Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-02-19
NONE VAL 'FRiloaI TIIn RnnnLs,
A Great EameutafIOn. over tie fateof
Roanoke 8 Island.
Prom The Norfolk nay BOOK Beb.. III

- y y sSs StAS 1I IIAS4HtSilO!tSlEeEt ttlte 3Ate of
Roanoke IsI9nd. - ~
Prom The Norfolk Day Book Beb., IA
The fact cannot logger be concealed that
criminal negligence is chRrgeable some-
where for the disastrous. overthF6va,,f ON r
brave and gallant meu at Roanoke Island.
The fact cannot longer be concealed. be.
cause 1t is upon the tongue ofeySrIrefect
ing man. As public journal, deYoted to
the public cause--a cause In (which all
possess and realize the deepest interests-
thts paper Is hyersaeto the suppression of
y grievance of such magnitude from any
slcklted or sentimental fear that lniuryi is
to accrueto the trueintefests q f.the7peoble
by q free comment and exposure. Thus
TO wieldithe eugins of the Pressswe regard
US the true glory and noble aim of the
press Of a free people. When IL ceases thus
to speak, the bene6tsfof its mission are
lost or unattatned, aHlllit becomes but the
panderer TO power. This is the position
which it now occupies under the heel of
the Nosthern deSpotism.
1t the public pressJis TO be muzEletl or
to muEzle itselftrom fear of bringing. down
upon theheads- of those in authority the
merited condemnation which u,al-admin-
istration justly demanjs-tf it iS tomain-
tain silence from fear of exposing even 10
ourenemies the patent fact that some OF.
our men in authority are dereliet 10, duty
and lack tine qualifications which,their no.
siuons domand-then the printers, type-
may be as we'll sent back to the foundry.
abuse of power in high places 90 nnex-
posed, the perpetrators continue their ma. /.
the public interests be snf-
Tered to languish, be disregarled, and
criminally imperiled. The brNvem men who
fought tho enemy at Roanoke Island, aud
many OF whom poured out their blood like
water in the futile attempt to maintain
their stand against an overwhelming force.
were sacrificed TO criminal neglect to re-
intOrce them. This is the fact Whirh has
itself upon the public mind,
andsto which we hesitate not to Give Mt
terance and an ohjectiye forin.l
Notwithstanding the knowledge possess.
ed by. every man in our midst and within
the bounds of the Ooniedcracy. Of thc
fitting out the burnside Expedition
Its tsreportedsrreseuce hoy.
ertng Oft the Carolina COAst-nOtWithstaud
ing its proclaimed arrival of Roanoke
Island, disclosing the manifest intention of
the enemy to attack that devoted island.
aud to possess it ~ another strsPetic base
Tor future and mostimpoftant Operations
notwithstanding the fact, ku0wuito our
men Ia power, that this important most
Was not suIli i6ntiy manned
there was Inadequate to defend itiae1iiiiM
the attack by which II has bkenstieaacej
for weeks-notWithstanding tGis and more
which might be stated, yet that handful of
brave and devoted men were suffered to
remain there insuficigntly reinforced. anu
to await the moment when, apparently un.
cared for, they were to be "6utcherei To
make Northern ''holliday, !" and to fur
nish the demoralizedr press of the savage
and soulless North fit themc fortbeir
truculent bOastings aud tiendish huzzas.
Such is the cnlpable neglect which de.
mands ventilation aud calls for remedial
lnterposition of the Executive arm ofthe
Government Mt &ichmOnd. the Yulner-
able points on our extended coast are to be
defended at all, let :hem be defended ef-
tectHely, or}at least with some reasonable
regard to the oVerpoWeriug forces (which
have hitherto been concentrated against
them. To garrison them with force so
inadequate as that which fought to the
death at Roanoke, is to convert them into
and criminNlly sacrifice
the llYes OF our brave and devoted mon.
Sueh' It ls melancholy to reflect, was the
lameutable fate of o. Jennings Wise and
$50 gpAAV MllUtll EAG0QE0
to bring the tidings cf their unlimely doom.
But,m We ought to have bud in the
Sound twenty gunbOAts or more-such#
even as could have carried each one effec-
tive rifed guu.
Ten months have elapsed since the navy
yard here came proviientially into our
possession by desertion-Aui City such
gunboats might have been easily sconstruu..
ted there, armed, manned, and placed at.
the mouths of the numerous and small
streams in the Sound aud elsewhere. But
thereihas notione single one such been
here Constructed. Thtsis startling fact,
and eVinces what the public regard as cul.
pable negligence. Although within-a, few.
hours ride of this great and inestimable
depot to the Coufederacy, Mr. Secretary
Mallory has not Once visited tue Navy.
! ard since he warmed his official seat, nor
has he manifested the administrative ener.
gy In themauuer-of these gupboGtss which,
the time demands from him, and from all
who have been placed in positions Of inn
Portnnce such as he and others occupy in
these per1lous times. The disaster at Ro.
anoke Island by no meanS consists alone
Ia its mere capture, nor in the loss of The
band of braves there sacrificed.
tPor the InteillEeneer,l
~ i1fs THE VUER a m ETHaTRE.s