Valley Spirit

The only true road to peace and Union, lies in a return on the part of the National Administration to the doctrines of the Critenden resolution passed by Congress at the commencement of the war, as declaratory of the ends and objects to be attained by it; namely, the return of the Seceded States to their allegiance to the Constitution and laws of the country. Since the passage of that resolution, by Congress, the party in power has diverted the war to other purposes, and now declares that the unconditional submission of the rebels can alone end it. Conditional submission to what? This is the great question all the time. The people of the rebel States have declared that they were fighting for independence but does any one believe that if they were assured that the government of the country would be administered in accordance with the Constitution as our fathers made it, so that it were rendered impossible to interfere with the reserved rights of the States, that they--the people of the South--would not soon throw their leaders overboard, and gladly to return to the shelter of the Union. It is in this view that, under the policy declared by Mr. Lincoln and his party, that they cannot have equal rights in the Union, that they are, as they say, fighting for independence. This is the very life and strength of the rebellion. They are required to submit to something they know not what, but not to the Constitution. It is this idea, pervading the whole South, that has enabled the rebel rulers to raise and keep up armies to fight against the Union; and so long as this idea is retained by the people of that section, and no effort is made on part of the government to disabuse their minds of the impression, the present sanguinary struggle may continue until mutual exhaustion compels a cessation of hostilities. When the rebel in arms is told that he must submit, he very naturally asks to what? If to a government which denies to him what the Constitution of the country guarantees, he indignantly spurns the act, but if it be unconditional submission to the Constitution which guarantees ample protection--protection as ample as he can gain by independence--the latent love in his heart for the old Union of his fathers, will revive in his breast and he will lay down his arms at once.

The time, in the history of this rebellion, when passion must give way to reason has arrived. Argument and conciliation must be used to convince these men in the South that they are wrong--madly, wickedly, desperately wrong. The false impressions created in the minds of the Southern people, by their ambitious and designing leaders, must be removed by a return to the first principles on which this war was waged.

The present Administration so far from acting on the policy which wisdom, right and justice dictates, and endeavoring to convince the Southern people, by its acts, of a determination to guarantee to them all their rights under the Constitution, has adopted a policy the very reverse. It has destroyed State lines and uprooted institutions founded in the laws and customs of their section, and punished them for obeying an irresistible force against which they had a right to ask its protection, and against which it had not the power to protect them. The Administration has by its confiscation acts, its emancipation proclamations and kindred measures, left the Southern people no other alternative but to fight on to the bitter end, and has added fuel to the flame of sectional hate; thus playing into the hands of the leaders of the rebellion; who, on their part, desire above all things, a permanent division of the Union. Had the true policy, the policy on which the war was conducted in its earlier stages, been adhered to, and their rights of property not been threatened by unconstitutional acts of Congress and executive proclamations freeing the negroes, these leaders would have been deserted by the mass of the Southern people, and ere this, we verily believe, would have returned to their allegiance. But it seems that the rulers to which Providence for some wise purpose of His own, has for a time committed the destinies of our country, do not desire that the Union shall be restored under the Constitution which for eighty years has given us peace, prosperity and safety. They desire a new Union and a new Constitution, under and by which, the black man shall become the [illegible] of the white, and take a position in this land of ours clothed with all the rights and privileges which we believe cannot with safety to us, or profit to them, be conferred upon them. To this end they are sacrificing thousands of the bravest youths of our land and millions of money wrung from the hands of those "who earn their bread by the sweat of their brow" by a system of taxation that must ultimately become too heavy to be borne. To the misguided people of the South they say there can be no peace without your "unconditional submission." Unconditional submission to what? To the Constitution and laws of the country? No! but to the terms we shall dictate, the first of which is, the total abolition of slavery. This is their condition precedent even to entering upon negotiations with the rebels with a view to bringing the war to a close. Under this condition there can be no peace without the utter subjugation and extermination of the Southern people.

