Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-07-25
From the N. Y. Journal of Commerce.
Masked Batteries.

1t is painful to phrase like this describing one
or the most fatal engines of war; applied to peaceful
object But the Evening Post uses the words. The
Post says =
Mr Crittenden, who has just been elected from Ken
lucky announces his determination to make some mo-
tlon for bringing the to an end. He will he sus
tanned by other Southern members, and bv some, we
tear, from the Northern States. Already convention
OF editors is called n this State to agree upon plan
it Is said for bringing popular opinion up the designs
OF The leaders, anG not few hints given out in pri
Vate conversation, to the effect that the has gone
far enough part of the scheme embraces the capi-
tals3 OF tie cities who be persuaded not to lend
their money to the for the prosecution of
hostlites, or TO lend it only at such rates of interest
will discourage the government in it's attempts to main
tain the federal ascendency.
This scheme is nothing more than masked battery
OF Jefferson Davis
1t will be observed that the Post thinks the waz has
no. gone far enough Any scheme for bringing the
war to an end " is masked battery. We have fallen
on sorrowlul days A little while ago the President
said In his inaugural that if we had war we should
gain nothing and only have the questions settle
after We have fought. But propcs stion pause
and settle the question at without hshng, Is
masked battery
What do these war gentlemen expect? We have gone
through one alter another phase OF their plans aud pro-
pheses. The first uprising of the Norh was to scat
ter the rebel hordes 1t only streng thtned their arms
reused their spirit, and increased their numbers. 1t
drove Virginia. North Carolina, and Tennessee, into
the of the secessons,s and gave the South the
unity OF purpose they bad before lacked.
Then we promised the ability of the North to
pour such columns of soldiers into the field that all
resistance would be oVerpoweref, and bloodshed would
be prevented by the utter hOpessness of the Southern
cause But we find ourselves now equaed if not out
numbered by the rebels in arms, who have the daring
to advance their outposs up to the very lines of
camps.
We were assured of the imminent starvation of the
entire of Souherners and we find them now in the
midst OF plenty. We told they would run from our
advancing regiments and find them abundantly ready
to take advantage of unsklled leaders and drive US
back from their batteries.
Every promise, every expectation of the war party
has thus lar proved false and stand now in the pre-
sence of the solemn truth that this is great war, no
childish play, ln which both sides are skill
full courageous strong n their confidence of right and
OF which the end far distant and visible only through
the smoke of battle and fields of thousands our
dead.
We hear some say again that he who shrinks
from war; who Is willing to make any sacrifice to avoid
war is traitor.
1t is great mistake to suppose that bloodhound is
courageous dog. The men who have plunged US into
this war who have halood the people, are men that
have wisely stayed at home. And part of the plan to
cover up their want of courage is to keep up the
cry of The rebels in the South who planned the
dissolution of the Unon who advocated it in Congress
and in newspapers and the stump, the 1nen who
have taken the field, while the Northern Editors and
congressman and Senators who opposed compromise,
who let US DRIFT into this war; nay who dragged into
it, at home making contracts supply army stores
and shouting traitor at every man wko ventures to
remind them of the evil they have brought on the coun-
try, or suggest remedy for it.
We ask again what do they expect? II the Presi-
dent is right, if the judgment of impartial Europe is
right if the opinion of cool dispassionate men among
is right, then we must meet these questions between
North and South before the end shall be reached Do
you adopt the bravado must let them 90 eventual
y, but must thrash them first ?" No man who be-
leves in such policy is fit to be American citizen,
for any situation outside the walls of an insane asy-
lum. What then will you answer when and God
shall demand of you account OF the horrors of war,
its blood and rapne? "Oh we thrashed them, and it
worth ali the blood and horror to be able to say
" Can it be that there human hearts ready to
make such answer
/ But " we will never let them co. YOU say "They
must be conquered, and subjugaed and governed f"
Will you appeal to history, to experience? Was a
nation OF so many millions of civilized men ever con-
quered in one ten a hundred years? Or admitting
that you conquer them, have you counted the
We will not pause and consider the vanishing of all the
promises that we should have brief, bloodess cam
paign. We will sit down as sane men and ask each
other how many lives how many agonies it will cause
and cost? Why last night, more than million of the
mothers and wives aud of this land lay dreaming
restless Dreams watching with sraning eyebas for
the coming dawn.
Yet all that you hope to accomplish by it may posi-
bly, be accomplished in another way, at cost of sigh
81 no blood Ten could be found to day in the
land, ten noble trustworthy men, unfit he
sors of Washington and bis illustrous contemporaries
who would together devise an honorable, noble Ameri
can, Christian meth of enoiny this hdeous Iratrcida
war hey would tail if they were answerable to any
party, or clique, but if answerabe only to God ant
posterty they would do that which would make then
remembered in the rolls of history, till the trump OF th
Judgment angel"
But that might end the war That might proven
our extermnation of the South That mig ht
rohers and in the strength of youth unbarm
ed, and better sill, without blood their hands Tha
would be masked battery"
Il INSTRUCTION TO MARsHALs IN RELATION TO PRISON
Fps W AND PERSONS At j p BENJAMIN