The Daily Dispatch: May 13, 1861., [Electronic resource]

The war.
Representations of the Northern Press, &c., &c., &c.

While it is definitely settled that large bodies of Federal troops will be advanced into Virginia at no distant time, it is evident that such a movement will only be undertaken after the preparations indispensable for its success are all perfected. Meantime, such positions have been assigned to Northern regiments as will enable Gen. Scott to croas 10,000 men to the right bank of the Potomac in a few hours, to prevent rebel forces from attempting an advance upon Washington, or to erect batteries on the opposite bills. The scouting is now so perfect that no hostile demonstration of any character can be made without the almost instantaneous knowledge of the military authorities.

The excitement among the military at the wanton shooting of a member of the District militia by a policeman continues unabated. The Washington police consists mostly of secession sympathizers, who improve every opportunity to harass the Northern volunteers.

Fifteen members of an Irish military company at Alexandria to-day came across the river to enter the Federal service. They would not fight under the secession flag.

A great urgency has been applied to the Secretary of State to induce his consent to publish his instructions to Mr. Adams, United States Minister at London, but he declined.

The recently published letter to Mr. Dayton is well understood to be an Index to the entire European correspondence. The temper, spirit and purposes have been the same in all cases from the beginning of the Administration.

It is understood that the Government has received from Mr. Dallas, Minister at London, particulars of his interview with her Majesty's Minister for Foreign Affairs, and on these the instructions to Mr. Adams are predicated.

Mr. Preston's next dispatch from Spain, in reply to a demand for explanations relative to St. Domingo, and also about the recognition of the Southern Confederacy, are looked for with much interest.

All the foreign ministers are anxiously making inquiries daily about the application of the blockade, but not a word of complaint has been uttered by any of them.

The Government has just been put in possession of important information in regard to the movements and operations of the rebel army. Their exact motive has not yet transpired, but the Gover?ment is taking advantage of it, and will be ready in three or four days to meet the Cenfederate forces at every point.

It appears that a large force is now marching from the South for Harper's Ferry, and from thence will attempt to force their way into Pennsylvania. Their object is to draw off a portion of the forces concentrating at Washington, and attack them at both points at the same time.

If the Government is compelled to send any considerable portion of the force now in Washington, or expected there, of course it will weaken them some, but not as much as the South anticipate.

The information that the Government is in possession of is highly important, and entirely reliable, as it comes from a source in the South that is fully posted. The Government has now parties in nearly every Southern State who keep them thoroughly advised of everything that is going on.

[Very likely; but still these ‘"Washington correspondents"’ betray unlimited ignorance of what, is going on at the South.]

I learn from several gentlemen who left Baltimore this afternoon, that the mobocrats and acessionists of that city have been flying for several days past to escape the wrath of the loyal troops who were approaching. Last night ninety four of the Maryland Guards were arrested by the Massachusetts Picket Guards, which invested the city, for attempting to escape into Virginia to join the secession forces. They were be held as prisoners, and will be dealt with as traitors.

The following is from the New York Day Book, of the 9th inst.:

We are satisfled that now is the time to press upon the President the necessity for resorting to a National Convention. We have information in which we believe we can place entire reliance, that the plan of a National Convention for amendments to the Constitution, or for a peaceable separation, has been favered by Mr. Lincoln from the beginning, but he has been overruled by his party. Let it now be pressed upon his attention. It will have bloodshed, restore harmony, and if it does not preserve the Union, will at least provide for stish a separation that, at furthest, will be only remporary. Now is the time to move.--Will not some leading man exert himself in this cause? We know it is favored by large numbers of our leading citizens, but it needs some one to start the movement.

A gentleman has left for Philadelphia to press the matter in that city, where it is understood that it meets with much favor.

The following is a copy of the memorial to the President which is in circulation:

To his Excellency, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States:

The undersigned, citizens of New York, beg leave to present to you most respectfully, but earnestly, the following considerations, to with.

