The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-04-16

would in 80 dastardiy manner take advantage
Of their hour Of trouble and accomplish their
ruin. To one and all they must CRY out "S%nd
aloof-we shall deem those our enemies who
BY word or action afford encouragement or aid
TO our revolted people," Let this bs no
mere threat We must convince the world
Of our determination 10 conquer the rebels,
reconstruct the Union. and that in spite of all
our enemies, avowed or concealed. We arc
drifting into war with England, because we
supinely allow her to insult the>msjesty of our
government, and because We allow her to blus-
ter and bully US. Give back threat for threat,
menace for menace; capture and hold oil Eng
lish vessels which arc found near our coast
with munitions Of war for the rebels. Make
prompt and determined demands for repara-
ton In those cases Of robbery committed by
that English pirate vessel the Alabama.
Then, and not till then, will We find England
neutral. As we assume the dignined and bold
position we should ever hold, England will re-
spect and fear US, and we shall then geo her
neutral indeed We must not tolerate insult.
Tho people will hold the administration respon-
sible for any further continuance Of the dis
reputable appearance we are now making in
Europe. Let the President Of this great re-
public act with the dignity which his power
should confer upon him, and which the people
expect in their representative. Then we shall
find all Europe respecting US, and then we shall
hear no more of mediation, Intervention or neu-
trallty. If this course is not pursued We shall
be at war with England, and perhaps France,
in six months. 1t is in the power Of our gov
eminent to avert this calamity by q proper
course. We hope it may be adopted.
INrERCEPTED REBEL CORRESPONDENCE
FASHION AND LOVE IN DxIE.-In another column
will be found most interesting sketch Of the
contents of rebel mail bag, intercepted in the
region Of the Blackwater, and which has found
its way into this Office. It relates to three OF
the great motive powers of the human mind
W ar, fashion and love. Under the first head We
find numerous revelations of important move
ments by the rebel army against Norfolk and
Suffolk. One letter says that our (the rebel)
generals intend forward movement In the
direction Of Suffolk, and are massing large
bodies Of troops and bringing down pontoon
bridges. Another says that the troops have
orders to get ready for an active spring cam
paign, and that they wsuld wake things up in
Suffolk and Norfolk before many months
Another has orders to join his regiment in
North Carolina, and says he will have to parti-
cipate in some Of the desperate battles which
will probably ill the annals of the coming
campaign. He anticipates desperate and bloody
battles, moro horrible and decisive than any
that have yet taken place. And then peace Is
to couae Many of the letters express the same
idea Of . near peace, q II that assurance had
been given to them for the purpose Of stimulate
ing their tagging zeal. And even the story
Of a miraculous spring somewhere near Freder-
icksburg, whose dow il sure presage Of peace,
has been circulated among tho credulous SOL
disry. Some Of the writer's declare that the
soldiers on both sides of the Rappahannock are
heartily tired Of the war.
In these letters, too, we have corroboration
Of the reports a. to the riot in Richmond, end
as to the fact that John Letchsr and Jefferson
Davis made speeches to the rioters. The opera
tions Of cotton Spectator and Of counter
feiter In extensive business are also noted.
There are two curious letters showing the
fashionable movements and extravagances in
Dixie. The wife Of . rebel adjutant general,
writing from Petersburg, describes fashionable
wedding in that city, where 1--WE hundred guests
were entertained IN the lavish style Of former
times, where champagne flowed like water,
where the oranges cost each dollar and half,
and whore the whole expense Of the marriage
entertainment was estimated at twenty thousand
dollars. Richmond. we are told, Is very lively.
A band plays every afternoon on Capitol square,
which is thronged with the fair sex and their
gallants.
Lastly, we have two love letters from lady
In Baltimore to reverend DID. in Portsmouth,
bringing to mind, in their passionate phrases
and in some of their circumstances, the famous
epistles Of Heloise to Abelard; for in this case
as In that, the lover had taken the vow of cell
bacy, and ought to have known and practised
better things. His is case which certainly
ought to have the attention of his spiritual supe
riors, particularly II bis special occupation
throws him much In the way Of making such
conquests. On the whole, this overhauling Of
intercepted rebel correspondence furnishes .
rich treat.
How TO CONDUCT THs WAR.-An evening con-
temporary has at length made the wonderful
discovery that the war IL conducted upon
false system-that instead Of operating around
the edges Of the rebellion for the purpose Of
capturing towns and cities, and holding them
each with IN armed force, ct great expense Of
men, time and money, the government should
aim simply to crush the armies Of the rebellion,
inasmuch as when they are mbdued al the re-
bellious States and everything therein will fall
into our possession. We have over and over
again endeavored to beat this idea into the
heads Of the War ONCE; but they are too full Of
their own concsits to listen 10 the plainsst evil
dences Of their folly. So we must still trust TO