The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-15 00:00:00

WAR IN AMERICA.

Groan the Time? Correspondent.)

NEW YORK, Ocr. 31.

The approaching elections engross public atten-
tion to the exclusion of almost every other topic.
People no longer ask what M'Clellan is doing, but
what are the chances of Mr. Seymour ? Betting
men are offering three to one that the Democratic
ticket will be elected in New York city, and two
to one that it will be triumphant in New York
State. " Mass meetings," " ratification meetings,"
and " rallies" of both parties are daily and nightly
held, and if any inference may be drawn from the
fact that the Republicans are losing temper, while
the Democrats preserve their equanimity, it is that
the Abolitionists and ultra war party have made up
their minds to be defeated first and revenged after-
wards. The Republican journals as invariably pass
over the Republican demonstrations with slight or
no mention, or the assertion that they are held in
holes and corners by " nigger worshippers" and war
contractors. The truth is, however, that the meet-
ings of both parties are largely attended, and that
the Democrats, having the best, the boldest, the
most logical, and the most popular speakers on
their side, draw by far the most numerous audi-
ences. One of tho greatest gatherings of the poli-
tical campaign was the torchlight " rally," which
took place on Tuesday night last in the City Hall
Park, to ratify the nomination of Mr. Horatio
Seymour and the Democratic Ticket, and to hear in
their support the Hon. Mr. Cox, who has just been
returned to the new Congress by the Democrats of
Ohio. As soon as it was dark processions, with
bands of music, began to pass up and down Broad-
way to the place of meeting, with banners, torches,
Chinese lanterns, and a large and very suggestive
variety of illuminated devices. For two hours
the stream flowed on till it filled the park to
overflowing. The crowd presented a highly
picturesque and imposing spectacle. The in-
scriptions on the transparencies and flags spoke
the sentiments of the assembled Democrats
more sententiously than the orators of the
evening. Among the most conspicuous were, " The
Rights of Free Speech !" "No Niggerism !" "No
Bastiles!" "The Habeas Corpus for ever!" "The
Union and the Constitution, one and insuperable !"
" Our National Malady—Nigger on the Brain !"
" Opposition to Tyrants is Obedience to God." "A
free Press, the true Champion of the Freeman's
Rights." In addition to these were many carica-
tures of Mr. Horace Greely, in attitudes more or
less grotesque, and always accompanied by the
" irrepressible negro," with which that gentleman's
name is popularly identified. The speeches were
characterised by a degree of boldness that the Demo-
cratic party has not recently shown, and which
proves it to be conscious of its growing power and
determined to use it in favour of legality and peace.
Though all the speakers manifested a desire to carry
on the war with the utmost vigour, there was a pal-
pable under-current of sympathy with the South,
which the meeting appreciated and applauded. The
denunciations of Abolitionism and of the notable
scheme of the President for the deportation of the
negro race were loud and frequent, and enthusias-
tically received. It was declared that the present
Congress was nothing but a negro debating society ;
that the white labourers of the North would never
consent to be taxed either for the manumission or
the expatriation of the black labourers of the South ;
that the abolition of slavery without the consent of
the slave-holding States was unconstitutional, and
a breach of the President's oath on assuming office ;
that the election of the Democratic leaders in the
State of New York would throw upon the south a
gleam of hope ; that the people of Austria and
Russia enjoyed greater liberty than the people of
New York ; that the American flag was disgraced
in the eyes of the world by the imbecility of the
Lincoln Administration ; that the ship of State was
under the control of drunken mariners, who were
driving it to destruction ; that the Abolitionists
-would continue to villify GeneraliM'Clellan until
they made him President ; and that if Mr. Lincoln
persisted in over-riding the Constitution the day of
reckoning would come, when he would be ar-
raigned before the Supreme Court, tried, con-
victed, and disgraced. It is evident that Fort
