AMERICA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1109, 27 June 1863, Page 5

AMERICA.

Further news is brought by the Canada from New York to the l(sth of April. It is entirely unfavorable <o the Federals. Trustworthy accounts of the attack on Charleston had been received. The Federal fleet was subjected to n terrific fire and compelled to withdraw—five out of the nine iron-clads making the attack being severely damaged. One of them, the Keokuk, sank next morning. The correspondent of one of the New York papers says it was owing to the skill of the commanders that the entire fleet was not des! roved. The Confederates are said to have had Vfliit worth guns, which they served with great effect. Fort Siunter sustained some injury from the fire of the iron-clads, but to what extent is not known. The losses in the fleet only amounted to twelve men. No land force co-operated in the attack; indeed, the number of men provided for that purpose appears to have been wofully inadequate. Finally, all intention of renewing the attack had been abandoned. General Hunter and Admiral Dupont had returned to Port Royal, and it was said that Dupont's fleet would be sent round to New Orleans to assist in the operations in the Mississippi. On the Mississippi nothing of great importance had taken place. Five vessels were preparing to run the blockade at Yicksburg, and join Admiral Farragut, who, it was rumored, was pent up between two batteries near the Red River. It would seem that the land attack on Vicksburg is abandoned for the present, for General Grant had removed his forces away, his intention being, it was supposed, either to join Rosencranz, or make a movement inland into Mississippi. * In Tennessee, the Confederates under Yan Dorn had been beaten back in an attack on Franklin. Gen. poster, who was hemmed in by the Confederates at Washington, North Carolina, had not been relieved, and it was feared that "lie would be compelled to surrender. The Confederates were threatening Suffolk, in Virginia, and had destroyed a Federal armed transport near Port Royal. The New York papers discuss the probability of a war with England. On the intelligence arriving in New York of the repulse of the Federal iron-clads before Charleston, gold went up to 53| prem.; but this price was not maintained, and, with various fluctuations, it fell eventually to 48f. A large meeting of Union leaguers was held in New York on April 11, the anniversary of the first firing on Fort Sumter in 1861. The great event which has been so long expeeted has at last taken place. The bombardment of Charleston was commenced by the Federals on the 9th April; and, according to the telegraphic accounts, was not altogether so successful as was anticipated, two Federal steamers being driven off by the Confederates with some loss. The assault is, however, by no means conclusive. The attacking force consisted principally of gunboats, though it is said that eight iron-clads were to take part in the fray. The Mobile papers describe the Charleston defences as impregnable, and say that no floating thing can pass the batteries unharmed. The attack will conclusively test the power of iron-clads against batteries.

According to advices received in London on April 23, the state of public feeling in the North with regard to England is of a decidedly warlike character. The 1 New York Evening Post' says:—

"It is rumoured Washington that Mr. Seward has sent dispatches containing strong remonstrances to the British Government concerning the war vessels fitting out for the South in England, and that hints will soon be thrown out of reprisals and non-inter-course. If the Federal agents now in England do not succeed in purchasing the vessels fitting out for the South, and these vessels are permitted to leave England, trouble between England and America is anticipated."

Military operations, which had been virtually suspended during the present year —indeed, since the battle of Fredericksburg, which closed the winter campaign—have been resumed with considerable activity. Skirmishes and raids, in which neither side could claim any particular advantage, have been duly reported in the papers; but no great confidence can be placed in the telegrams published almost daily, the "rumour " of to-day being contradicted by the " fact" of to-morrow. The official assurance, therefore, that "the South must speedily yield for want of food" may not find universal belief. The South is a wide region, and the war has not absorbed its labour. Its millions of cultivators have ceased to grow cotton, but we have not heard they are kept idle. The most evident wants of the South are gold and iron, and these the labour at its command cannot produce from the soil, nor procure by commerce. The disappearance of coin and the wear and tear of the railways that cannot easily be remedied are likely to affect the military operations of the South more than a want of provisions. The promise of a "series of victories within the next two weeks that will effectually crush the rebellion " has been made before, at several intervals, during the two years that have passed by, and left the work still to be done.