On the other hand how do the Democracy propose to bring about the restoration of the Union and the return of peace to this distracted land? With them "the Union is the one condition of peace and the only one. In the words of their noble standard bearer

"So soon as it is clear, or even probable, that our present adversaries are ready for peace upon the basis of the Union, we should exhaust all the resources of statesmanship practiced by civilized nations, and taught by the traditions of the American people, consistent with the honor and interests of the country, to secure such peace, re-establish the Union, and guarantee for the future the constitutional rights of every State."

This paragraph shows the entire difference between the present Administration and the Democracy. In it, it is proposed to exhaust all the resources of statesmanship to end the war honorably to both sections. To hold out the olive branch with one hand, whilst the sword is grasped firmly by the other. It too calls submission, not submission to an arbitrary edict, but to the laws and the Constitution as interpreted by the good and wise men of the past. In effect it says: consent to the Union and you yourselves shall aid in determining upon what condition it shall exist hereafter. This is the submission which will be required by the Democratic party, from those who have taken up arms against the government. And when such submission is yielded by the rebels, the object for which the war was prosecuted is attained, the Temple of Janus will again be closed, and peace once more dispense its blessings over a re-united, prosperous and happy people. "The Union is the one condition of peace. We ask no more."

The series of Democratic meetings, now being held in the different election districts of this county, are unprecedented in point of the numbers in attendance, and the enthusiasm of the masses in favor of "Little Mac" and the county and district tickets. At the commencement of these meetings a disposition was manifested by the Shoddyites to inaugurate a reign of terror and, if possible, break them up. In this they miserably failed, and only succeeded in making black-guards of themselves. The temper of the Democracy at this time is such, as not to bear very patiently the insults and interruptions of these fellows, at their meetings, and we warn these miserable creatures that if they do not entirely cease this kind of work, they will get more than they bargained for. At the meeting at Waynesboro on Monday evening of last week, a number of stones were thrown into the crowd, and at Greencastle on the next evening, a little daughter of Mr. William Ward was struck on the head by a large stone thrown at the speaker by some miscreant who richly deserves what he will ultimately get, a halter. The little girl was so seriously injured that her life was dispaired [sic] of. A liberal reward has been offered for the discovery of the rascal who threw the stone, and if found out, he will be properly punished for the dastardly act.

The President and Secretary Stanton have at length--doubtless by mistake--placed at the head of the Army of the Valley of the Shenandoah a man of talents and military skill. After our paper had gone to press on last week we received the intelligence of the brilliant victory obtained by Gen. Sheridan, over Early, near Winchester, on Monday the 19th inst. On that day a severe battle was fought continuing the whole day and ending in the complete success of our army. Early was compelled to retreat with heavy loss. Over two thousand five hundred prisoners were captured and also nine battle flags and five pieces of artillery. The rebel Generals Gordon and Rhodes were killed and three other general officers wounded, all of the killed and most of the wounded were left in our hands. The rebel General retreated to the neighborhood of Strasburg and took up a position on Fisher's Hill where he was again attacked by Sheridan and completely routed, the particulars of which will be found in our news columns. Our citizens can now rest assured that they will not be subjected to rebel incursions. There is a "five man" at the head of the army in the Valley. There is nothing new from the Armies of the Potomac and the Cumberland.

Another Great Victory.
Sheridan Again Defeats Early.
Sixteen Guns and Many Prisoners Captured at Fisher's Hill.
Early Retreating.
Official From Secretary Stanton.

Washington, Sept. 23--2.50P.M.

To Maj. Gen. Dix, New York:

The following telegram announcing another victory of General Sheridan over Early, has just been received:

Harper's Ferry, Sept. 23.

To Hon. E.M. Stanton:

Sheridan has again beaten the enemy at Fisher's Hill, capturing sixteen guns and many prisoners. This is in all probability the finale of Early.