While they hold themselves ready to maintain and defend their Government, and you as its legal head, they respectfully suggest that the only remaining honorable position for you to take to prevent the horrors of civil war and presserve the Union, is to adopt the policy of as immediate General Convention of all the States, as suggested in your inaugural. This course would remove from the South all pretext for bostilities, and if they refused to join said Convention for the settlement of all questions in dispute, they would stand unanimonsly condemned before the civilized world.

Earnestly deprecating civil war among brethren, we Implore and Beseech you to adopt this course, which you may rest assured is the real voice of the people.

There are absolutely no importations at New York. The Express says:

‘ "The impolley and untimeliness of the Morrill Tariff, which has now been in practical operation for a period of nearly six weeks, are now beginning to be conspicuous enough, so far as the interests of our mureantile marine are layolved. We had occasion, a few?days since, to show the disastrous effect of the now almost total suspension of Southern trade, upon shipping property; but that total suspension it could probably endore, for a long while, whithout material damage, but for loss of freight, consequent upon the curtailment of foreign trade, by the almost prohibitory duties now in vogue. As it is, there is no present remedy. The ship-owners must ‘"grin and bear it"’

It would be some recompense for the loss of business at home, if employment was as readily obtained as formerly — but this unfortunately is not the case; the apprehension of privateering prejudicing the American flag, especially in West India and South American ports, and giving the best freights to French, English, and North of Europe bottoms.

The tories in Wheeling fasted and prayed over their sins on the 9th inst. One of them informs the Northern papers that the Methedist Church pulpit was decorated with the Stars and Stripes. Rev. Mr. Smith delivered an address worthy of Beecher. He said he would hold no fellowship with traitors. If there was a secessionist in his congregation he wanted him to leave. Other ministers prayed that the rebels might be subdned or wiped from the face of the earth.

One company was sworn into the United States service to-day; some others will be tomorrow.

’ The Savannah Republican gives the following view of affairs at Pensacola:

‘ As details are not to be expected, we may state generally that the condition of the troops and for tifications is all that could be desired. Gen. Bragg has proved the very man for the work, and the volunteers lend a ready hand to carry out every order. Pickens is covered by our batteries on three sides. There are eight between the Navy-Yard and Fort Barrancas, four between the latter and the Light House, and a formidable mortar battery in the rear of Fort McRea. There is also a heavy mortar battery in the rear of Barrancas. All these works have been crected by the hands of the volunteers, and are armed with the very heaviest and best of artillery. The channel on a line between McRea and Pickeen has been obstructed by sinking a number of small yessels.

It was supposed that everything would be complete by the middle of the coming week after which we shall have a bombardment that will be worthy of a record. Pickens must fall, and the more men they put in it, the greater will be the destruction.

Besides Pickens, the enemy have thrown up a battery on the island some five miles from the Fort, which they are now engaged in arming for the struggle. Some hundred or more horses can be seen on the island, and seven ships of war and transports are lying off, something less than a mile from the shore.

’ From New Orleans, we have the following interesting reports from the Indian country and Texas:

‘ It is stated that a letter has been received from the Indian Nation, giving assurances of the kind reception the Chocktaws, Chickasaws, Cherokees, Seminoles, and Creeks gave the Commissioners appointed to visit them by the Texas State Convention. The tribes are slaveholders, and favor secession and the Southern Confederacy.

The Cherokees have cleared out the abolition emissaries among them. All the tribes were to hold a general council on the 8th of April.

The schooner Twilight, in the employment of the Federal Government, about proceeding under orders to the fort at Tortugas, was seized at A tansas, Texas, and is to be put in service in the waters of Matagorda Bay.

Governor Vidaurri writes from Monterey 24th ult., to the San Antonio Herald, that his portion of the country has suffered as much as Texas from the depredations of the Lipans and Mescalaro Indians. He disclaims energetically the imputation that Mexico has had anything to do with their recent atrocities towards Texas, and seems to think that parties in Texas are preparing to invade his territory. He hopes that such is not the case, but says he will defend his country if it should be invaded.

The prospect of crops is universally spoken of as better than has been known before for many years.

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