Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-05-01
From the Augusta, Geo., Constitutionalis'.


The devastation perpetrated by the enemy wherever
his armies have advanced into territory, has exaspe
rated the Southern pqope almost to pbrenzy and las
produced burning tesre for the retaiiaive policy
1t is very plain that thus far the Southern people have
felt infinitely than their enemies the destructive
horrors Of war. We have been disappointed in the
tent OF the evils to the material interests of the North
which had creduously hoped would result from this
stupendoas conflict. Vainly have waited to hear
the howl of distress rCm furnishing Thousands in their
commercial and manufacturing cities alnlg have we
listened for the crash that oVewte!m in ruin and
bankruptcy their commercial mars and their great ship
ping interests. That these have suflred Ia greater
less degree, is undtniabe But in many particulars the
blow has been paated, if not compensated by the vast
Government expenditures, and by the Industries
they have stimulated and by the adaptation of
featuring and commercial capital to the changed condi-
tion Of affairs Enormous fortunes have sprung into
existence under the fostering patronage OF corrupt
Government and associated capital that had prospered
in peaceful days under the unfair operation OF the pro-
teclive SYSTEM has become b0ated into still huger pro-
portions by means of Jobs and contracts to supply the
immrnse consumption Of state OF war All this has
been u0ue By the credit OF the Government, and not
yet by the process OF transferring money from the pro-
dues o. set of citizens to those of another. The
oppressive results OF this eXtraVagant and Wasteful pro-
yet to when the to be levied and
the people called upon to contribute directly to the
expenses Of this pfodgal Government. Ihen proper
y holders and business men, and OF the
/
/ been making losing money, Wi. begiu to realize
| the sore financial weight OF this infamous No
system Of taxation however ingenious be dused
to press down heavily only the benefoiares Of
the war, and press gently those who have been pecu
mary sufferers from the outset. bankrupt law vii!
relieve the nsoent from the crushing weight of oblga-
Ons contracted before the war; but relieve them
from the dire oppression Of future taxation.
But with all this the North instead OF presenting a
picture OF widespread ruin and distress, enjoying
from
Of carnage ii knows Of chiefly from the reports OF
the newspapers and the debates OF the Federal Con
gress Now and then community is saddeneG by the
story OF bloody battle in which 1t Ioss some of its
cLerishtd citizens. But its fair to presume, ON tie
character C the troops enlisted in these bloody raids
upon The South that not one III twenty Of them have
stake social or pecunary, IN the results Of the war;
leave behind family friends to their fate
large part Of those killed in battle were drone pests
and tier places be adiiy supplied by material as
worthless. They like Fastaf's recruits food fo
gunpoWder" and fit for little else
These facts, c0ntrased with the valuable lives Of ou
finest young men in the South the pride of their com
munes, and the hope and stay OF virtuous homes have
made the desire for retaliation the North by invasive
war an iuteuse and consuming passion.
/ How can this be gratifed? This is perplex
ing question Al the outset of the war it would hav
been lees difficult TO But many now supne
cry, it is TOO late, too late They think an Invasion
the e1emys territory, that we are beeaguered Of
every SIDE, impracicabe, and that defensive is
sole alternative 4 writer in the last number OF De
Bows ReUjeD thus urges the following difficulties:
. II successful, must after get into tie enemg'
coDntry, buy supplies for could not carry them
and dd, it would cost much as TO buy them.
say we nou nave 70 get supplies IN one way or tne ohe1
undertake to quarter upon the enemy TO take subs
teDae without pay it would be with the French in th
Peninsula IS the my could not for provisions
foragng parties would; and would they return It is ad
mted the finest army marshaedin the heart Of hos
tile country would fade away like before the sunshn
nder he partisan ana guerrilla SYSTEM If We bought fror
the enemy Or furnished our own supples the expens
persisted in If for the want of transportation
could not from Manassas to Washington, what wi
the necessary transportation not cost to go into the hea
y Of the enemy's coGntTy?
We will not here discuss the force Of these objections
Is it is oot the purpose this article to urge the polio
OF organizing army to penetrate into the heart Of Ii
lt eneEys country The objections at all events do
h0lu good against plans oi border warfare, by whc
ID short and destructive raids could be made ltO the
81 my8 country, il points taken could not lie held
Such measures would appease in part the Southern
wing for retrbution upon magllgnaut foe, and teac
lin solue sanitary lessons which might render the VIZ
w less popular than it is at the North
e But object n0W is to invite attention to the pc
icy Indicated by the title of the article from which
I'D quote, SHALL WE HAVE NAVY ?"
he 1t is full late in the Gay ask this question Il shou
~ have been loudly asked in the OUTSET and promptly
n swared by cur Government in the affirmative. It
OF yet TOO late t. respond in the WaJ The
ne is no conceivable plan within the compass of Southe
o. a3ly T. except tLs to raise the blockade OF p0r
~ even partially. Ii Tie Southern C0nild yaoy bad
e al0at twenty such Vssejs tie Sumter at the outs
els The would have been much its c0sa-
III The commerce OF the North as its most va nerat
IA point o attack The fact that the South had two
three armed cruisers afoa prcdnced in all tie CONNIE
c cia! communities Of the North wonderful amount
~ Consideration. iLe J,f Davis aud the Sumter sru
W. mortal terror to the heart of Yauk edCm had the
feet been followed up by vigorous OF The
!n kind, and en- larger scale 1t is hardly extravagant
~ say that the enemy, this, would have heen bGoug
se to q peaceful frame of mind. What the United Stat
raj did 10 British commerce in 18l2'l4 the South mig
he have done D 1862 to Yankee commerce. II N
not be too late to eject something in this way. Wh
cha &c in tie programme may have become lecessal
~ from The Of the iron clad boats, the Virgin
and Monitor it is not for the unprof ssional to say.
&C. But money will, no doubt, command il Europe wh
his ever may be necessary to enable the South to ma
pc Northern commerce feel the eff cts o aggressi
It, war. For every devastated hamlet on the Southe
fn border Yank vessel should be made to sink benea
@ @nT the For every Southern town paged, Wh
W. argosy of richly feighted ships should yield their
in goes and then go down forever. Why have the Ca
tora steamers been allowed so loug. with mpunity,
carry their tributes OF gold 10 New 0Ik, TO bolster
the Northern finances and add vig0r its every ndustr
or energy? Until the OF Yankee commerce is str
hat down with palsy the will be felt at the o.
I'LL as bDt partial evil. As long as her commerce fo
" defiant and free the South remain thr0tled,
lei intercourse with foreign nations, which is almost
OF breath OF existence to Southern prosperity become
the ionary dream Ia vain shall we sigh for foreign pc
CT ers and loose the Yankee grip upon the hr
be- of Southern trade
cb. A YANKEE LIFE-P -PREsERvER.-A gentleman exl
la- tied to yesterday, seellned vest, taLe2 from
Federal officer who was killed in the late battle. |
au excellent specimen of Yankee ingenuity and
a!7 mirabLy adapted for the purpose inteuded-a buI
an sword or hayOnetprOOf protection to the upper pOrt