Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-09-28


city, and on Tuesday night last, at the
request Of some Of our citizens, made .
speech in the Commons Hall to an i'm
msnss audience. He has fsw of the sra-
res Of o~ratory about him, sut piles up
arguments and reasons so csmpactly al to
carry conviction to his hearers.
Gan. Smith. rscapitulated the causes
that brought on this war-reproduced
the history of the times when the North
sy their representatives in Csngrsss de-
MED equal rights to the Southern States
in the privileges and immurities of . com
men'U nion-shswed hew, and when, and
where they had heaped injury and insult
upon the Seuth-hsw the S,uth time
asd again had yielded fer the sake of pre-
serving the glorious form of government
and the Union bequesthsd to us by u
lforsfathsrs. But this magnamity was
misconstruss into fear by the Northern
ers, and they continued their aggresssons
until it eliminated in the election of a
sectional President, pledged to make war
upon the constitutional rights, privileges
and institutions Of the South. He show
ed that even then, Virginia, North Care
lima and other middle States appealed to
them to stay the hand of fratricidal vio-
lence. But it was all in vain. Lincsln
called for troops from these middle States
to fight our sister Southern States, and
it was not until then, that We secceded
from the North. Gen. S. then went on
to show that this formed an epoch claim
ed by the Declaration of Independence
from England, when it was " the right
the duty, of the people to throw eff TIT
:. government to which they were bound
|. and form a new government" This W,
did, after every entreaty and remsnstranc
. for a psaceable adjustment of our differ
i, ences had failed.
! Gen. Smith then gave a history of til
war, as it has progressed; of our aston
: ishiny achievements, engaged in such
2 stupendous enterprise without an estab
d lished government, without an army,
n navy, or a treasury, against a powerfi
6 government with every appliance for Wa
e and every facility for increasing those al
O planes. He spoke of the recent re
- ~vsrsss, but said they wsuld disappear
r the morning mist before the rising SUI
S when the Fall campaigns shall be dsc
d dsn. He read the despatch Of Gel
e eral Bragg's recent victory, and said
was but the beginning of what was
come; and counssled all to have an as
d ding confidence in a NEST glorious SUI
j. cess to all our efforts. He also couns,
J. cd unity and harmony at home. Wi
these, the world cannot conquer us.
n, We wish every Spectator, sxtortion
III and hoarder of the necessaries of Ii
ss could have heard Gen. Smiths remar
- to and of them. He clearly demonstl
er ted that it was to- the interest of eve
IN such man to sell to the government a
10, the people these products at the lswt
O. possible price, instead of ~wringing out
i'd government and people the very last sh
t. ling that can be extorted. The mischi'
- Gus and suicidal policy of such. cond,
e. was fully exposed. If we are conquer
such ill-gottsn gains will be wrssted fir
.ss them, and given to the northern soldier
. and if we are successful, these Cypress
ms of their kind and clogs to the govel
10 ment will be scorned and condemned
of the noble soldiers who will return fir
ice fields of carnage where they have p
he tected them while performing their ne
do. rious work ; and their pssterity for 9
m ~erations to come, will be hated and
.y- spised by every true man and woman
Ills the South.
ur- The speech was a highly effective
=, and was well received BY the large a
ence in attendance.
at At the conclusion of Gen. Smiths
marks, Gov. Vance was called for,
Tell asked to be excused from making a sp,
at that late hour, but united with
,eir audience in returning thanks to the
de- 4 tinguished gentleman who had adore