Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-01-26
The Slain! The Slain!

AuS SICdt lcdEt Vi Tue COuttiOah
acy is made to throb with sorrow every day,
over the loss of hundreds and thousands OF
her gallant sons slain in battle; and Tor
many a weary year will memory linger
around the dread scenes Of conflict where
our fathers, brothers and sons have laid
down their lives in their country's defence.
And well may W. mourn, for the flowers OF
the land have persisted. But there comes up
the consoling reflection that they died in a
noble, a righteous cause, which robs the
barbed arrow of anguish of its bitterest
sting.
But the Northern foe is not the only nor
the worst enemy that is destroying the no
BILE sons of the South. The great monster
INTEMrERANcE is stalking abroad in the land,
Staying soldiers and civiiians-youth and
ag.-rich and poor-thc learned and I'M
learned.
There is mourning in every home. because
of the loved ones that have gone hence never
to return. sf
The annual tribute of mortality demanded
by the god of intemperance, no one can tell
But this we know, that every day and week
and year, there comes up a vail from ten
thousand bleeding hearts and desolate homes,
all over the land hearts that are crushed
beyond the power of healing j; and as the
years come and go, these same terrible caus-
es for w~ailings will occur again and again.
In the midst of every year this black and
terrible gulf closes over thousands and thou
sands, and then seems as if nothing fearful
ever broke upon its deceitful waters. But
its awful tragedies are written, as with a pen
of iron, upon the leaf of many a thousand
hearts, that sigh without hope for the lost
The history of these casualties" are not
kept in the archives of war department.
ments, but alas they are recorded as with
a pen of iron in the green wales of home.
These things are true of which we write.
A deep, unutterable wall of anguish goes
down every rolling year, and leaves no hope
with those who mourn, that their loved ones
are in a better, better land beyond the river.
No tiny twinkling star breaks out on the
gloom to make them believe and have faith
that the lost ones rest from their labors."
Alas they have gone and left no hope be.
hind.
And yet, although these terrible scenes
occur every year, and the evidence of their
fearful truth is every day before the eyes o
men, yet we hear no national sigh bursting
from her mourning bosom-no increased
throb is observed in the pulses of the grea'
public heart. One victim goes from thi:
mountain home-another from that in thu
valley-another from that near the sea, ant
with an " Alas! Poor fellow" he is hurried
away with a hasty +" dust unto dust" and i
forgotten save by the few to whom he wa
dear and by whom he was loved.
These things are true Then bestir youl
selves, friends Of God, Of humanity, and you
country, and go to work to. try and say
your ccuntrymen from so awful a doom.
) the Waterman sound not the alarm vine
the enemy cometh, then will God reoui,
his brothers blooc at his hands. Ever sinc
: the guilty Cain was cursed of God for tt
: inhuman interrogatory, Am l my brother
keeperr hath He required of man to loo
> to his fellows welfare. Then raise a war;
=. ing voice against intemperance. Admonis
. e%ntreat, rebuke!, 1t may bet wiU be tn
some will hear. And "he that turneth
sinner from the error of his way, covereth
'1 multitude of sins and saveth a soul alive" {
e let all the sober men in the land 90 to wo
Is to arrest the progress of the great Destroy,
ID - On Saturday last, the Baggage a
q. Express car of the Accommodation Train.
y the N. Cs Railroad, was consumed by fire.
m The baggage of the passengers and the freig
is of the Southern express company was all
to stroyed. The fire was not discovered in til
ty to save even the iron safe of the Express co
AZ pany.
J. The MOUNTAIN TORIES SUBDUED.-A d
"a patch from Gen. Heth, commanding at Kn,