Charleston.
The most intense regards of the Yankees are now fastened upon Charleston. Why the projected attack hangs fire so long is a mystery to everybody. Nearly a month has clapped since the British Consul was ordered by his superiors to "stand from under," and every one held their breath in expectation of a terrific crash. Then it was postponed till the 1st of March, and the 1st of March having come and gone, we now hear that it is to be the 19th. The preparations, military and naval, are of the most for minable kind; but perhaps it has been discovered that the defences are equally so. The General in command at Charleston is not a man to count any necessary precautions, and the people are among the most and circumspect of mankind. We have often had occasion to call attention to those qualities of South Carolinian character, for which they have not generally received credit. They are supposed to be a head-over-heel, impulsive race, never looking before they leap. It is a great mistake. They are as remarkable for their forethought, and for taking time by the forelook in all great enterprises as the Bostonian. If they had not been, Charleston would have fallen in the beginning of the war. But it has always been ready for any force the Yankees could bring against it.--It is in a mere complete state of preparation now than ever. It is powerful in its fortifications and in its guns, but more powerful than all in the deep and universal determination of every man, woman and child in it that the city shall be destroyed rather than fall into Yankee hands.The supreme malignity with which the Yankees look forward to their revenge on Charleston will not be gratified. They may burn the place up, they may make it a heap of smoking ruins; but the city, the community, Charleston, will never be there to roll under their tongues as a sweet morsel. Charleston remembers the fate of New Orleans, and would rather be levelled even with the ground, and have the plough share run through the place it was built upon, than submit to such a fate. It was bad policy in the Yankees to let loose their vengeance upon New Orleans as they did. They forget their usual craft and cunning. If they had behaved with ordinary humanity, the resistance of other Southern cities might have been less desperate. But, henceforth, no Southern city that is defensible, Charleston and Richmond least of all, will be permitted to fall into their hands. A few days may test the truth of this prediction as far as Charleston is concerned. We hope to be able to record, not only the disappointment, but the crushing defeat of the vindictive enemy.