Whatever degree of credit the official predictions still obtain, it is evident enough that the commercial circles of New York have been thrown into an extraordinary state of agitation. A feverish excitement disturbs every market and interest, but the cause of it cannot be clearly explained. In New York the workmen are striking for higher wages, and meetings are being held in various places at which the war policy of the government is strongly denounced. A growing feeling in favour of division seems to be received with no small degree of favour in many quarters.

General Butler has made a speech at New York, in which he severely denounced the British Government and aristocracy, and urged that intercourse with England should cease.

The new State constitution of Western Virginia has been ratified by the vote of the people. It provides for the speedy emancipation of slaves —all children born of slaves after July next are to be free. Slave children under ten years of age are to be free when they reach the age of twenty-one ;■ and slaves over ten and under are to be free on arriving at the age of twenty-five. No slaves are to be permitted to come into the State for permanent residence. The reports as to the Federal expedition 011 the Yazoo River and the operations before Vicksburg are very conflicting, and can be received with but little credit. The first Yazoo expedition was brought to a standstill by a Confederate redoubt at the junction of the Gallabusha and Coldwater rivers. From that point it is stated to have retreated, when having met reinforcements it again assumed the defensive. Fears were entertained of the safety of the Hartford and Albatross, as the Confederates were known to have three rams on the river between Port Hudson and Vicksburg. On the 3rd of April it was rumoured that the two ships had been captured. The canal opposite Vicksburg is abandoned, the Confederate .cannon commanding two-thirds of its length. Admiral Farragut is stated to hold the river from Port Hudson to Vicksburg. With regard to the Sunflower River expedition, the accounts are equally unsatisfactory and uncertain. The Federals assert that they have forced the passsage of the Sunflower River, and landed two divisions of troops under the command of General Sherman, near Haines Bluff, and that the expedition had successfully entered the Yazoo. The Confederates, on the contrary, claim to have sunk one and to have riddled another of four gunboats that attempted to run the blockade of Vicksburg, and to have driven back and defeated the Sunflower River and Deer Creek expeditions. The expedition was hemmed in by the river obstructions placed in the front and rear of the transports, and to have been extricated with difficulty. It must not be forgotten, in estimating the probable truth of these stories, that the Confederates are now so secure against an attack in front of Vicksburg, that they are able to detach a large portion of their force to repel a movement against their flank or rear ; and also that these river expeditions, unless they are made with great rapidity, run considerable risk of failure, owing to the extreme facility with which the banks can be fortified, or obstructions placed in the channel. In compliance with the request of the Senate, President Lincoln has appointed Thursday, April 30, as a clay of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer, concluding his proclamation as follows :—" Let us

then rest humbly in the hope authorised by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings _ no less than the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering country to its former happy condition of unity and peace." The negro expedition, charged with the duty of inciting the slaves to revolt against their masters, lias been heard of in Florida, on the frontiers of Georgia. The country is not very populous, containing according to the census of ISOO no more than 110,12t souls, of whom 01,745 were slaves. It is asserted that the negroes in this expedition behaved admirably as soldiers, and committed no excesses of any kind. It does not yet appear that they proclaimed freedom to their coloured brethren, though they have firearms with them sufficient for 20,000 men; or that they have done more than capture the small town of Jacksonville. No concealment of the real objects of the expedition is attempted, and, although the official organs of the government and the government itself are chary in expressing any opinion on the subject, the Abolitionist clergy speak boldly out, and justify a servile war of black man against white, and all the hideous consequences that may ensue. Later telegrams, however, inform us that the prosecution of the negro expedition had been unsuccessful, and was about to be abandoned.

Both in the North and South the effects of the long protracted struggle are severely felt. A Southern newspaper says: —

