, 1863-04-10
CTR WASHINGTON LETTER.
A Wnrwfta Great Hritafn Threatened
-Francc Not Heard Fronl-Gen. Hal
President have a Staff or ahall Hal
leeh be made Genernl-in-Chief@


4 uar with England Is beginning to be
looked upon by officials IL high place under
the Administration as By no means improba'
bic. One says that open, 1agrant MAR would |
be preferable to hohtilities as at present car
rl1d on By power whose shipyards are freely |
used by our enemies, whose colonial ports
arc crowded with their commerce, whosc.co-
lonIa1 governors j<te the commanders Of their |
piratical craft, in whose market q loan based |
upon the SUCCESS Of the rebellion commands t
a premium. Another intimatcs that General |
Butler, In his Recommendation Of non.inter-
course with Great Britain, and Ills forebodfng
Of war ~ not very far In advance Of events. |
ADother,- "A man whose feelings toward Eng |
land are unusually friendly for an American,
and whose relations with some Of her leading
liberal statesmen are Intinate-declares that
The correspondence, just published In the
Blue Book, about the Alabama, and the cor
reepondence low proceeding with reference
to other vessels Of similar char
meter in process Of construction for JEFF.
Davis, "The Emperor Of China" Is dark
and threatening. Such are specimens OF the
drift wood which shows the general COURSE ol
the current that sweeps along eFen men ro Mno
CTJfQ OQl al ! E-EUALOT . ASCtoAAtA@At .~"
SIX weeks ago, that John Bull ought: iong
since, to hare been taken By the horns oy no
capture OF the rebel port Of Nassau, and mno
deprecated the passage OF tAe iaR wnicu
out. at his discretion, the volunteer militia Of
the seas, to defend american commercc. Ihe
appearance of Lord Lyons letter, IN which
tlat cold, reticent statesman shows himself
In conference with the Copperheads, and con-
eultipg in al1 his epecnla1ions the interest of
Epgland, as theirs, and that Of their party, is
not calculated 10 make the feeling If loyal
Americans more friendly toward the selfish
islanders.
TEE CABINET CONSIDERING IT.
The question or questions involved In this
correspondence with Great Britain, has been,
Cabinet consideration, at which, as is the
case on every important topic, tho differences
of opinion arc radical. Where the lines Of diff
ference run, it Is impossible to state with pre-
cieion, those who know, knowing in conf
dence, but it is safe to say, that the attempts
Of sarlons journals to make known the posi-
ton Of each Minister, are guess work, made
chiefly upon 4 knowledge ot temperameut.
Since, indeed, the President Is accustomed to
decide-eomctfmcs rather late in the day, to
be sure questions Of this gravity, for himself,
using the members Of his Cabinet, as he uses
other gentlemen, whose opinions or argn-
ments he values, Us in relation to the matter
in hand, lie is using those Of Senators, who
are still here, rs helps to the making up Of his
mind; since, also, the next steamer may ma
terial]y change the aspect Of affairs, it is hard
| j worth While to speculate concerning the
| views Of the well meaning gentlemen who
compose the Presidents Cabinet.
| It l., however, worthy Of note, that the
| matters of difference between Great Britain
and tie United States hive been considered
sufficiently serious to engage the earnest at
| tention Of the Administration; that they have
/ nd
tion as to the propriety Of issuing letters Of
marque and Teprlsal, at once, or, if not at
/ once, in what contingency; that the inc1ina-
ton of the Presidents mind, is not to send
forth privatecrs, at present, and that he Las
not concluded upon tho action to be taken-if
any-in tue matter Of the aid and comfort given
to the rebels by Great Britain.
| TIE DOUBTFUL ATTITUDE oF FRANCE.
