The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-09-22 00:00:00

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

WAR TO TIM KNITC—The text of Abraham
Lincoln's letter to the Union I 'ommititee in
Illinois has been published, but its length pre-
cludes transference to our columns. It is a
well-worded and able document, and the writer
believes, what the greater portion of the English
community have smarted all along, "that it is im-
possible to restore the Union by any eompromiae. I
He says "we must destroy the South, or give it
its independence," and, as be will not accept the
former alternative, it is comparatively easy to
justify any means for accomplishing the latter.
When once a man makes up his mind to a war
of extermination he needs not be particular as
to the means he employs. "Civilised belligerents
do all in their power, " says Mr. Lincoln, "to
help themselves or hurt their enemy, except a
few things regarded as barbarous or cruel.
Among these exceptions are the massacre of
vanquished foes and non-combatants, male and
female." It is true that President Lincoln and
his friends have in many instances shown us
that they have not been specially careful to re
spect the exceptions, but as their object is the
extinction of the white people of the South,
this, we suppose, must be considered excusable.
The Star, which would urge on our Government
to proclaim war against Russia for the inde-
peideuoe of Poland, considers that the "noblest
nate paper that ever was penned—worthy of a
Cromwell or • Waskinsice," and adds, • We can-
not resist the pleasure of quoting CM magnificent
sentence which follows :—And then there will
be some black men who can remember that, with
silent tongue and clenched teeth, and steady
eye and well-poised bayonet, they have helped
mankind on to this groat consummation; while
I fear that there will be some white men unable
to forget that, with malignant heart and deceitful
speech, they have striven to hinder it." For our
own part we think it place' in the clesrest,
strongest light, the wickedness of the war and
the fiendish spirit which at the present time
directs the Washington Government.
Aiteemot Torice. According to advice,
brought by the Persia on saturday, Fort Sumter
was still in the heads of the Confederates, but
whether they will be enabled to hold it to the
end apmirs doubtfuL Acoording to Southern
despatc on the 6th, the Foriald Beet awl land
forms had incessantly bombarded Forte Wmma
and Gregg, and General Gilmore had mounted 30
guns for the purpose of throwing Greek fin into
Charleston. The Confederates are said to he iu
a deplorable condition from want of provisions
and necessaries The dead lie so thidt about
Fort Wagner that the very wells are poisoned,
and ahe soldiers, who in the agony of thirst
drank of their waters, died in great pain from the
effects of the poison. The reported approaching
departure of two iron-ohade from England had
c mead considerable excitement; and the New
York Herald recommends war rather than sub-
minion to mob hostile tessurta It suggests
that as soon as an Anglo-rebel steamer attacks
a Northern port, an embargo be laid on British
shipping to oomeeminte fcr the damage, and that
Belli* property should be sequestered until a
settlement is made by Inland. It is not
impossible but that we shall yet have to
pui up with monk gross insult and offensive
buncombe from Yankee friends which we should
bate avoided, had we, with Francs, in the
early period of Ameriese hostilities mow