Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-09-21
Lincoln's Letter at the North.

Hic"'S oo 1SeSei vic OPfihS
field mass meeting, made by the N. Y.
World and Herald. 1t will be seen that they
know old Abe too well to see any hopes
of compromise or fair dealing with the
South, which some of the "peace" pa
pers in this State have effected to descry.
IT will be seen that they consider Lin
coins measures, the emancipation proc
lamation, confscation, &C., as only ten
ding to unite the South against any idea
Of reconstruction as showing conclu-
sivsly that the South would accept of no
compromise, because those measures
prove what would be in store for them.
These Northen people are more sensible
than our Southern peace men they take
for the South the view which every SEN
sible patriotic Southern man should take,
that Lincoln has erected an impenetrable
Barrier to reunion.
1t seems that the letter of Lincoln is
doing US good. 1t has discouraged the
North. 1t shows them that there is no
hope of reunion, or of any peace short of
the Independence of the C~onfederacy.
This touches the pocket nerve. Wall
street takes to counting the cost and
buying up gold to hoard. From a pre-.
MUM Of % per cent. that precious arti.
Gle suddenly jumps up to "a per cent,
and there is serious apprehension of 8
panic. Our currency on the contrary
has greatly improved its discount is on
ly a little more than sne.half of what i
was a fortnight ago. Courage, South
rons, things are brighter and Frightening
All that is necessary to secure success
is union among ourselves, faith and per
severance.
From the New York World, 9Th inst.
W. quite az, ZEE with the President tina
So long as the South maintains this tenn
per, there is no chance of restoring tn
Union by a compromise. But his EN-
phatic assertion of the fruitlesSness of a
our recent victories must ~extinguish I'd
recent exhilaration Of the public mint
Victories have no value except as a Ike
to an ultimate political settlement. Bu
President Lincoln informs the countr
that Gen. Meade and Gen. Grant hav
been turning costly keys that open notl
ing. If SO little impression has bee
been made on the rebels that there is n
possible comprorhIse they would o ais
dain to make, if it included their retur
to the Union, how very far must the
be from the unconditional submission,
produce which is the avowed object
the wari
He asserts that our mili tary succeI
has been as great since the EmancipatiC
proclamation as before but that is n
thing in favor of the proclamation, III
less it can be shown that the proclaim
ton aided Gen. Meade at Gettysburg, al
enabled Gen. Grant to get in the rear
vicksburg and reduce the place. II wou
be absurd to pretend that it Mad Il
slightest effect in either case. If all TIA
has taken place since the proclamation
to be regarded as it's consequences, Il
disgraceful defeats of Fredericksburg al
Charlottesville are among its fruits.
Dut II lS plepOceOAVuS y PiSeouN en"'
has caused any considerable militia
event either prosperous or adverse. Y
have neither won nor lost battles by
but it has SO fortified the resolution
the South that a succession of splend
victories produces no fruit beyond
small contraction of the the theatre
military operations. By the Prcsiden
own showing the South will no more
cept of anything short Of their indepe
dence to-day, than they would after t
battle of Charlottesville. And the Pr
ident his intention to pers
in a policy which produces nothing /
f~ruitiess slaughter, and makes the reb
after great reverses as dcfantias ever.
From the New York Herald Of the 9th.
. The comments of the press on the |.
tar of Mr.. Lincoln, circulated at
Syracuse Convention, and published
the Herald, are very like the CRITICS
an Artemus Wards book-they KIN
not what to make of it.. Whether it
in earnest or in Jest is not determin
If it be serious, then they are puzz
and COMPOUNDED but if Mr.. Lincoln
Joking, then it is all right. Some thi
that ne is only humbugging and mys
fying the politicians. But, amidst
the drollery and visionary ideas it &C
tains, there is one grave and imports
point which deserves attention. and t