There is, alto, some nneasiness at the non
reception Of . rejoinder froIn,M Drouyn de T.
nuys to Mr.. Stewards dispatch In reply to the
proposal Of Franco to mediate. Although it
Is now nearly two months since 1t was sent,
not a word has been received by the French
Minister here or the State Department. Had
the Emperor been in the mood to direct dis.
patch to be framed, similar to the mythical one
Of Which the Courier des Flats Uiais Of New
York, pretended to give the bubstance-a dis
patch to the effect that his friendly proffsrE
having been declined, be should be content tc
await with folded arIls the conclusion Of tht
' contest, there need have been no delay. Bat
, if his course be dependent upon the fate d
. | the French expedition to Mexico, upon events
happening In Europe, or upon the attitude
example, he is awaiting the issue Of thu
RussellAdams correspondence, there may b.
cause for apprehension.
EVEN HALLEcK WANTS THE MISSISSIPPI
OPENED.
It is gratifying to perceive in the indorse
ment OF Gen. Ualleck upon the memorial o
the Chamber Of Commerce. asking that mill
| tary expedition may be sent to Texas, II
which be says, that in his opinion the bes
way 10 restore the Lone Star State to tht
Onion, is to sever its communications witt
the rebel States east Of tho Mississippi b,
opening that river, that the Gencra..in Chic
is ut length nliye to the importance Of accom-
plishing that most desirable result. 1t Is K
him that the West owes the long delay AMI
the numerous obstacles in the way Of 1t
? dearest wish. 1t was he, who, when the nav.
had opened the mighty river from its sourc
r teries, and Joined the upper aud lower fleet
in their front, refused to furnish even fir
E thousand soldiers to hold what the sailors LII
: taken; refused, persistentlJ, until the rive
became 50 low that Admiral Farragut wa
t forced to drop down stream again. Genera
n E1let has cost the country \ very pretty SUI
by lis rash and unauthorized ventures sever:
= millions in money, . number Of lives, an
not a little national disgrace; but his foil
|. has worked not 1.-THE Of the injury, cause
months ogo. Query, whether he Is not a1ss
J. | in part, at least, responsible for the prem!
:. tnre attempt Of Gen. Sherman, with Insult
2 cient forces and unskflfnl planning, to carr
II courses, water courses, to which Gen. Grant
r command has been addicted for SO mar
" weeks. It is to be regretted that the con
~ mlttee on the conduct Of the War, yaluahl
If for nothing else, as means Of elicitir
.. testimony, had not devoted somewhat Of il
In attention to the campaign made with a vie
at to the opening Of The Mississippi and Il
Causes OF their fa1lrre.
TIE PROPOSITION TO GIVE TEE PRESIDENT
STAFF.
I notice in late letters from Paris that Il
C. Emperor Napoleon calls councils Of his Ge
erals to consider the Mexican question. Wh
u. is this but using them IS a statI as the Pre-:
itary council, q suitable number Of his &c
10 erals? Is It not better that tho Preside
should hayo staff, SO constituted, than th
,, he should be shorn Of his powers rs Cor
y mander-in- Chief, to the end that they may
Us conferred upon eo.cal1ed General.in- Chic
Journals which urge the hitter alternatiy
admit the defects Of the present anomalo
condition Of things and press their policy
70 order to checkmate the friends Of the opp
site one. The most serious objection to t
IN | pfopoSiHon 10 GlFc Inc ffcsident q sta11,
w. III the query whether he would not treat
with relation to- military questions, as he
with reason, charged with having often t1e:
at cd bis Cabinet, with relation to political qut
~ tions, i. e., whether the officers in questi
ut would really be allowed to constitute d st
sro which should be consulted on importa
.1y points, as matter Of course. In reply,
tn may, however, be said that In those cases
-, which the staff were not consulted, the Pre-
'lo dent would only act, in The same manner
ow which he acts now, and that there would
all less likelihood Of clashing Of orders, if
~ General-in' Chief existed with power to gi
III any, It deserves TO be considered whctt
eE. the Commanderin Chief might not avail ey
to more than he does, to the successful cond1
II, of the war, were he surrounded With milt.
w. men, competent to advise him on those gr
ice problems which must be solved at the cent
aid the details being left to the discretion Of CO
iii manders of departments. l learn that G
Sigel is strongly in favor Of giving the Pr
su- dent suoh etaff.
on FROM TICKSBGRG.