Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
letter from the South.
Vicksburg, Miss., March 21, 1861.
As I am spending a few days here preparatory to going still farther South, I purpose devoting a portion of my leisure time to jotting down the impressions formed of passing events, and sending them to you for the edification of the benighted people of Richmond.
Contrary to all expectation, I find that there exists here the greatest unanimity of feeling is support of the Confederate Government.--Indeed, I speak truly in saying, that though I have spoken with many since my arrival, I am yet to see the first man who is not heart and hand zealously in favor of Southern independence, now, and for all future time.
The canards of the Whig, concerning the disaffection of the masses, is altogether a mistake; for the people, as far as I am able to judge, both of high and low degree, are delighted, and happy at the change.
Conversing with a large tax-payer this evening, I was told that the property holders were taxed under the new Government but twenty per cent. additional inclusive of the military tax,) to their usual taxation, and that the aggregate amount did not exceed one dollar on every hundred!--What can Virginia say to this?
As regards revenue, the new Government is infinitely better off than the one established at Washington, under protection of Turene's guns, collecting, as it does, more money than what is required for the current expenses of the same.
Even here, at this port, where revenue was never collected before, is now being collected a thousand dollars per day, which amount will be increased as the working of the new system becomes better understood.
At New Orleans, I am told, the authorities are collecting an enormous amount of revenue, which, of course, diminishes to that extent at least the power of Lincoln for mischief, and shortens his lever to coerce to a degree never contemplated by him or his coadjutors.
Let, then, the submission revilers of Southern men and Southern independence have their way; but future events will prove to them that they who would themselves be free, must do as these people are doing — strike the blow.
I hear no threats of war upon the people of the North by the Government of the South; indeed, such as I have spoken with in the subject, have deprecated hostilities, but have at the same time declared earnestly and emphatically that if war was the election of Lincoln, he should have his fill to his heart's content.
Davis is to take command in case hostilities commence, and in anticipation of such an event, he has made preparations to an extent little suspected outside of the States particularly interested.
Two companies of soldiers leave here in the morning for Fort Pickens, and Gen. Clarke, who commands the Mississippi forces, is ordered to proceed to that point forthwith.
Judging of what is to take place in the vicinity of Fort Pickens in the course of the next thirty days, by the great preparations making here and about, I should say that war will soon be upon you, and it would not be out of place to say that noises will in a little while be heard in Richmond, coming up from the Gulf of Mexico, calculated to startle even the dry bones now gathered together in the hall of the Mechanics' Institute. 