Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-10-28

the Platform Amended.
1t is due to the democracy of the common-
wealth to state that, at their Faneuil Hall
meeting last week, they added 4 supplement
tary resolution to their platform, as fol-
lows =
Resolved that in this emergency it becomes the
duty OF every laver of country, in obedience TO
the recent APPEAL OF the president, TO give efficient
and cheerful aid in filling up the ranks of the army
by voluntary eniisimentS
We shall not suggest that the emphatic con
domination of the democratic policy pro-
nounced in Ohio and Pennsylvania had any
thing to do with this timely revision OF their
declaration of political faith Many things in
October have given occasion for wiser and
cooler reflection than was thought agreeable
in the early days Of September 1t is possible
that the platform as it was then constructed
bad in what it declared, andin whatit suppress
ed, bad in expression, bad in spirit, bad in its
general scope and purpose-would have been
in some manner shorn of Its repusive char
acter, even if the overthrow of kindred plat
forms in those warmly contested states had
been less disastrous and complete.
But whether this concession to their patri
otsm is deserved or not, no friend of the
government will withhold the praise that is
justly due to an intrinscally laudablc act,
Mr.. Paine showed the qualities both of pru-
dence and of self-respect in Withholding his
personal acceptance of the equivocal honors
extended to him till after his friends had put
themselves right on the record, and till he
himself could have a show of right to claim
that he the exponent, not of the unpat-
riotic resolutions of the 4th of September, but
of the platform as amended. To be sure he
has no claim to support-his party has no ar
gument to make its cause plausible for a
moment-except upon the assumption that
the administration is now exercising uncOnSti.
tutional and dangerous powers, rot calledfor by
the necessity of events; and that it is neces-
sary TO restrain rather than enlarge its au-
thority. This assumption was the predomi-
nant idea and inspiration of the original plat
form.
1t is an encouraging sign of the times that,
even on the eve of election. the opposition have
seen the necessity of qualifying their assump-
ton, and holding their groundless accusations
against the administration in allegiance till the
duties of the hour have been fulfilled. There
is but one work and purpose now to engros,
the interest of true and loyal men. 1t takes
precedence OF all other public duties, and
tests the quality OF men who aspire to have
influence in public affairs. That work is to
answer the presidents appeal and give eff
cient and cheerful aid in filling up the ranks
of the army by voluntary enlstments."
RECENT EvENrs-SoUru SIDE VIEW
We have received Richmond papers with
dates to Saturday last. They were still in
some doubt as to the object Of Lees late
movements, though agreeing that whatever
the object might have been, it had failed.
nearly at the spot where it commenced two
years ago, with 1.-THE enemy in retreat, and
our (the rebel army victorious, though baf-
fied;" which is an ingenious, though some
what novel way of stating failure. The re-
ported recrossing the Rappahannock by any
considerable portion OF rebels on Saturday
last was untrue. They have gone back to
their quarters, apparently for the winter
They sum up the results of the week as fol.
lows:
We have captured about fifteen hundred of the
enemy, with some small arms killed and wounded
at least as many more and torn up the Orange and
Alexandra railroad for twenty-five miles with n
loss of not over twelve hundred in both killed and
wounded, some few prisoners, and four pieces OF
artillery (hose lost by Hills corps at Bnsoe Sta
tion) Whether the game was worth the candle we
do not attempt to decide.
The loss of East Tennessee was still the oc-
casion of great dependency. The loss OF
Vicksburg was nothing to it. The worth OF
Vicksburg, indeed, they have learned to
call "a huge delusion.' There are items OF
interest from Charlestown. Free persons of
color, able bodied and between sixteen and
fifty years old, have been ordered to report
at the guard house for thirty days labor on
the Notifications Owners of slaves were
also required to furnish laborers for the
same service There is a revival among
the rebels in and about Charleston harbor.
The chaplain writes that two hundred have
been converted.
The GERMAN RADIcALs.-The national
convention of radical Germans, representing
much of the best talent of tho laval Gar,nnno