" The -want of provisions in Savannah is becoming more important. The city authorities have requested the railway authorities to refuse to carry provisions out of town. This may do good, so far as rice is concerned, but it is questionable whether there is anything else in Savannah. For the past few days it has been difficult for families to buy bacon, and many persons could not find corn meal even in small quantities. The evil is that retailers of provisions have been forced to go or send to the country for supplies. They succeeded in buying some in small quantities, but their entry was stopped by government agents at the Gulf road. Even small parcels remain there while families require them. An expedition has been made from New Orleans across Lake Pontchartrain to destroy the Pass Mancliac bridge, at the opening of Lake Pontchartrain and Maurepas. The expedition is reported to have taken possession of Pass Manchac and proceeded to Pontchatoula. Several prisoners and 400 bales of cotton were captured. It is reported in New Orleans from the G-ulf that yellow fever was already assuming a malignant form in the extreme South, and an impression was prevalent that it would reach New Orleans this summer. This city has been feee from yellow fever since 1858. Union Leagues are being established at New Orleans. In Tennessee the Confederates were preparing to attack General Rosencrans; and the Confederate General Forrest is reported to have attacked the Federals at Brentwood, five miles from Nashville, and in rear of General Rosencrans, and captured 800 prisoners, with a large quantity of military stores. They also destroyed the railroad track and bridge. General Yan Dorn, with a heavy force, was reported to be advancing with a view of flanking General Rosecrans on the lefr. The Confederate armies of the Mississippi and Tennessee were said to be making a junction. In Virginia several raids had been made by the Confederates, who were threatening Williamsburg in force. The Confederates are also building immense fortifications at Chattanoga, and already have between 50 and 60 siege guns in position. General Price was said to be re-organising the Confederate forces in Arkansas, with a view to the iuvavasion of Missouri. President Davis is suffering from an abscess in the eye, by which it is feared he will lose his sight. Bread riots have taken place at Petersburg and Richmond. The Confederates appear to have got into a difficulty with the Mexican government. Crossing the Rio Grande into Mexico, they captured two Federal officers and three privates. The Mexican authorities, however, demanded the surrender of the prisoners, and they were released " with the exception," says the telegram, "of one, who had been hanged by the Confederates." At the date of the last despatches gold in New York was 47f prem.

Commodore Wilkes, of Trent notoriety, lias again committed an act which may cause us, and the government whose officer lie is, no little trouble. He has seized the British steamer Peterhoff within sight of the British port of St. Thomas, and carried her off as a prize. The vessel left Falmouth in January last with a cargo, not contraband of war, for Matamoras in Mexico, and arrived in due course at St. Thomas's, into which port she put for the purpose of coaling. In those waters she was boarded by an officer from the Federal cruiser Alabama, who examined her papers and passed them, declining to endorse them with the notification of his search, but allowing the vessel to proceed. During her stay, however, at St. Thomas's, Admiral Wilkes entered the harbour in his flagship, and is alleged to have declared at once that the Peterhoff should have been seized. What is certain is that as soon as she put to sea again on her voyage Wilkes signalled the Yanderbilt, one of his squadron, which, in pursuance of his orders, followed the Peterhoff, overhauled her, and, after some little dallying, carried her off as a prize to Key West —a port of Florida in the possession of the Federals. Now, as no exception could be taken either to the cargo or destination of the Peterhoff, as the trade between this country and Mexico is a perfectly lawful trade, and as the Peterhoff had not so much as a package of contraband on board, it will be difficult to imagine what grounds even Admiral Wilkes could this time allege in defence of such proceedings. The matter has been brought under the notice of Earl Russell and Mr. Adams, the American Minister.

The discussion in Parliament on the subject of our "relations" with America place beyond all doubt the perilous crisis in which both countries are placed, It is not alone that rash and ill-judging orators on both sides of the Atlantic have been doing their best to fan the flame of hostility; but that special circumstances have arisen to give point to their taunts and recriminations. On the side of America there is the complaint against England for the assistance which her shipbuilders have afforded to the Confederates, by constructing vessels for them; and on the part of England there is the much more tangible charge against America of seizing merchant vessels bound for neutral ports, and sending them to prize courts, without sufficient grounds, or, after inflicting considerable delay and loss on the owners, setting them free again. * So far as there exists any justification for accusing the English Government of showing favor to the Confederates, the question, if reason were allowed to be the arbitrator, might be easily settled, and is abundantly answered by the course adopted with reference to the Alexandra. But, on the other side, the charge is explicit and capable of proof. English vessels have been seized, without any evidence of a guilty complicity wilh Confederates, and the rule laid down by the Federal government with respect to vessels carrying mail bags has been violated by its own officers. These matters are now under the serious consideration of her Majesty's Ministers. In both Houses of Parliament indignant language has been uttered which is certainly not calculated to soothe the irascible merchants of New York; and unless great forbearance be exercised where it i 3 most needed, the issue will not be such as to mend the good " relations " between this country and Federal America. Mr. Adams, the Federal minister in London, has committed himself to a step which is likely to lead to " explanations" that may make bad worse. He has taken upon himself to determine what is " honest" and what- is " dishonest" trading in English vessels, and has carried his interference to the extent of giving certificates to vessels of whose " enterprise" he approves, so that they may he permitted to pass the open seas unmolested! An illustration of this unprecedented usurpation of authority is furnished by a letter addressed to Admiral Dupont, commanding the Federal fleet in the Gulf of Mexico, in which Mr. Adams says that " amidst the multitude of fraudulent and dishonest enterprises from this kingdom [England] to furnish supplies to the rebels in the United States through the pretence of a destination to some port in Mexico," it gives him " pleasure" to

