Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-02-12
The Cloud Thickens.

Inc SiOuA AnACkcuos
The aspects of the war are any thing but epcour-
aging, The enemy is making alarming inroads up
on Kentucky and Tennessee Western Virginia
and our coast are severely threatened he is col
Letting vast 6rces to harrass and invade US at all
points, and yet there seems not to be the energy,
foresight and skill on the part of tho government
commensurate with the danger impending. Since
the great battle at Manassas, the whole South has
sunk into apparent inactivity, or been blinded BY
ancisd security and entire immunity from danger.
Far more interest has been manifested by those in
power to distribute the offices Of the Government
among pets and avorites, than in the security of
our dsfsnces and the procurement of the men and
means to resist the invader. Thousands Of our
people disposed to volunteer have been discouraged
by rejection or by the prescription of such terms
they could not comply with.
The majority ofthe presses of the country as well
as the Government have sought to keep us at ease
by the oft-repeated assurances that all was we'll
that every thing was ready-every point was well
guarded. We have been taught to despise oursen-
envy as cowardy and wholly inefficient Our fire.
quent victories served to confirm this impression,
until many had settled down with the idea that q
iS'NiSS " 10 naS hOAl u pOSSlONlll
one expressed doubt about the security Of
our dsfences he was rebuked sharply. HattcraS,
for instance we'll as ali of our Notifications could
resist the combined force of the United States navy
Port Royal and Fort Henry and Roanoke Island
were impregnable. Where are they? -- r--.
The whole course Of the government has been
dilatory and time-serving from the beginning
Letcher of Virginia has been blamed and abused for
his inactivity in not taking Fortress Monroe. He
is to be blamed but what can be said of tie govern
ment which went into operation in February, near
y three months before the blockade, and yet made
no provision for arms and munitions OF WARP What
would have been the condition of the South, but
for the few arms deposited in our Arsenals Every
where now there is want of arms.
When we urged last winter the policy to swatch
and wait" we urged vehemently the absolute neces-
| sity to prepare for war. 1t is well known that we
insisted that North Carolina should expend 81, OOO,-
| 900 in the purchase of arms Our counsels have
not been needed, and now our brave men who are
willing to fight, are told they must procure their
| own arms
! We do net mention these things to reproach any
one We are willing to admit that the government
! and others followed their convictions of right
and duty. We do not therefore blame them But let
not those be blamed who warned US of the danger.
The time has come when every Southern man
must look the danger in the face and prepare to
meet it To vsnquish the immense hordes OF North
erh invaders every man in the South, atle to ham
die weapon must prepare for the fight. Unless
there is more energy and activity and efficiency in
fused into the government, the day will soon be
passed for exemptions from draft Of any man able
to bear arms or for the employment of substitutes
If our independence is to be achieved, our rights
and liberties preserved and our property and inter
ests protected, erery man must be ready to arm
himself for the conflict.