Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-08-07
Opinions ofIthe Northern Press.

uplnlOnS oIitn6 N0rbnern Fr6SS.
The eommentsof the Northern press, and
especially the war Journals of New York, on
the defeat of the 4GRAND UNION ARMY" viii
doubtless be readwith almost as much inter-
est as the details of the battle. We there
fore make several extracts
From the New Yorzsourns, of Commerce.
This reverse, at the very outset of the adj
vance Of our army, will lisappoint the hopes
and the confident expeeations of the people
of the Northern Sta:es. For, if there were
some who, with a mUe correct knowledge
and a just appreciation Of the strength and
material Of the Confederate army, have deem
ed the result which h~asattended the first i'm
p0rtant movement not unlikely to occur, it
is anquestionably true hat the masses of the
people have ENTERTAINED different expecta-
tions, and have looked upon the MARCH TO
RICHMOND in the light of a t%riumphal and
grand occasion, which should inspire our
troops with the highest spirit, and which
could, by no possibility, result in disaster to
our arms.
Probably not one in a hundred Of the mil
lions at the northlwho daily read or listened
to the demand of the war journals Ito for
ward to Richmond" had any conception of
the difficulties in the way of such an under
taking. For weeks past, the President, and
more especially Lieut.. General Scott, has
been urged to make a forward movement;
and a measure of abuse has been heaped up
on the Administrati--~t#e journals of his
own party, which, had it emanated from
their opponents, would have provoked the
most serious charges Of disloyalty to the
Government.
In common with all our fellow-citizens, we
are distressed at the intelligence which every
hour brings Us of the loss of brave and re-
spected men, off and p~rivates, who have
fallen in the encounter between the two ar
mics. Many homes are thus made d~esolate,
many hearts roken-crtshed-by the sud
den announcement. Similar scenes are wit
messed and similar griefs felt, among the peo-
pie of the South. Is there no way to put an
end, horoIably and rightly, to this state of
things This question is full of Importance,
and we ask the people in the light of human
ity and of Christianity, to ponder we'll the
momentous issues which it involves.
From the New York Tribune.
We have fought and been beaten. God
forgive our rulers that this is SO; but it is
true, and cannot be disguised. The Cabinet,
recently expressed. IN rhetoric better adapt
ed to a loYe-letter, a fear of being drowned
in it's own honey, is nov nearly drowned in
gore while our honor on the high seas has
only been saved by one daring and desperate
negro, and he belonging to the merchant
marine. The sacred soil of Virginia is Grim
son and wet with the blood of thousands of
men needlessly shed. The great and uniyer-
sal question pervading the public mind is:
Shall this condition of things continue ?"
A decimated and indignant people Will de-
mand the immediate retirement of the pre-
sent Cabinet from the high places of power,
which, for one reason or another, they have
shown themselves incompetent to ill. Give
US for the President capable advisers, who
comprehend the requirements of the crisis,
and are equal to them; and, for the army,
leaders worthy of the rank and file, and our
banner, now dropping, will soon float once
moro in triumph over the whole land.
From the New York Times.
There is no OCCASION 70 ittt5}a q htffee ealffm In
gallant army Of the Union has been routed
and put to flight by the rebels and if, from
the fragments, enough material can be gath
cred to insure the immediate safety of the
Capital, the nation will have a melancholy
and imperfect reason for congratulation.-
But, although we have suffered a disatrou:
defeat, the course of events make it some
thing better than a national calamity. II
one respect it will unquestionably prove
great national blessing. 1t does not weaken
in an appreciate degree our strength either
in faen or munitions of war. 1t is only
notifying experience, which will, we be
lieve, secure US from its repetition.
From the New York Express.
The record we make, we,...e deeply paine,
} to see and to say, is rc.ther of a rout thai
Of a battle, beyon.l the Bulls Run batterie
and the record is the most painful We hay
ever had 20 make in our bng life of edito
rial experience. The loss Of life must b
! dep ..orable, as well as the loss of war mate
r.lal-and when we receive the details, W
e fear they will be agony 10y and friends
The public atflict;on, however, is now S
e great that private grief is all absorbed i
e the great calamity.
d The "On to Richmond nonsense we haV
n been having from campaign editors, in the
S skY-high attics and closets in New York, hf
@ doubtless stimulated the President and b
V Cabinet, never so deaf as they ought to b
t to their own party journalism, urged on Gel
e eral Scott to march before he was ready
His plan Of marching in a common onset Il
IT three Generals, Mcclellan, Patterson ar
Mcdowell, has failed from the haste in whiC
a Mcdowell has been driven on to the attack
S "Public Opinion" made in New York eli
: by Republican journalism. and these operi
h ted upon the Government at Washington.
McDowelrs force, it would seem, has be,
put to panic and flight by the conviction
his men that Gen. Johnston was cooper
ting with Gen. B~eauregard, and that it W
it a fight of one against two, the two havil
ID the protection Of hidden batteries plant
~ where foliage and leaves could cover the
Hence, inexperienced and, in a good degr
On undrilled volunteer troops were seized Wi
,r a panic, and, in CONSEQUENCE of that pan
8 artillery, baggage trains, almost everythir
~ seem to have been lost lost, as but few
d, fantry were left to protect horses or wage
er or teams, or the men in authority over the
ad The enemy's cavalry, of which we are de:
d. tute, doubtless added to the confusion a
elf the slaughter and hence the deplorable
ng we read.
g This defeat, however, will in no deg
be weaken the Northern country or the Nor
ir- ern people but on the contrary, viii arol
re. them to unparalleled exertions, and
forth their full strength. 1t is very t
ey that it viii highly encourage the South
nd people also but the North has not yet
he gun to put forth its strength, while