The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-14 00:00:00

ings, Mr. Gladstone persisted in assuring the house
that his estimates were quite safe. The house was
compelled to accept his assurances, and it will have
to tell him again that his statements have, as before,
proved utterly untrustworthy. He cannot excuse
himself by the Lancashire distress: It was inevit-
able when he proposed his budget.
POST.—On the first day of this year President
Lincoln signed the formal death-warrant of the
condemned United States. His proclamation of a
servile war must extinguish the last hope that lin-
gered in the breast of his most enthusiastic sup-
porter. He has proclaimed the freedom of the
slaves in twelve States, and has invited them to take
military service against their masters. The recom-
mendations to them to labour for wages, and to ab-
stain from violence, unless in self-defence, are ab-
surd, since he knows that wages will not be given
to them, and the daily infraction of the liberty
i sof
interpret
which he bestows on themitseli, forsufficientftaactsof
warrant, if they so choose to
violence in self-defence. The proclamation would
be a terrible act were it not sure to be wholly in-
operative. Mr. Lincoln's decree is as useless as if
it were addressed to the people of some other con-
tinent. It is in vain for him to raise the voice of
authority when his broken sword is as of little power
as the goosequill with which he signs his name. The
pen is his only weapon, and he uses it for the utter
violation and destruction of the social pact which
he has struggled to maintain. Secession has al-
ways been a fair debateable question, with two
sides to it. The seceding States have ever urged
that the Constitution allowed of the step which
they chose to take by virtue of their individual
State Sovereignty. But no one can pretend
that the President has not acted in direct
contradiction to the written and simple words of
the United States Constitution when he assumes to
set free the slaves and to partition States. The
admission of Western Virginia as a new State is an
act of high treason to the Constitution, so also is
the Decree of Emancipation. There is no longer
any pretence of legality. The war is one of
Despotism, aiming at Empire. These last and
desperate measures appear to be the offspring of an
impotent rage. The Federal arms are paralysed.
Their manhood is beaten. Their legions are too
numerous and too huge to be destroyed, and the
remnants are therefore rejoicing in a degree of
" safety." It is pitiful to see a generalissimo of
defeated grand armies losing the attributes of a
Christian, a warrior, and a man, and shrieking with
feminine passion for the aid of slaves, invoking
servile massacre, and the " gracious favours" of that
God who has been appealed to as the "God of bat,
ties," but who never yet was blasphemed as the
Providence of crime and the dispenser of murder.
Mr. Lincoln's proclamation will no doubt strike all
neutral observers as very wicked and very silly.
How are his " military and naval authorities to
maintain "the freedom of the slaves?" Where are
his grand armies ? How far have they advanced
upon the soil for which he presumes to dictate laws?
Twenty millions of white men cannot conquer the
South—can hardly make an impression on it. It
is hopelessly impregnable. How ridiculous, then,
for the foiled besieger to issue laws for the regula-
tion of the interior of the fortress. The intelligence
from the scene of war conveyed to us by the same
mail which brings the news of Mr. Lincoln's de-
plorable decree is of the usual uncertain description
when fighting is concerned, A great battle, lasting
three days, has been fought at Murfreesboro'. The
Federals claim the advantage, as they always do.
They admit their losses to be enormous, four regi-
ments being mentioned as having lost half their
men. Experience teaches us to wait for a few days
before forming any conclusion as to the result. As
there is no bragging of victory, we shall probably
be soon informed of the real extent of the defeat.
Fighting has taken place at Vickskburg, on the
Mississippi. The Federals appear to have assaulted
the place on three successive days, and to have been
repulsed on each occasion. In Virginia nothing has
taken place except the successful return of General
Stuart to the south side of the Rappahannock, after
having ridden round General Burnside's army, and
having cut his telegraph lines, and accomplished
other damage. Commercial men do not seem to like
the aspect of affairs, if we may judge by the rise of
the premium on gold to within a fraction of thirty-
five. The war is reaching a crisis at which some
effort will, we trust, be made to put a stop to it.
The thinking men of the North, utterly deceived in
their expectations, will surely at last lend an ear
to the suggestions of peace.