distinguish a particular Arm (which he names) as an honest enterprise to furnish arms to the Mexicans, and he accordingly requests the admiral to let the hearer pass. By this interference Mr. Adams places himself in a very awkward situation. He herein undertakes to protect English merchants who are already, or ought to be, protected by international law and their own country; and he furthermore commits the very act as between France and Mexico, which he charges England with committing as between the North and South. If it be fraudulent and dishonest in English vessels to convey supplies to the " rebels," it is at least equally fraudulent and dishonest in Mr. Adams to abet the conveyance of arms to the Mexicans. By this proceeding he also undertakes to determine what enterprises English vessels may lawfully embark in, and what they may not; and having determined this, he then gives them permission to sail under his protection. In a subsequent case, when application was made to him for a similar certificate for another vessel, he declares that lie has no authority to exercise such discrimination, and that the course he had previously taken had been misconceived! He was evidently by this time beginning to discover his mistake, and was getting rather alarmed at his own blunder. Earl Russell has very properly declined to open any correspondence with Mr. Adams on this subject, but has referred the whole question to the American government. The war itself, in the meanwhile, is dragging its slow but violent length along. The Federals have 'opened the attack on Charleston, and failed. Out of nine ironclads which opened fire at 2 o'clock on Fort Sumter, at 3,000 yards, two withdrew at 4 o'clock, one disabled, and the other a wreck. The attack was not renewed, although the remaining seven still floated within the bar. This repulse lias been felt as a severe blow in the North, and will hasten the advance of General Hooker upon Richmond. It is expected he will cross the Rappahannock at Port Royal about the Ist of May, and move direct upon Richmond. He will, of course, be l.'et half-way, and one of those battles may be looked for, upon the issues of which the Federals have so often rested the fortune of the future.—Hume News. LATEST. It will be collected from the observations we have made elsewhere that the state of affairs between America and England is in the highest degree critical. The information which we continue to receive up to post hour tends to confirm the gravity of the situation. The Cabinet is still deliberating upon the questions that have been submitted to its consideration; and we are happy to say that the country reposes implicit confidence in the result. Even the leaders of the Opposition merge all party objects in the paramount claims of the national honour and the safety of our trade. That America regards the crisis with equal anxiety is manifest from many circumstances, and from none more emphatically than the fact that the two ambassadors, if we may so call them, from the North and South, Mr. Adams and Mr. Mason, were present in the diplomatic gallery of the House of Commons, on the night of the discussion on the case of the Alexandra. This case has brought the whole of the relations between the two countries on the open seas to a point. Many English vessels are now lying in harbor afraid to proceed upon their voyages, from the dangers to which they are exposed by the conduct of the officers of the Federal navy, and especially of the notorious Admiral Wilkes, who seems to have been appointed in virtue of his buccaneering qualities to the command of the waters where the utmost delicacy and caution are imperatively required. Our commerce to and from all parts of the world is jeopardised by the lawlessness which the American Government seems disposed to sanction. It is true that only certain waters are infested by American ships of war, but a principle is involved which is of wider application, and which must be asserted in the present instance, or our prestige at sea would be materially damaged, and our merchants would everywhere feel insecure hereafter. England cannot suffer lift- flag to be insulted, or her neutral rights to be invaded with impunity; and the colonies are directly interested in knowing that the Government is fully prepared to act upon the unmistakable demands of public opinion, should ample redress and guarantees be denied to us. A war with Federal America must end disastrously for Federal America, not only from her total inability to sustain it, but because it would be tantamount at once to a declaration of Southern independence.—Home News, April 27.