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Southland Times, Volume 3, Issue 102, 16 October 1863, Page 4

TnF, news from America, received via San Francisco, is, if to be relied on, important. No decisive battles appear to have occurred since that at Gettysburg, the principle items of interest being the details o£ tho fall of Vioksburg and Port Hudson, of which a brief announcement wa3 received by the last English mail, and the progress of tho siege of Charleston. Since the death of Stoiiewall Jacksoi), the opera-

tions of the Confederates have been more of a defensive and strategetic character than characterised the movement of the deceased general. The fall of Yicksburg is, no doubt, a great triumph for the Federals, securing, as it does, the command of the Mississippi. But the advantages of the victory have been much lessened by the fact that the Federal commander felt it wise to liberate the garrison of Vicksburg ; thus placing at liberty a large force which might co-operate in future against the Federals. The general tendency of the accounts just to hand, via California, is in favor of the Federals, and after making due allowance for the natural proclivities of the Califorflian journals, there is internal evidence that the Confederates are threatened with reverse at several important points. Charleston, which so successfully withstood the first seige, cannot much louger resist the gigantic force brought against it, and

unless a diversion is effected by the Confederate land forces, the full of this city is inevitable. There appe ir to have been two distinct bombardments of the fortifications of Charleston, in which, although the Federals were ultimately beaten off, the balance weighed in favor of the attacking force. The forts of Wagner and Sumter had suffered so severely at the first attack, when the iron-clad fleet of the Federals was well nigh destroyed, that it was,feared they couid not withstand another combined attack. The Confederates appear to view the fall of Charleston as not an improbable? event, and the Charleston j papers strongly urge a sortie on the land butteries of the Federals as the only movement holding out hope of 1 saving the city. Minor engagerm nts continued to occur, but of no decisive nature. The Fe leral arriiy on the Potomac was almost inactive ; .content with, watching the frontier formed by that river. We again learn that intrigues are rife at Washington, and that political considerations were ]ikel) r to result in another change in the command of the army of the Potomac. General Meade — almost the only Federal General who has shown himself equal to the position — is repined to have resigned, but his successor is not named. It is said that the command of the army of the Potomac is regarded as the stepping stone to the next Presidency. We can thus easily account for the constantly recurring changes in that important post. The political complications in the North continue. 'ihe New York riots are clearly traced to the influence of a reactionary part}*, which has managed to secure a threatming strength in the North. Fu;l her details of the riots, show that the rioters were guilty of the most revolting and cold-blooded crimes. The most intense hatred of the colored race pervaded the mob, and the most diabolical excesses Were perpetrated. The damage done to property was immense, and claims ha 1 already been made on the New York Municipality for over £500,000. The alleged cause of the disturbance — the draught — has not been removed, aud the President has written to Governor Seymour, distinctly refusing to suspend the measure. This conscription hud proluced riots in various parts of the Northern States, but the power of the GovernmeLt had succeeded in enforcing order. Meantime, the most strenuous eifurts were made by the people to evade the conscription ; all sorts of diseases were simulated, and every possible excuse made that could secure immunity to the reluctant patriots. Peace is as far off as ever, and both Federals and Confederates strongly deny the truth of the rumors ascribing a disposition to treat for peace. The popu-. lar feeling ia the North is decidedly in favor of an arrangement, but the republican party is too strong for the advocates of a middle course. War, a I' entrance, is the avowed watchword oi both North and South. At v large mass meeting held at Concord, JN. H., Major General Butler, in a speech of great length, distinctly delared the only solution of the difficulty to be the conquest of the Southern States. t( You must take them, or they will take you — there is no middle course," said General Butler, and such is the doctrine enunciatedby all the llepubl can journals. But such, a cousu mm nation as General Butler desires is further off than ever. Vicksburg has fallen, and Charleston may fall likewise, but so long as the Southern States preserve the intense national feeling that has hitherto nerved their actions, their subjugation is impossible. Even now nature is aiding them ; the deadty miasma of swamps asd lagoons, and the intolerable heat, are sweeping off the Northern soldiers like corn under the hands of the reaper. That, the patriotism of the Southerners still exists in unimpaired vigor, we may judge fiom President Davis' proclamatiou. lie says — "There is no alternative left, but victory or subjugation, 5 ' and appeals, in spirit-stirring, words, to the people, calling upon them to resist with the last drop of blood, the effort to subdue them. That they will thus act, every one who has watched the progress of the war must admit. The energies and means of the contending peoples may be taxed to the last point of endurance, and yet the question for which such hecatombs of victims have been sacrificed, and for which the land has been deluged with blood, will remain to bo solved. We can only look to peace >s tbe result of that reaction which is already making itself felt in the North; and political machinations may possibly bring into existence a powerful party willing to admit the Southern States to the position of an indopent existence. From whatever causes peace may ultimately result, the rest of the civilised world will rejoice at j the close of a war — the most devastating \ and bloody that has for ages desolated the face of a country. The rumored intention of the Washington Government to interfere in the affairs of Mexico, is a subject pregnant with importance; and,

from tire magnitude of the interests" involved, is a rumor quite likely to have some foundation in truth. It would be an important diversion in favor of the Northerners to expose the Southern frontier of the ' revolted States to attack j but the advantages ia favor of the Confederates would more than compensate for any federal and -Mexican alliance. War between the Governments of "Washington and France would v result in the f immediate recognition of the Confedederate States by Napoleon, the .raising., of blockade, and the furnishing of much? needed warlike supplies to the Southern armies^ We are not sure that Napoleon would strive much to avoid a complication with the Federal Government. The cotton famine has inflicted far more proportionate distress in the manufacturing towns of France than in Lancashire, and the raising of the Southern blockade would be a popular measure. There are still evidences in the American journals of a feeling of strong antagonism towards England, but the Washington Government is disposed to preserve friendly relations with Greafc Britain. There is not much fear of war between the United States Government and our own ; the Americans, smarting under the blows on their commerce, inflicted by the Confederate privateers, may, under the influence of that feeling, indulge in bitter expressions towards Bngland fur not preventing the supply of ships of war to the Confederates ; but the United States Government appreciates too well the difficulties of its present position, to wantonly add to them by plunging into hostilities wiili the strongest naval power in the world.