GENERAL SUMMARY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1783, 25 October 1862, Page 3

GENERAL SUMMARY.

(From the Home News, 2Qth August,) Tbe items of intelligence from America are not very numerous, and the war lingers. But significant signs of the future are abroad. The emancipation scheme bas been again, and with increased emphasis, rejected by tbe majority representing the Bordet Stales. They express themselves with marked deference and loyalty, which makes their determination to resist tbe Abolitionists, by whom the* President declares he is urgently pressed every day, the moie significant and' dangerous. It is clear that tbe Border States have no present intention of joining tbe Confederates, nor is it likely that they will ever Join them ; but this last reply to tbe President indicates no remote possibility of tbeir ultimate formation into a cluster under one independent form of government. In fact, the Union is gradually, from one cause and anotber, undergoing a slow, but certain process of dissolution. The President bas signed tbe Confiscation Bill, and after one of tbe most extraordinary sessions on record, during which eijrht hundred millions of dollars were appropriated for tbe war, Congress bas adjourned, but not without a fierce denunciation by Mr. Chandler of the proceedings of General M'Clellan. General Halleck bas been appointed commander-in-chief. General Pope has issued a proclamation declaring it to bj bis inteutiou henceforth to quarter his army on the places through which be passes; to which Jefferson Davis has responded by announcing his intention to make reprisals on all Federal officers that fall iuto bis hands. The hot season up'peats to have suspended for the most part, actual operations iv £he field' but preparations for greater activity than ever are going forward on both sides. Iv Richmond, the Confederates are reported to be the building three iron-clad steamers destined for James River: and in tbe North, every species of temptation and intimidation is resorted to for the purpose of stimulating the languid progress of recruiting. But all efforts to collect a force adequate to the grand and impossible design on band have hitherto proved fruitless. Failing iv bis call for 300,000 men, President Lincoln has called for 300,000 more. Tbe logic is irresistible. If tbe country won't give