(Signed,) J.D. Stevenson
Brigadier General.

The Surgeon General this morning reported that our wounded were all cared for at Winchester, with adequate arrangements for supplies.

The number of wounded prior to the battle of yesterday were estimated not to exceed 2,000.

Edwin M. Stanton,
Secretary of War.

[Fisher's Hill, where Sheridan has again defeated Early, is between three and four miles south of Strasburg.]
Further Particulars.

Washington, Sept. 23--3.30 P.M.

To Maj. Gen. Dix, New York:

Sheridan's victory proves to be signal and complete. Nothing but the coming of night appears to have saved even a remnant of Early's army.

The following despatches of General Stevenson's and Major General Sheridan's official report to General Grant give the particulars thus far received:

Harper's Ferry, Sept. 23.

To Hon. E.M. Stanton:

Military line down. The affair is complete and overwhelming. Respectfully,

John D. Stevenson,
Brigadier General.

Hd.Qrs. M.M. Division, Six Miles
From Woodstock, 11.30 P.M. Sept. 22

To Lieut. General Grant, commanding the army of the United States, City Point:

I have the honor to report that I have achieved a most signal victory over the army of Gen. Early, at Fisher's Hill to-day.

I found the rebel army posted with its right resting on the north fork of the Shenandoah, and extending across the Strasburg valley westward to North Mountain, occupying a position which appeared almost impregnable.

After a good deal of manoeuvering during the day, Gen. Crook's command was transferred to the extreme right of the line on the North Mountain, and he furiously attacked the left of the enemy's line, carrying everything before him. While Crook was driving the enemy in the greatest confusion, and sweeping and driving them behind their breastworks, the 6th and 19th army corps attacked the rebel works in front, and the whole rebel army appeared to be broken up.

They fled in the utmost confusion. Sixteen pieces of artillery were captured; also a great many caissons, artillery horses etc., etc.

I am tonight pushing on down the valley.

I cannot say how many prisoners I have captured, nor do I know either my own or the enemy's casualties. Only the darkness saved the whole of Early's army from total destruction.

My attack could not be made until four o'clock in the evening, which left but little daylight to operate in.

The first and third cavalry divisions went down the Luray Valley to-day, and if they push vigorously to the main valley, the result of the day's engagement will be still more signal.

The victory was very complete.

A more detailed report will be made as soon as I can obtain the necessary date.

P. H. Sheridan,
Major General Commanding.

It will be remembered that Early's command embraced the Stonewall Brigade, and troops constituting Stonewall Jackson's Corps, and was the elite of the rebel army.

Edwin M. Stanton,
Secretary of War.
Baltimore, Sept. 22.

Medical and surgical skill is sadly need at Winchester. I have been requested to make known the want through your columns. There are five thousand wearied, suffering men in that little town in want of immediate attention. Christian Commission delegates are hastening there, but not in sufficient strength for immediate purposes.

The accounts that reach us from the valley indicate that our victory has been greater in results than even first thought or dreamed of. It was an old-fashioned cavalry fight, and the sequel was attributed to the superior mettle of our army.

Early had at least eighteen thousand infantry supported by approved guns and handled by experienced gunners. The victory and rout surprises military men, as we have no precedent for it in the history of this war. They do not tire of reviewing it, and speak in laudatory terms of the military acumen that directed a fight at once so novel and yet so successful.

This is the second triumph that has been distinctly a cavalry triumph, when our troops have been engaged in a general contest. The cavalry service, through its officers, feel highly honored by this contest, and the army and the public will cheerfully vote them their due meed of thanks and acknowledgment.

Winchester is one vast hospital. Barns and dwellings, and even out-houses, being filled by our own and rebel wounded. They are receiving all the attention that the limited means at hand can furnish. No wounded have arrived as yet at Harper's Ferry, but they are shortly expected in the course of transit.

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad will be in running order through to Wheeling, Va., on Thursday next.--Bulletin.