The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-09 00:00:00

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THE SUN.
LONDON, THURSDAY, OCT. 9, 1862.

- -
Perhaps we are to have another lull in American
action, since news three days later, and reaching to
ten or twelve days after the battle of Antietam
Creek, tells of no further movements on either side.
Probably both armies have had enough of it for the
present; each claims the battle as a victory, the one
because it effected its retreat without molestation,
the other because it compelled retreat. It may well
be, indeed, that each gained its immediate object.
The Confederates would have preferred to remain
in Maryland, because it furnished them with abun-
dant supplies, but finding that the people did not
rise, as had been expected, on behalf of the South,
they saw the game was up, and resolved to return
to Virginia. MTLELLAN'S prompt march on them
compelled them to fight their way back, and it
now appears that with but 60,000 men, to double,
probably, that number of Federals, they got away
securely. They doubtless lost a vast number of
men as well as their assailants, but it does seem
probable that, including the spoils of Harper's
Ferry, they laid in an ample supply of military
stores at the Federal expense.
We have a little indication by this mail of
the manner in which the conditional and

procrastinating proclamation of emancipation
has been received in the North. The Gover-
nors of all the Free States proper appear
to have accepted it—they determine to support the
PRESIDENT'S " constitutional authority," and as
they add to this, " approval of the proclamation,"
it would seem that they regard it as constitutional
to deal thus with the slave States. The PRESI-
DENT, mere like a Prime Minister than a Sove-
reign, has expressed his own opinion also, He is
at least so far popular as to have been serenaded
at New York. On this occasion he spoke of his
proclamation, but certainly with some expression
of doubt as to his own infallibility. The procla-
mation was issued after " full deliberation," and
under a,s heavy sense of responsibility." Thaiiensabrlyel
will believe, for the personal integrity and desire
to to do right of ABRAHAM LINCOLN s believed
all parties. But he " trusted in GOD he had
made no mistake," while be left it to mem to judge
of his proclamation, and to act on it as they
pleased. To add to the elements of uncer-
tainty, the Chicago Emancipation Committee have
have published a letter, addressed to them by
PRESIDENT only nine days before the proclamation
was issued, in which he stated that such a
proclama-
tion would be inefficacious if issued, and that arms
put into the hands of the slaves would only fall
into the hands of their masters ! There has been
evidently great hesitation, and fluctuation of
opinion, in the councils at 'Washington, and the
result appears to have been a proclamation, adapted
ee t
ion and s ;
to
carry, to secure the warm adhesion of all the hot Union
mAbolitionists of the North, at the coming
elon
at least, all the Free State go-
vernors with it ; and to irritate the South without
the possibility of its being put in force there. The
Border States, Maryland and Kentucky, have
already began to display their hostility to it, and
of course the planting States will receive it, with
mingled deris'on and wrath.

But what will the North say to Mr.
GLAD-
STONE'S personal recognition of the South. It was
expressed in connection with such kindly and apo.
logetic sentiments in regard to the North itself,
that, taken all together, the Unionists will have
great difficulty in censuring the whole. When
they find him, not as many of us have done, think-
ing it well for a vatt continent to be divided—at