I, 300,000, it must give 600,000. But the last - experiment fared no better than the first. The 0 Irish and Germans got frightened, and there 3 wa3 an immediate exodus to Canada and the coast. The Go^ernmeof, however, {intervened, a stopped all persons from leaving the country who could no satisfactorily pr >ye that they were not citizens of the States, and in this knot of j | coinpl.crtions the m-.del republic was placed P . with its people at tbe date of the last mail. 1 The few incidents ofthe contest in different places are for the most part in favor of the [ Confederates. An iron ram, the Arkansas, altt.'i- co-i. milting tiYraeiiduous darn.ige on tbe \ Federal gunboats in the Mississippi, has been 5 blown up by iti crew at a moment when, undergoing reprirv, rt was attacked at a disadvantage. But other steam rams of formidable i power are said to be constructing with a view 1 to tbe James River, and should they be brought into action, they will undoubtedly hasten the termination of hostilities, if hostilities are ever to end. Id M'Clellan's camp, where tbe thermometer stands at 9i degrees in tbe sbade, the men are dying by hundreds, and, notwithstanding all fabricated reports to tbe contrary, it would be impossible for tbe mysterious captain of these.skeleton legions to bring onehalf of his roll into the field. In the Virginian Valley there has been a sanguinary battle between tbe Confederates under Stonewall Jackson and a considerable portion of Pope's troops. As usual, both parties claim tbe victory; but it is obvious that Jackson accomplished all be wanted, and then withdrew ia good order. While these sceues are being enacted in the field, the reign of terror is setting in, in tbe North. The conscription bas begun, and the tax-collector is about to begin. There is no metal currency of any kind of circulation, aud the only medium of mouey intercourse is in the shape of perishable postage' stamps. This clearly c ;nuot last. r " 1 The condition of Italy at the present moment - awakens painful feelings. Garibaldi bas taken 3 arms against the State which he himself may 3 be said to have called into existence. Having 9 collected a handful of volunteers, gradually | augmented from different quarters, he has I; moved from place to place in Sicily, at first \ declaring for Unity aud Victor Emmanuel, but 3 nlttmitely dropping the king from his despe--3 rate proclam nions. Tbe ltaliau Government . has been reluctant to direct its arms against i the mrst. devoted of Italian patriots, and slow to denounce as a rebel the deliverer of Sicily 5 and Naples. But there are limits to forbear- , ance, when the peace arid securityof a kingdom ; are at stake, and the Cabinet of Victor Emmanuel, fortified by a vote of confidence on tbe part of tbe Senate have at last taken a decisive | step, from which it is impossible now to recede. > Garibaldi has been declared in rebellion ag.riust tbe countiy, and Sici'y has been placed ia a state of siege. The programme has been ; followed up by vigorous action. . Tlie seaboard is watched and guarded, and troops are concentrating on the island. Garibaldi, who has entered Catania, is probably by this time surrounded on all sides, and any hour may • bring tidings of a collision. If the accounts that reach us may be credited, aud we see no reason lo distrust them, Garibaldi has fairlj thrown off bis allegiance, and assumed the attitude of a soldier beading a revolution He has. seized tbe public treasury, and eoustiacted a government of his own "in a small place where he bas laken up his quarters. But the brilliant fortune that attended his first landing in Sicily does not seem likely to wait upou his second expedition. Tbe people of Catania are not wiih bim. All those who car, are represented to be leaviug tbe town ; nor is there anywhere that turbulent enthusiasm upon which alone ihe remotest chance of success could be reasonably calculated. Even the Hungarians keep aloof. He has issued a proclamation appealing to them for co-opera-tion, to wbich General KJapka has replied by declaring that in his present position Garibaldi does not represent the voice of Italy, and that the Hungarians will husband their forces for better times. It thus appears tbat tbe foremost of Italian heroes is isolated iv the midst of his compatriots, and tbat whatever step he takes must, more or. less, compromise either his own iuflueuce, or the cause be is laboring to advance, or both. Parliament was prorogued on tbe 7th August, after a Session by no means eventful, but presenting, on that very account, abundant grounds for general satisfaction. The Queen's Speech fairly reflects tbe placidity of our condition, shows us how happily we are situated with respect to Foreign Powers, and points with quiet complacence to those principles . of commercial interc'iurse arid political neuj trality which have been maintained steadfastly amidst many sore temptations. Tbe declaration that her Majesty sees no reason to depart from the strict policy of non-intervention which she has observed towards America will be received with profound gratification everywhere except iv America. It is now becoming evident tbat tbe war party in the Northern States are endeavoring to make capital out of the bugbear intervention, and that, iv spite of all our protestations to the contrary, they persist iv declaring that England meditates either the immediate recognition of tbe South, or at least, mediation in' some sbape. Tbe object of this fraudulent representation is to keep up the hatred against England on the one band, and to urge on the lagging zeal of tbe people on tbe other. The Queen's speech ought to open the eyes of Yankeedora. Nothing can be more explicit than tbe.expression of tbe determination to let tbe Americans fight out tbeir quarrel. Tbe announcement, also, made by Earl Russell in tbe Upper House, to tbe same effect, coupled with tbe statement tbat no .overtures from foreign Powers respecting intervention bad been made lo tbe English Government, cannot fail, we imagine, to produce a salutary effect whereever common sense is permitted to exercise any influence in America. - The distress in Lancashire and Yorkshire naturally occupies a place in tbe Speech. Her Majesty expresses her deep sympathy with the sufferers, and her great admiration., of the endurance they have shown through the period of severe affliction. There is nothing, indeed, in modern history more remarkable than the quiet fortitude with wbich tbe working classes in the north have met a season of unparalleled misery, tbe issues of wbich are yet dark and distant. A quarter of a century ago, such a state of things as has now occurred in the manufacturing districts would have produced an insurrection of operatives. . Government would have been accused as the authors of a famine, and a general outcry would have been got up against taxation. But the working man ■ is better traiued and taught than housed to be.' Tbe schoolmaster has been abroad, and in his.. patient manliness we recognise the practical fruits of those popular institutions through which education has been widely spread over the face of the country. ,