its Struggle for
nAtioasl rights. We can understand Mr. Stewards feel
ings AMI objects. Ii the Union exist he is
nothing he is worse than nothing for the curses of
millions will brand him the facie tool of the most
corrupt and bloodthirsty Administration the word
Rut hat We fall m IN
the absolute indifference OF our own Ministry IL
seems that things have this point with US that
the hottest OF causes aad the solemn Of issues
o. IL regarded by English statesmen from one point of
view that of party interests The Radical vote in the
House of Commons determines if not the fate Of na.
TONS at least the deaths of thousands Of fellow
meu The e1igenees Of the Coalition are the key note
TO Eugaud's foreign policy. Lancashire starves that
Earl Russo may retain his place and in America Fed
erals and Conederates slaughter each other that our
government-at war in china and Japan, aggressive in
Brazil and menacng in Poland, may pirate Of inter-
ventou in America. France cffsrs mediation and re-
cogniion. The Emperor Napoleon, to whom Earl Rus
sill is ever ready to impu,e the most belc0se nten
lions, wants peace across the lAntc. French work.
men Eaglsh workmen, Belgian workmen are suffering
aud s arviBg, Americans by thousands are dying but
o r Government will not say the word that would put
end to this state of things. Add while Mr.. Seward
exus at the postponement of his wing humiliation,
Earl Russell chuckes the assurance that his pace
is safe, and that Mr.. Adams supply him with new
argument for refusing accord to gallant people the
rights they claim and have abundantly vindicated.
There can be very little doubt, We fear that the last
news from America forebodes another long period of
hosilities The capture of ViCksburg, WHICH we
hardly doubt although is reported Independence
Day. and the expulsion OF the ConfedeTates from North
ern territory, will give new impetus 10 the tagging
spirit OF the North, aud may expect to large
eves raised Immediately for the vigorous prosecution
of the war; The issue OF the battle of Gettysburg does
no: surprise us. Those who have watched the NOV
ments OF the Confederate troops carefully have not
been abe TO enumerate than three corps
engaged in the invasion-those of Generals Es-
ell, Hill and Longstreet. IL is highly impro-
babe that General Lee has at any time mustered
20 900 men, all told, upon Federal SOIL The reports
in the New York press reinforcements from General
Bragg and Beauregard we're circulated tor the dou-
ole purpose of stimulating Northern ardOr a d exsg-