Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-10-30

who criticise the conduct of the war, and animal
vert upon the plans and movements Of the President
and our able Generals, can point out no means OF
ending it short of three years the termination of
Lincoln's administration. They profess to be con-
versant with military affairs, and taunt and jeer
Mr.. Davis about his slow movements, but do not
venture to suggest programme by which this in
iquitous and damaging war can be brought to
speedy close. Wise in their own concerts were We
to believe them, they would long since have taken
Washington; would have ridden Maryland of the
iron despotism of Lincoln; and would have now
been menacing Philadelphia, perhaps New York, as
"the shortest road to Fortress Monroe" Their
plans would have been on grand scale, to be
cuted by the men for the times" and not by such
dotards as Davis and johnson and Beauregard.
Such wise conclusions and impertinent brayado
as have come from newspaper editors and barroom
specialists whoare doubtless incompetent to drill
a company, much more TO put "a squadron in the
field" have fortunately for the country had very
little influence upon the President or our Generals.
They have doubtless been embarrassing and not
little provoking but the interests involved were too
immense for them to lend an ear to childish specu-
lations, based upon the idea that Lincolns troops
were straws sticking in the sand and his bristling
Notifications were mere sandovens made upon the
bare foot. The skill in strategy and engineering Of
such persons, can readily point out what ought to
be DONE but utterly fail in defining hOw it can be
done.
The truth is, such ideas are akin to those which
have strangely possessed mems minds from the
first who have borne small share in initiating
the revolution. In its incipiency the idea of war
at all was hooted at by them. Who could see any
of war in :he mere separation of co-partners
who could not agree? Might they no. agree to live
apart, in order to peace? Thus ignoring the expe-
renee of all ages that old friends are never sunder
cd without fight when one protests against the
separation.
So when the war commenced it was to be fought
out in three months. The North was sure Of it
hence she plunged into it precipitatey; whereas
had she counted the cost and foreseen the trouble
and the impossibility of conquering the South she
would perhaps have never tried it. With the hot
bloodS of the South, the idea of conquerng peace
on their own terms, a mere breakfast expedi-
ton. Nor has the illusion fully vanished after
sx-months trial, but the cry is still "onward on
ward!" Our motto is coward when you are ready"
Watch and wait" then 90 ahead
We claim but little insight into the future, but
never doubted that dissolution would bring war,
nor when once inaugurated, could we doub: that it
must be long and bloody war, unless arrested by
some special interposi;on Of Divine Providence
He, in whose hands arc the hearts of all men, can
and may arrest it speedily; but without some such
interposition, no merely human courage or skill or
conrvance short of the total incapacity of the ore
the other to prosecute it. enc it at an early
day. on terms in which both divisions can acquesce
The following quotation however, taken from the
editorial columns of the Standard of June 18th,
1850, will strike the reader being but little less
than prophecy. We trust and believe that the
South by holding to the right will be saved from
many Of the worst consequences portrayed in this
picture, and that she will maintain her cause till
victory upon victory shall bring her peace and in
! dependence:
! "While We would surrender no right of our State
! and while we would preserve her honor untarnished
among her sisters yet disunion is one of the last
things to be thought OF. DiSunion would be frater-
nal strife civil and servile war, murder arson pill
| lage robbery, and fire and blood through long and
cruel years 1t would unsettle all business, dimn-
ish the value Of all property, put the lives of both
sexes and all ages in peril and launch the States on
a sea of scenes which no eye has scanned and no
| navigator sounded. Ii would bring debt and mis-
rule and oppressive taxes, to be followed perhaps
| by the military rule Of titled tyrantS. 1t would
wrench apart the tendery entwined affections of
millions Of hearts, making it crime in the North
to have been born in the South, and a crime in the
South to have been born in the North. 1t would
convert the great body Of the conservative men OF
! the North, who our friends into either
deadly enemies Indifferent spectators of our nes
tine struggles, which would increase in intensity
lar -. l.
forgotten or unknown"
The South cannot will not must not yield an
iota that she has taken up the sword until her
rights fully vindcatcd. Yet there are encour-
aging signs of moral well as pecuniary ina
bity to carry on the war long, the present basis
by the North. Yet no one can doubt, if the policy
of President Davis and Generals were direct
ed as to rritate, madden and provoke an uprising
of the native population of the North to the same
extent that the South has been aroused, the re-
sources and means of the North could protract the
war to an indefinite period. But apart from the hu-
manites of the Northern people, if they have any
for u.s. the heavy drain of this war upon their pc
cunary resources, which they value so much and
is utterly crushing character upon their trade and
commerce, followed up by the sharp and skillful
resistance of our forces, may terminate it much
sooner than many fear.
At all events, we are content to leave the future
to Providence, to the skilful management of the
President and our able Generals and to the courage
daring and endurance of our brave volunteer SOL
diery. Let the South rally to their support and en-
enlargement man, and Providence will do
the rest By our consent, no Don Quixotte order
of military geniuses shall manage the war.
SEQUEsTRATIoN ACT.-In the Confederate Court
at Charleston on the Gath inst, Judge Magrath de-
vered his opinion in favor of the constutionality
of the Sequestration Act, refusing to sustain the