The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-08-05
ENGLISH OPINION
Of the Battles before Richmond.
From the London Times.

From the London Times
By this time the battles before Richmond has
been as fully discussed as the meagerness of the
news received by telegraph will allow. The i'm
preston which this great military event has made
on English society is not to be mistaken. IF
there we're before any who thought that the re-
sistance of the South was likely 70 be overcome
by the exploits of Gen. McClellan's army before.
Richmond, they are now updeceived. 1t cannot
be doubted that battle of the highest importance
has been fought, and that the Federal army has
been thrown back considerable dstance-several
miles indeed-from its former position.
But if the Virginia campaign has ended in
manner which shows that the Confederates are
able to carry long war, the fighting at
Charleston shows that, even at isolated points,
they are prepared to receive an enemy. The
ambiguity of the telegraph prepared to believe
that the battle before Charleston ended in vic
tory for the South. The thing is now made clear.
A Federal General, plainly ignorant of the enemy
he was to attack, and the defences he was likely
to meet, advanced with some 200 men to the
attack of battery, and he seems to have been as
completely defeated as the British were at New
Orleans, and perhaps much in the same manner
The moral to be deduced from these events is
clear. There is probably at the present moment,
in Europe. not single society where the defend
ers of this hateful and atrocious war could make
themselves heard. The impartial opinion of every
civilized nation is being more and more strongly
expressed against the enterprise in which the
Federals are embarked. The orators of the North
ern States may inveigh much they please
against the interference of England and the mob
may shout scorn of English advice and defiance of
English arms; but English opinion is, after all,
the opinion of the world, and we may hope that,
in spite of affected indignation and highfown
eloquence the good which has uniformly
cd lie in nc ffair
prevail.
We must repeat and repeat again our earnest
recommendation to the Federals to put an end to
this horrible war. What have they gained by it?
What can they ever gain by it? Do they think
that these men of their own race, whose exploits
they daily witnessing, can ever be so subjuga-
ted rs to submit to the yoke which Hunter and
Butler preparing for them 3? Can they, in
fact, wish for such consummation? Do they not
feel the common pride of humanity in the ex-
poits of gallant people, who defending their
homes by display of the most transcendent valor
and devotion? There would be no disgrace in
dessting from the hopeless and consequently,
wicked attempt to conquer and govern the South
Every one knows that the Northern man is as
good the Southern, and that if any section of
the late Union invaded by the rest it would
assuredy give the proofs of unfinching
resolution. The whole difference between the
in earnest and fights as for life aud death. This
makes up for want of food of arms Of medicines,
OF all that makes war easy. As long as this reso-
luton lasts, and several millions Of people are in
arms to resist subjugation, so long must the
efforts of the North meet with the failure which
has thus far attended the Virginia campaign of
1862.
SPECULATING.-Next to the war, the most
fertile topic of conversation is speculation and
extortion The fact is that the price of every
necessary of life appeals feelngy to the people
that none can help taking notice of it. The
price OF meat, flour, corn, and all other things is
startling in the extreme
We know that it is fashionable to attribute all
the ills under which we labor to the operations of
spectators and monopolists, but we think it only
fair to say that the disposition to speculate and
monopoze is not confined to the professional trader
but Is found to exist pretty strongly with the
farmers, who hold back for fabulous prices with
just as much determination to have them as the
most odious "speculator" could display. Is it not
unfortunately SO, that millers and others seeking
corn or wheat unable to get it even to carry
their operations for the local supply, while it is
known that there is an abundance Of it if it was
not kept back? Farmers don't know what to ask
They don't like to sell, thinking that by holding
on they will get still higher rates, although those
ruling now are high enough in all conscience
too high to permit people of limited means to get
along at all.
The very demon of high prices seems to have
got into everybody, and the only fear with any one
having anything to sell is lest he should fail to
ask high enough.
Let things get cat freely into market Don't
hoard up and hold back things in the eating line
Aud finally let all remove the beam out of our
own eyes before we fall foul of the mote in our
nelghbor's eye WILMINGTON Journal.
TRAMPLING ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL
Senate, on Monday, by vote of % against II,
passed the bill introduced some weeks since, by
MIR Sumner, we think, to admit Western Virginia
to the rights and privileges of a sovereign State
This act is in direct violation of Section 3,
Article ~, of the Constitution, which reads as
follows
New States may be admitted by the Congress
into the Union; but no new State shall be formed
by the junction oftwo or more States, without the
consent of the Legislature of the States concerned
as well as Congress"
In case so plain no argument is. necessary to
show that evsry Senator who voted for this
Western Virginia bill tramped his oath in the dust.
DO Congressman think that by such legislation
as this they are to restore the Union? We doubt
if single Senator who voted for this bill has one
particle Of hope of bringing the Southern States
again iB subsection to the Constitution. PROM.
dence (R ~ Post