Year: 1863




we publish to-day the news Of victories
that are the heralds of happy peace
Seldom, If ever, has it been the lot Of
the journalists 10 announce on the same
sheet two events Of such trauscendant
importance as the fall OF Vicksburg and
the retreat of Lee. The glorious fourth
of July has indeed received a glorious
celebration. In tens Of thousands Of
Northern homes the birthday Of Amei'
can freedom was being kept with ming
led hope and lear--with blended memo-
ries ofjOy and sadness, of pride aud hu-
initiation. Throughout New England
and the pOpulous Middle States, and the
vast Northwest; in cities that date back
from our own heroic seventeenth centu.
ry, and in cities that have sprung up
within the memory of living men upon
the sight of world old forests and on
virgin prairies; around the Pilgrim S
Rock, and on the goldsown strand Of the
Pacific, citizens Of the Great Republic
spake with tremulous lips, as beneath
the shade of laureIs twined with cypress
oftheir fathers legacy of freedom, and
of the deadly struggle in which their
own brothers and sons were wrestling
for the preservation of that glorious her.
itnge-the Union, sacred alike to liber-
ty and law. They know that on that
very day the God of their country and
of their sires-the God of justice and OF
mercy--hud vouchsaled to the Common
wealth great delivcranee, Their bro
ken railways and telegraph lines delay.
ed The happy tidings that on that same
Fourth ofJuly the flag Of the Union
had been exalted over the obstinate
stronghold of rebellious slave mOsters,
and the sun had risen upon the greatest
of their hosts in dire retreat. Whalev.
er remains 10 be done or suHered-whst.
ever battles to be fought or fortresses to
besiege-the armies and people Of the
Union may at least rejoice, with unut-
ternble gladness and thanksgiving, that
the boastful progress Of the enemy has
been turned back, and the very chiefesl
Of his defenses broken down.


OF the surrender Of Yicksburg we
have no details. Notsyep tho nffibss
Of the garrison and guns is given. Blu.
the fact ofuuconditional surrender is off. /.
cially reported both by Admiral Porter
and Gen. Grant, and has been the sub
ject Of speeches from the President and
his Ministers, in reply 10 addresses of
congratulatiou. Confident as we have
been that the event could NOT much lon.
ger be delayed, we confess to its unex-
pected arrival.


The moral and political effect of the
double victory in Pennsylvania and on
the Mississippi can hardly be exaggera.
ted. The reduction Of the premium on
gold from 40 per cent. 10 3l4, is but a
symptom of the confidence inspired by
these events in the ability OF the Fede-
raj Government to carry through their
gigantic un dertaking. The levy of three
hundred thousand conScripts at tho mo.
ment Of enthusiasm, is measure Of the
highest policy. "Nohing succeeds like
success" The people Of America are
not superior to the universal feeling Of
readiness to help the winning cause
There will now be rush upon the South
from all parts of the North. Even The
"Copperheads" will be willing to pahi,
cipate in tho capture Of Richmond
Few of US Englishmen can afford to
smile or to sneer at such q turn in the
current of sentiment. The worship Of
power is the weakness Of strong nations,
To-day will too probably give us cause
TO blush for some Of our own craft.


Let us be thankful that even the leg
islative representation Of England is not
in the Same humiliating position as some
of the organs of English opinion. How
thankful may the House of Commons be
that Mr.. Roebuck was silenced in lime
For, although he had nevora chance Of
carrying his motion, what regulations
might he not have dragged into the miro7
II is bad enough that even the glare of
temporary success should have seduced