Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-12-28
LATE FROM THE SOUTH.


on Louisville. II ssys:-
Every repert from Bowling Green seems to
indicate resolve to 60 into winter quarters.
To do this without single effort towards the
redemption Of Kentucky will be nothing more
nor less than downright disgrace to our arms
II will entirely destroy all confidence in
General Johnston, and fatally impair his use
fulnsss In the future. twill weaken, discour-
age, and prostrste utterly the noble schemes
which inepirethe brave men Who are rallying
to the relief Of Q neighboripg State, and black
en- the fair hopes which we cherish for the
release Of q loved and honored sister from
bondage. It will lose rs Kentucky forever, and
seriously endsnger our own borders whenever
the spring campaign opens.
Can it be possible that General Johnston will
20 misapply bis great trust? 1a
We have heard some queer notions mentioned
as reasons for this masterly inactivity. Among
others, equslly absurd, it is alleged that a
passive quietude on our part throughout the
winter months will operate with annihilating
power on the enemy, that 1t will discourage
and demoralize them, and that before the new
season their condition viii be 80 rotten as will
offer US an easy victory. God help the authors
Of such q theory. a more stnpendonS folly
tever 4origlnated an an old maids pate or
droSs orer grahdmother'S snuff bo1. The
peTy reVsrss IS the case. TIE enemy is the
party phieh can afford to icait. They are
pOs6Q
at fair valuation. They enlist for pay, and
so long as they receive their regular hire, a
snug inactivity in camp or quarters Is all the
better for them.
In the name Of common sense, how are we to
demoralize the enemy by refusing to fight him?
Truly q new piece of philosophy under the sun.
He already holds four-ffths of Kentucky.
Why should be advance? He certainly has
plausible excuse not to do 30. Perhaps he is
mt Hu ~ 20 fha af
Very probably he Is not yetsure Of his foothold
in Kentucky. There may be q hundred
reasons fer his holding back. There IS not
one for US, and We are losing time and missing
chances every day that we hesitate and delay.
Will General Johnston advance? Humphrey
Marshall is doing 80, and with success. He is
taking the wind clear out Of his senier's sail
Breckenridge and Buckner are dying to help
him. If General Johnston will not advance
himself, can he not be induced to permit others
TO 90 so7
The people are olamoring for it. The press
all over the South are urging it. A soldiers
reputation is involved in it. The public
interests require It, Will General Johnston
bind all these exigenciss, hand and foot, and
stand, glum and mute, and cold, and stark,
like a frozen pump, until the spring thsw?
We do not doubt that the Convention which
organised a provisional government for Ken
tucky based its action on the expectation of
speedy advance. II must have been foreseen
by the able men who composed that body that
unless the jurisdiction Of the system put into
operation were extended their work would in
svitably prove farce, and, In the end, turn
out failure. Their idea was beyond a Ques-
ton, to expand their sphere with the progress
Of our army, 60 as to include suoh portion of
their State as would give show of reason and
authority 10 all their acts.
. II they had not anticipated forward move
nd ar IN thair
purpose, we de lot believe they would have
attempted to usher State Government into
such an existence as It must exc out if General
Johnston continues his mistaken procrsstina-
ton.
At present, It is altogether a nominal affair
It extends merely along the border of Tennes-
see. 1t is pinned against the wall, like q
butterfly in laboratory, and, If 1t does not die
Of Its wounds, will surely stihe before the
winter is out Of a confined unwholesome atmos-
phere. If 1t have life and vigor, 1t must have
room to grow in and air to breathe in. 1t
must not be ohoked up within narrow military
lines, with the camp fevers and measles, mud
and rust of winter quarters and cold weather.
Whence will il secure the wherewithal to
keep body and soul together? Where will 1t
find arevenue7 How will IL establish credit7
What guarantees can it offer for the future
Who will trust II or obey iti
These are stubborn questions, and O great
deal hangs upon the way they are answered.
But charity begins at home. So it do es.
The first duty, therefore, Of Tennessee as a
measure of self-preservation, Is to secure Ken
tucks as an ally and friend. That point is
plain and self evident.
The liberation Of Kentucky Is our whole aim
How have we fulfilled it? Have we made an
effort TO fulfl it? Not one 90 far as we have
seen. We have Jagged and delayed until the
yeriest drones are growing impatient for some
activity, as an evidence, at least Of some
remaining life.
- WATER DEPENsEs.
From the Richmond Enquirer, Dec. ISL
As necessity "is the mother Of invention, /"
il is generally observed that one effect Of
war Is to devslope the inventive genius of a
country In the production Of new and i'm proved
warlike machines and implements. The
present war has yielded but scanty results of
this sort. Indeed the barrenness Of invention
with respect to our water defenses is one of the
most remarkable circumstances of the times.
Indeed, We do not know of single project,
completed or on foot, for our water defence,
with the exception Of the ram boat Manassas,
which Ii, after all, scarcely more than the
clumsy adaptation of old inventions-that
possess any worth. Our gun-boats are convert
ed from old steamers, and are safe only out of
extreme range where they can do no harm
unless by accidental shots. The exception of
novelty and efficiency in favor of our floating
batteries, which merely apply well known
principle, Ii scarcely tenabie. Had they been
furnished with classmates, we'll plated with
heavy iron to protect the guns and gunners, We
might regard them as most efficient defences.
The disabling Of our guns at Fort Walker,
on Hilton Head, should suffice to teach ms the
necessity Of resources for defence against we'll
directed ball and shell other than the mere
Personsl bravery Of our men. As yet, not
withstanding the we'll deserved reputation Of