Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-02-12
The Cloud 1Thickens.

Inc aspects OF the war are any thing but enoour-
aging. The enemy is making alarming inroads up
on Kentucky and TENNESSEE Western Virginia
and our coast are severely threatened He is coll
lectng vast forces TO harrass snd invade US at all
points and yet there seems not to be the energy,
foresight and skill on the part Of the government
commensurate with the danger impending Since
the great battle at Manassas the whole South has
sunk INTO apparent inactivity. or been blinded oy
fancied security and entire Immunity from danger.
Faramore interest has been manifested by those in
power to distribute the Offices Of the government
among pets and favortes, than in the security Of
our defences and the procurernentsof the men and
means to resist the invader. Thousands Of our
people disposed to volunteer have been discouraged
by rejection by the prescription of such terms
they could not comply with. - 800.
The majority Of the presses of the country as we'll
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 our ems
envy as cowardly and wholly Inefficient Our fre.
quent victories served to confirm this Impressions
until many had settled down with the idea that a
reverse to US was next to impossibility.
If one expressed doubt about the security of
our defences, he was rebuked sharply. Hatteras,
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? '
The whole course of the government has been
nd ~ No.
Letcher of Virginia has been blamed and abused for
his inactivity in not taking Fortress Monroe. He
is to be blamed but what be said of tie govern
ment which went into operation in February, near:
ly three months before the blockade, and yet made
no provision for arms and munitions OF war? 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 "watch
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 ,000
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 then
| own arms.
We do not mention these things to reproach any
one. We are willing to admit that the government
and others followed their own convictions Of righ
and duty We DO not therefore blame them. Butle
not those be blamed who warned US Of the danger
| The time has come when every Southern mar
must look the danger in the face and prepare t.
meet it. To vanquish the immense hordes of North
ern INVADERS every man in the South, atle to han
die weapon must prepare for the fight Unless
there is more energy and activity and efficiency in
fused into tie government, the day will soon b
passed for exemptions from draft of any man abl
to bear arms or for the employment of substitutes
| If our independence is to be achieved, right
and liberties preserved and our property and inter
| ests protected, euery must be ready to arm
| himself for the conflict.