Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-02-24
WOrtester Daily Spy,
THE DAILY SPY.
NEWS FROM THE WAR, &c.
AFFAIRS AROUND NEW ORLEANS

New ORLEANS, Feb. l2.-It would be diff
cult to say what sentiment predominates in
this city. The Union-loying citizens, on gem
eral principles, are undoubtedly respondent
the seceshers, though they exult over the
destruction of our commercial and govern
ment vessels by two or three English pirates
or Il parcel of land lubberS from Galveston,
are still not boisterous; their private funds
are ra1id.y being exhausted, for each day
they are compelled to drink deeper and deep
er at the bitter cup of prospective yet certain
ruin. Nothing, in my opinion, in the future
to them seems hopeful; even the establish
ment finally Of a southern confederacy prom
lses to be but the possession of the apple of
SOdom, for, with that ''inestimable boom"
they will be poor, dispirted and hopeless. 1t
is undoubtedly a fact that the arrival of Gen.
Banks here gave sickly life to the seceshers.
Many INDUCED an idea that they were now to
have their own way, and things for few
days were promising Of such a result; but,
practically, they are beginning to feel that
the new cOmmander-in chief is slowly but
surely reaching the same point left by General
Butler, and that, day by day, their preten-
sions are curtailed, and that things are fast
getting no better for them ethan they used to
was" In fact very much doubt if the enc
mics Of the Union, in many respects, have as
much IMMUNITY now as they did under cold
Tycoon"
Men and women, too, who three months
ago were defiant are now quiet; blatant reg
istered enemies find it inconvenent to live
without incomes, and are being converted to
the Union, but because they do not wish to
starve. Poverty is a fearful depressor of the
sentimental in the abstract, and rebel patriot
Ism, II there Is such a thing possible, gives
way before the want of wheat, bread and ba-
con sides The extent to which private for
tunes among the rebels are being ruined here
is hardly conceivable. was in sequestered
palace the other day, which two years ago was
occupied by people who, as millionaire mer-
chants, were formerly on the levee and in
Manchester, bankers, and were known and
honored III Liverpool and New York, who
are now living in a contemplate little interior
town in Mississippi, refugees from their
homes, and dependent upon the charity of
friends for their daily bread. And this is true
largely of all the people in the confederacy.
Throughout Louisiana, beyond our lines, and
IN the adjoining states, the tales Of individual
suffering brought here by people escaping into
New Orleans, are sad indeed. Wheat flour
has ceased in most cases to be recorded
among the necessaries Of life; plenty of grain
and corn, and lily cured meats, are all the
best can hope for, while the poor struggle ON
in suffering that can hardly be believed.
Probably; in some few places, the des
potism that has produced this misery is
becoming too heavy to be borne but as a
general thing, the people suffer and do not
complain. | know of few instances where
peace is asked at any price and on any terms.
Many and many are the families, once in af-
fuenCe, who now sit down and wiring their
hands in agony and despair-lament over the
bright past that is forever destroyed, and pray
God to be relieved from the fearful present.
But these people, thus trodden down, are
helpless, so far as self-protection is concern
ed. The rebel government has stripped the
farms of the flower of their youth, Of their
property, Of everything, and left them the
prey of the military despots, who, as leaders
OF guerrilla parties, or as selt-constituted
guardians of the honor of Jeff. Davis govern
ment crush out the least voice of complaint,
and still rob on, where there is a chance. in
the name of the constituted authorities at
Richmond. The poison of slavery makes
men cruel to their Subordinates of different
color, but that same cruelty is easily and nat
urally extended to people OF their own race.
Ihebomeshcally educated tyrant soon learns
to be cruel and heartless to all in his power
Just at this time the planters are united on
one subject, and that is, how they shall get
started with the coming wears crOp. Every
moment that passes away is important, for in
a comparatively few DAYS the spring time will
be past, and the crop for the wear will be lost.
On Saturday evening last there was A meeting
of the planters of the vicinity. including those
living below the citv. The purpose of which
was to find out. if possible. what guarantee
thev conld obtain from Cen. Ranks wifi re-
gard to the management of the negroes The
proclamation of Mr.. Lincoln. exemntinp cnr-
tain parishes in the state from tba nma1c;no-
ton act caused lively exnressions of craft
tude for a few davs Int the fact that tboro hod
not been really in those parishes excentpd bv
laws of congress a slave for NAM, p,onths
tho ,vbola of soid ,or;shos -. ~
a,,;1;to,,, "a, lines octad &c a ds,,,Tou ',S -.
ieye the planters have at last given up coer-
cion in despair, and are asking what and how
Ihey shall 40 10 get started 1here is no
So he I;ed onJ the towns orc oYo of tbo a ~
culties to be settled with the EMPLOYED and
then comes in the part to be pursued by Gen.
PahkS' VIZ the Endorsement OF these suoor-
utiiatG actS py tle commanding general 10 en-
"plo 'lie piahter 10 secure strlcC anu hohest
..;+t, y oI oolgatlons mace by the laOorer
49, -, inter Fractical men are at WORK