Lafayette and the other Bastilles must have tem-
porarily lost their terrors, for hundreds of persons
have been incarcerated within the last four months
for infinitely milder " treason" than this, or on mere
suspicion of entertaining the opinions thus openly
expressed. The Republicans assert, however, that
their day is coming; that the leaders of the Demo-
cratic party cannot and shall not be permitted to
talk in this manner, whether successful or unsuccess-
ful at the polls; and that not even their election as
Governors and members of Congress on Tuesday
next will shield them from the operation of martial
law. And if the Government be as mad as the
party that supports it, it will carry out these
threats, and precipitate a revolution.
Last night the Republicans held their great rati-
fication meeting at the Cooper Institute; and, as
Gen. Wadsworth was announced to make his first
appearance before a New York audience, a very
large assemblage was the result. Not one half the
number anxious to be present could be accommo-
dated in the great hall, and outside meetings were
consequently organized, at which some of the less
important speakers endeavoured to keep the disap-
pointed crowd in good humour. Mr. Seward was
invited, but could not attend. In his letter of apo-
logy—full of nautical metaphors and similes—
which was read to the meeting, he said the noble
ship of State was driven on a lee shore 18 months
ago—that he took a hand at the helm in obedience
to the captain's call ; and that he intended to re-
main at his post promptly, and strictly obeying or-
ders. He also spoke of "expelled mutineers" who
were "coming back from abroad" to board and sink
her, and expressed his conviction that, with activity,
vigilance, and perseverance on the part of the crew,
the precious vessel would be carried through all her
perils, and greet the waiting nations with the cry of
" well." This little birth of rhetorical fancy
having fallen dead upon the meeting, the business of
the evening was commenced by Mr. Tremayne, the
candidate for the office of Lieutenant-Governor,
who confined himself to personalities against Mr.
Seymour, Mr. J. Van Buren, and the two Messrs.
Wood, and was biting and epigrammatic enough
in bis structures to administer largely to the intel-
lectual, if not to the moral, gratification of his
hearers. Gen. 'Wadsworth, "a tall, elderly, quiet-
looking man," followed in a strain of more dignity.
Ile spoke of the deadly peril in which the country
was placed, and declared his deliberate and solemn
conviction that it was in the State and city of New
York more than in the Valley of Shenandoah or the
hills of Reet„ky
that the battle of the Union had
to be fought.
In all his remarks the patronising
tone assumed towards
the President was conspicu-
ous. spoke of
enced man, who him as an honest but inexpert-
faithful and hadear/lei made mistakes, but. who was
th e Republican Part_ Re declared that the duty of
sustain and steeng4ln_d of all loyal men was to
laitawivri,- Lincoln in his arduous
task ; to admonish
him back to the right path 17 neeeßsary. and lead
Re
Elio went astray, but never to abandon him.
will against the took.. occasion to express his ill-
-whom he accused, with an ignorant
aristocracy,
lence characteristic of Americans in" malevo-
teti t hat
to English affairs, of fitting out armed relates
prey upon American commerce and takeetra to
American seamen, while they Were all theqVle
prating of neutrality and of their peaceful
enti-
men •
ts He finally wound up by advocating the
Li su bitigatiOn" of the South by fire and sword, and
the manumission of its slaves, as preferable to sub-
ny recognition of Southern nation-
rniesion, or to a
ality or independence ; but refrained from imitating
the example of some
of the most zealous and indis-
creet of his supporters, and calling his opponents
heads were
public enemies, upon whose
traitors end
to be invoked the penalties of martial law—the cells
llows, and the guillotine.
of Fort Lafayette, the ga
ard on both sides
The canvass goes briskly forw
the day of polling
and the excitement increases as
draws near. The Republicans, in their placards,
call upon the people to vote for ft wadsworth and
the life of the nation," or for "Seymour, treason,
and dismemberment ;" while the Democratic band-
bills and posters invite all true Americans to stand
by " Seymour and the Constitution," and to over-