Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-07-23
a word to Women.
CPtoan, The N. Y. World,

Among the patriotic letters sent to the
great meeting on Tuesday was one from
the gallant Commodore Footc, in which he
took occasion to invoke the ladies of New
York to do their part toward stimulating
the young men to enlist. Iu eloquent lan-
gusge, he said: In
"Let, the ladies of New York give their support to
this glorious cause. They nre all potent In persna
sye Influence, bnt i instances where this fails let
them decline and spurn tile attentions Of all young
men who remain at home when they might be IN the
fight, vlndlcatng the honor OF our Gag until these
young men shall present the nselves having done
their part on the battlefield toward transmitting
the rich legacy of such government as the iudouI,
liable courage Of the fathers of our republic have
bsQusathed to their children"'"
These promptings, from such a source,
are most opportuue. 1t is very certain
that the ladies of the North, generally,
have not exercised such power in this di-
rection as they might have exercised with
out prejudice to their true womanhood,
and yet with inestimable benefit to their
country. -
tits fact, attssted by oil correspond
ents, that the women of the confederacy
have, from the beginning of the rebellion,
done more to keep tho rebel spirit at its
high pitch and the rebel ranks in their full
array, than all other agencies combined
They have thrown their souls Into the con-
test with zeal and avebemence that have
actually made il impossible for men to hold
back. They have established standards of
what they call patriItic devotion which it
is dis5rdce to fall short Of; have kindled
and sustained social sentiment which
consumes into absolute social aunihilatiou
every poor creature that dares for mo-
ment prefer himself to the cause. Even be-
fore the couscription went into force
the southern young man might just. hs
well plant himself ia the pillory, or bare
his back to the lash at the negro whip
ping post, as to hesitate or neglect to fall
into the ranks when the recruiting
drum was heard. No Relationship for an
instant pleaded to relieve him. Husband,
lover, brother, son, friend, acquaintance,
stringent was all the same he had to
go, and failing to go, was despised as
coward, Our Northern women have talk
ed about gipi12 gR. their dear ones. In
Dixie, it was no giving up, it was driD!
ing forth. Southern young men had not
to ask leave to go; they were compelled
to go. They had not to seek for their
weapons; their weapons were thrust upon
them, They had not to wait for banners;
their banners waited for them. IL is the
impetuous, feryent spirit OF the Southern
women that has Infused into the rebellion
its intensest life and fire. Feminine influ-
ence has been tremendous power for
the confeleraey. Jetf.ts Davis, to-day,
would rather part with a hundred thous-
and bayonets than miss the fash of the te-
male eyes. 9. sts( l!}
Now heaven forbid that our Northern
sisters should contract the mnliguant
.fierCeness that possesses so many of the
Southern women. We wonld suffer almost
any calamity sooner. that see our Christian
4 4 a
ON. Whatever else heaven may take from
us in these dreadful times, may it In its
mercy spare us wonan's loveliness. But
still, TO be earnest is not necessarily to be
fierce to be ardent is not necessarily to be
rancorous. Our women can be true to
their generous natures, and yet to take an.
active part in quickening and stimulating
the war spirit. They have the adyantage
over Southern women in having the ,holi.
est instead of the wickedest of causes to
inspire them For our part, We have not
at all wondered that secession has wrought
such signal change in the female na-
ture OF the South. There is in secession
the same spirit that Burke said there
was in the French Revolutions spir-
it that hardsns and yitiates every
thing it touches. WomAnhood could no
more escape its transforming power now
than then. But the cause of the Union
hasno influence in common with, this base
aud de6asing treason. 1t appeals onlysto
the hoIiest sentiments and noblest i'm
pulses. 1t is the republic, with all its
measureIess interests and hopes fol. .hnman-
iity, that is at stake; and if there ever was
a human object that the, true American
woman might ftly plead for, surely it is
this! Mere material aid is not enough. 1t
is good thing to sew hAvelocks and 70
knit ekIiiugs tss The soldiers who are on
cheer the wounded soldiers who are eoming
from the field. But all this, though so kind
and noble, ia not enough. II is woman's
prerogatiSe dlso 10 send soldiers to the
field She has somethiHg morelte dO.thHn