Year: 1861

every State, man capable. resolute and active.
with 0yerpowering force at his disposal, all the
States may be reduced TO the condition Of
Maryland. and the polls NAV be made to give
Union returns, but the supposition is very un-
reasonable; ana, even if it be verified, the world
will see with disgust the resurrection in the
great Republic of the spirit and substance of the
most absolute despotism covered with cerecloths
of liberty The Southern people have now
poured out all their passion into the mould Of
distinct nationality, and their only tie to the
North Is common language aud traditions,
which, belonging TO the history of their short
lived career are now old as the stories Of the
Heptarchy.


With the recognition of Southern Independence
would come the most serious questions Of all, and
it is not possible that some Of them could be set
tied without renewed struggle. The North can
never be made to admit the right of the slave
States to recover their vagrant chattles within
their dominions; nothing but the complete pros
ration of the North at the feet of the South could
induce her to allow that which the Constitution
now argumentatively yields as right, when the
Constitution shall have been rent asuhder. An
extradtion treaty would be record of infamous
defeat. But how are the raw edges OF the slave
States to be applied to the caustic of the free
States. in which opposition TO slavery shall have
become article in the new Constitution? For
many hundreds of miles, take what frontier you
may, mere geographical line or navigable river
will separate the two Confederacies in which every
interest and every principle of commerce will be
in extreme antagonism. Both States must erect
forts build custom houses, establish frontier
guards along marsh and mountains, TO fight the
battles of hostile tariffs and to watch the snug
glers of men as well as money. Wherever the
frontier that must be the case but its line is
yet to be drawn in blood if the contendiLg parties
are deaf TO the voice of mediation. Nor can any
one pretend to say what issues may not be raised
concerning the Territories the States purchased
for the Union by the funds of the United States
or the national forts and arsenaIs and property
seized by people in insurrecton.


The politicians here can only see one result
conquest. Ii will cure all wounds and settle all
controversies; bur, if events prove they are mis-
taken, the time may come for an armed truce on
both sides. and an active mediation in an honest
and impartial spirit, which shall lead to peace
and the most satisfactory adjustment of these
questions the nature of them permits us TO expect
Any solution will lead to "a strong Government"
that suRHum bonum of aristocratic South and
democratic North Either one centralized strong
Government or two will arise in this country, but
no one can say whether the development will
take place at once or after terrible interregnum
of disorder and political trouble, and universal
suffrage will find its master in its own favorte
creation--armed despotism. The other day a
soldier said to an officer who was about TO punish
him for neglect of duty, off you do I'll not vote
for you at the next election" "You spoke too
late," quoth the officer; here am now with
the power to punish you, and I'll double it for
your threat, "a very pregnant little story for
people 10 think over in all its bearing.


NOVEMBER 9.


The departure of Mr. Thurlow Weed and
Bishop Hughes for Europe is in pursuance of the
resolution, the existence Of which announced
in previous letter, to send unofficial anibassa
dors or representatives to England and France to
counteract the effects of Mason aud Slidell's
mission and to make explanations and enter upon
negotiations with the two Governments, as well
as to sound the depths of popular feeling, and
certain the views of leading men in the political
world.


There were several candidates for the impor.
tant mission. Mr.. Everett appeared in Wash
ington and had several interviews with Mr. Sew
ard about the time the project was started,
and Bishop M'Ilvaine and Mr.. Kennedy were
mentioned as coadjutors in the mission.
Whatever the causes, the gentlemen did not
go, but Mr.. Weed and Bishop Hughes, two of
Mr.. Stewards best friends. family discaim the
notion that their voyage to Europe is on diplomat
ic business. The former is the Nestor of the out
side politicians who pull the legs and hands of the
players the stage; he is astute, clear headed
able man, who has managed the company on his
side of the House for many years with success and
profit, and the newspaper he edits is one of the
best written and most decent in the United States
Bishop Hughes is Roman Catholic prelate of
attainments and political experience moderate
for one in his position, skilled, and anti English
He has worked the Irish element in the States
fer considerable period, and has used it in favor
of Mr.. Seward 1t will be keen encounter of
wits. Mr.. Slidell. when he finds himself along
side Of Mr.. Dayton in Paris, will doubtless feel
very much like an otter swiming alongside an al
derman.


NOVEMBER IL.


Unless the Confederates obtain signal sue
cess at Beaufort and force the Federalists into
the sea it is plain they have been placed in haz
ardous position The end of the wedge will have
been driven into "'the peculiar institution in its
softest place In those Sea Islands live vast
populations of ignorant negroes, subject to the
scanty and scattered whites, most of whom must
be called away from their homes and plantations
to form the Home Guard and Local Militia 1t
will be impossible if they really desire escape,
to prevent them iocking to the Federal feet aud
camp. and coercion may precpitate the country
into the horrors of servile insurrecton. OF the
40 900 inhabitants in Beaufort county $4,000
are slaves There are 200 white men ca
pable of bearing arms, of whom probably one
half are away in the Confederate ranks leaving
few, indeed. to look after the plantations and the
blacks. If the Confederates can inclose their
enemies with living wall they may prevent the
fearful calamities which impend over them /; but
the alarm and apprehension which must prevail
all over the country and in the large towns can
not fail to add new horrors to war, and to fill
every heart With fear almost as bitter and dread
full as death itself. But has the North consider
ed what it will do in case there is ieuee masse
of the slaves, and that they form their unwelcome
myriads upon the Federal campsl