Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-10-09
From the Southern Confederacy.
Lessons from History.


To this remark, Vcksburg, heroic Vcksburg, is
ception. Defying with its single arm the Armada Of
the enemy ueurazng the effects of his past victories
blocking up against him the passage of the great n,nd
sea OF the continent stripping mail clad gunboas of
their imaginary terross--that brave city has made
itself immortal
There Others of cities TO be attacked this
winter. Charleston, Savannah, and Mobile, will feel
in their turn the power Of the enemy How will they
meet it? Will they resist to the DEATH or will they
surrender? One thing is certain they have had time
and means to make themselves impregnabe. 1t has
been possible grde them with notifications that
small force could defend them against host If,hey
fall it must be either by the timidy of their defenders
neglect, want OF skill in the military authorities
The country will SO regard it.
There can, however, trust, be no f ars of the
suit It is scarcely possible 10 conceive that anything
has been neglected which ought to have been done
There every believe that brave troops
will defend these cherished cs the last gasp One
thing they ought to d. which has not been done They
should call back their absentees refugees. The
munities a which they have found covert cud
s!s them. A crushing should OverWhem the |
ablebodied man, who fees from imperiled city OF
which he is native citizen, in which he mas
accumulated wealth. In such case age or calling
constitutes exemption. Let the word refugee when
applied 20 such, become Infamous
70 stimulate heroic defense of these important
cities it may be useful TO refer that which has been
done elsewhere IN like circumstances.
| The history of one Republic is rich in instances of
U6rOlC G6enSe OF CUES. Inference is mace 10 tDe
Netherlands during the life time of William of Orange
"a hero who deserves to be placed by the side of Wash
lngt0n. here are strong points OF resemblance be-
tween the rise of the Dutch Republic and that of our
own CUniederacy.
The contest between Holland and Spain was most
unequal. The latter bad the largest aud best army in
the world-veteran troops trained by Charles and
commando by that great general, the Duke Of AlVa.
The former bad 60 organized army Its population
was small its resources limited its territory insignf-
lo,r Vnt tor CIrhfu he
most potent empire upon EARTH and during the progress
of the struggle became mighty state, binding about
is slender form zone of the richest possessions OF
earth from pole to tropc-fDaly debating lis DEGREES
to the empire of Charles
The parallel is clear thus far-our enemy outnumbers
in and exceeds resources did Spain the
Netherlands Why shall not the parallel continue
Whether fight him eight years eighty years. what
shall prevent growth during the struggle to great
nation?
Again the Netherlands fought their powerful enemy
without assistance. They soug hit it but in vain. They
soue BIT it from Francebut France was Catholic and
feared Spain, and considered the contest hopeless. Sim
ilary in religious opinion gave right to expect assis
lance from England. But Holland struggling for
civil well religious liberty, and therefore the des-
otc, though Protestant Elizabeth refused assistance
Alone these brave Holanders fought out that weary
war; and alone they conquered peace.
We have weak sought assistance from these two
same powers 1t has been refused We also, alone,
must fight this weary war, and alone shall conquer
p ace.
The designs of their enemy were the same as the de-
signs OF The purpose of Spain the absolute
subiugatiOn of the rebeous provinces It's intention
was crush out the rebellion The following is the
language of Philip But if ye disregard these offers
lot mercy receiving them with closed ears as heretofore
then you that there is rigor, cruelty
however great, while you ara to expect by laying waste
starvation and the sword in such that nowhere
shall remain relic of that which at present exists but
His Majesty will strip bare and utterly depopulae the
to ha hohi to11
since otherwise His Majesty could not bolieve that the
will of GOD and His Majesty bad been accomplished.
How similar have been the threats ich have been
uttered againse US. Ii our enemy can not subdue us
it is their design to drive out, and homes
to be occupied by strangers without regard to
complexion vain purposes both in the one and the
l. other.
Holland took up arms defend her civil and religious
: rights. Spain wished to make her submissive de-
pendent politically. The doctrines of the Reformation
had become established in Holland. Spain determined
r to extrpate heresy, and re-established Catholicism
She assailed the civil and religious conscience of Hol
,, land. Death considered by the brave Dutch be
ing preferable to submission. In both particulars
y Spain foied The Republic was established and free
q dom to worship God secured.
at We have taken up arms to civil and re
} igious rights. The Union was perverted from it
purposes, that it became benefit others and
II injury to Us, and determined to leave it. C0e
70 cion threatened aud We resisted it. Hence thi
war is clearly for natural rights that of tn
Dutch with Spain.
:e This is also, On part, for conscienc
be sake In this respect misunderstood. But th
y mistakes of other do not affect that which hold Il
b. be truth. God has made the Cuators OF infero
to and dependant race blind aDatcism would disturb
be their present happy position. Such change tina
i'll which it proposes would not only destroy the structur
#, of civil society," but would dsorganze every religion
en- institution put out the light of the Gospel and
n wheln both races in q ruin Ii d;
Do posed tameIy to yield our civil rights we must wit
be them those sacred interests which
dear to the human heart We fight for religious an
he well as civil liberty. Aud in contest for thessdnte
he ests, death is preferable to defeat.
tie Whether the parallel is to be continued in the lengt
rt of the two wars human sagaclty determi
That twill be long and wearis0me one, it requires
Ill particular foresight to determine. Our present glor
ng Gus successes will but iDhame our enemy. lie pr
two miOus of men into the field. 1t is the mpressio
of the writer that he will not abandon this struggle VI
til he is fairly assured that he cannot bring third ell
nd ment into an element now the source OF cur streng
It will take time him OF failure But be ths
for time long or short if do duty, there be
no doubt as to the result But must 90 duty
Tth Every man must do it for before this ends Il
Try services OF every man will be required.
I Whether the parallel is to be continued not in Il
o7. duration of the two wars of thing may be &c
or tain it will be completed in triumph, as grand
our part as that which achieved by Holland
81 Never let it be supposed, while those few insgnihca
er- Provinces, hardly larger than some of countle
animated by love of liberty, could defeat the veter
foroes of Snain that this noWerfrl Conedpracv rs
rri. be subjugated by the armies of the Moth
ase Having been lead into this parallel, which is n
without interest and profit and having already exten
H., ed this communication beyond newspaper limits,
ts writer must defer to a second number, account
alb of these selgeS which occurred during the war
for tween Holland and Spain and which give to cur cit
ase usrious examples of the manner in which brave N
of ID OtheP c!mes nave ueiendeo lheiL usSnoo 1ous
Vim silly Els GRE1 [.