Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-02-20
A WRITER in the Richmond Enquirer comes forward

A WRITER in the Richmond Enquirer comes forward
with vigorous defence of the officials at Richmond,
and especially of the Secretary OF the Navy against
the charge of negligence in not having had larger
means provided for the defence Of Roanoke Island
also in not having used energy in providing gun
boat force to resist the adavnce Of that class vessels
sent against us by our Northern foes. We so far ap-
prove of the course of "a Georgian in defending the
Richmond authorities we like to see fair play done
to ALL and we admire the maniness that prompts any
one to assume the defence of those upon whom gen.
eral torrent of faultfnding is poured. But while we
admire the spirit that prompts this Defence we cannot
say that We regard it wholly successful. The whole
ground of defence is that the Secretary of the Navy
can do little without the authority of law, and that this
authority has not been granted-the necessary funds
have not been appropriated and therefore the Navy
Department is not only not responsible tor the absence
of all adequate effort to fit out fitting fOtIa or foti
las but that all those who nd fault with this absence
ought to be ashamed of themselves. Such is the Ian
guage of defender Of Mr. Mallory, in the Richmond
Enquire, OF yesterday, in reply to an editorial article
which recently appeared in the Norfolk Day Book, in
which the apathy and want Of vgor, or even appear
ance Of interest on the part Of Mr. Mallory, IS pretty
severely commented on.
Now let US ask if this excuse is valid one? If all
the defects in the Navy Deparment-the want of vigor
in its administration, and the want Of interest in its
chief who never yet has visited the Portsmouth Navy
Yard since it has been in Confederate hands, to find
their excuse in the failure of Congress to make certain
appropriations? Let Us 20 little farther and ask if
for that failure Congress is indeed responsible if there
be responsibility or whether for good evil, such
l.
ments especially that of the Navy? We think these
questions can be easily answered.
Surely no one who understands the feeling of the
country who recognizes and appreciates the manifesto
ton of generous confidence extended to President Davis
and to those whom be had called around him, well
the part of Congress of the people, doubts for mo-
ment that if the Navy Department had called upon
Congress for tie necessary appropriation and the
sary authority and this call had been backed by the
recommendation of President Davis, it would have
been responded to. 1t is evident that this will
not do, and that Mr. Mallory is rather unfortunate in
his advocate 1t not that Congress 1Coud not gUe
but that tie administration did not ask. President
Davis absorbed in affairs with whose vasnesS those of
the first revolution bear comparison might well leave
this matter to that member Of his cabinet specially and
officially charged with it. That this officer has not
pressed its claims with vigor is deeply to be de-
pIored as the want of at least gunboat navy is felt
to be tile want the failure to have any cost to be the
weak point Of belligeront policy. 1t might be ar
gued and willing to give force to the argument,
that skilled labor our seasoned wood and iron were
wanted for land delences and military purposes This
think, and not the fimsey excuse of the failure of
Congress- is the true ground upon which Mr.. Mallory
based and may possibly justify his do-nothing policy
That that policy was unfortunate we think is now
generally admitted, and if that is to be the policy, we
hardly see the use in having formal Secretary Of the
Navy to carry out for it is about carried out aready
But we know that miscalculations must and qvW be
made by the wiSest and best Of men, and we are unw
ling to attribute fault where to fail is human and to be
iDallbe would be to be something above below hu-
mainly. 1t is human to subside into state of COM
parative apathy and it is providenal when something
occurs to drive away that apathy although the
experience be painful one. That providentia occur
in this case was the affair of Roanoke Island fol-
lowing the heels of the raid Of the Yankee gun-boats
up the Tennessee River. Apathy has given place to
vgor and appreciation of our real wants to antas
tical MerrimQc1caI experiments.