Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-01-16
.yhe Wild Huaf."

go to assure us that the desire for Office hs not wholly
bsen exngushed among The people aud politicians OF
the Southern States by their ceasing to be united to
the North and becoming selfexisting Confederaes
fear that reliable parties common report and general
belief are right There is as much pressure for Office
and the hope of office at Richmond in proportion to
the number of Offices to be bestowed there was
at Washington. Within two months The provisional
government Of the Couederacy will give way to the
permanent constitutional government; and although
there may be little change n the material ct which
the staff is composed, legally the commission of every
officer will expire with the government uIder which he
held it, SO that the permanent civil staff together with
the official rank and file, must be appointed and commits
sioBed recommssioned this spring. there being none
in existence whose tenure, except permssivey
tends beyond the first of March.
1t is known that under the Confederate constitution
the tenure of Office is ndefnite-that il you get
hold of piece Of red tape, you bound 10 keep hold
of it long you please, and if any one preteDds to
turn you out all your friends may legally demand the
cause and have investigation and all that all amount
ing in fact to life 10 Office This being the case
of course all those who have previously tasted the
sweets of Office and emoIument or who have long con-
chops, will be thar to get an Office into which, as into
German Chancely suit. they may retire for the balance
of their natural lives, and by little management be-
queath il to their descendants or next of kin.
But it must not be supposed that these gentlemen
would be wholly opposed to rotation in office. They
are not. What they opposed to in their own case
is rotation out Of Office. They willing to rotate in
Office much as you please provided the rotation is to
be performed from one good Office to another better
This is certainly great and conclusive evidence of pat
riOtsm, not to be forgotten or overlooked. good
ny of these old professionals have rotated from their
desks at Washing ton to other desks at Richmond and
there not wanting those who nsnuate belief that
if nothing else interered to prevent them and proper
opportunity offered to rotate back prcfOby their
conscnces would not be unreasonable as not to lis
ten to reason and politely yield to the requirements of
the situation"
We may regret this oyrweening desire for Office but
perhaps part of it is due the fact that many of the
usual avenues of trade and occupation are cosed-so
many branches of mercantile business suspended, that
large numbers of men competent for the intelligent dis
charge of clerical departmental duties are thrown out
of employment, and, the expression goes must do
something. To whatever cause it is to be attributed
it exists, and might as well attempt to bale out the
Cape Fear with pitch-fork, as to stop it with steel
pens and printers ink. Perhaps it is all right.
What we would say is this All Confederate Off
GERS, now in Office, are simply provisional. This, all
who are fond OF ocehunting already know and there
FORE by calling attention to the fact, risk of
starting the track. 1t matter for the peo-
pe where they have peculiar preferences peculiar OBJ
ctn knOu nd
as to fitness or unfness, to to make their
wishes known and felt before permanent appointments
made, which cannot be easily revoked nor improp
er appointees easily got rid of practically Consd
crate appointments irremoveable, there being SO
many agreeable or dssgreeabe shades between first
class, pleasant officer, and who has reached that
point OF tangible violation of official duty which alone
can sustain his being turned out of Office.
Long War O a short War.-Olher Things there.
with Connected.
People have been and are divided 10 their opinions
to the probable relative effects of making the exist
ing war of Southern Independence short and decisive
contest, or longer and more protracted struggle. We
say the efectsnot the policy, for canuot suppose
that fer problematical advantage any Iskilfu
and Conscientious pilot would keep the ship of state
|
OF fierce storm he could at once carry her into
secure and peaceful haven. Whatever speculation.
may indulge in to the probable results of Ions
war; the policy of our country must obviously be, t.
secure early and honorable peace. Such peace al
will be indeed peace and not mere truce. Such
peace will leave nothing to construction for W.
have tried that enough the Unon-we have because
of being deceived in faith and dependence upon th
North in such matters, been forced to place all upor
the hazard of the die. When making peace will
the North, outside of the Union, it would be folly fe
US to allow the seeds of fresh difficulty to be planted
what ought to be the grave of former hostilities.
1t is, of course policy to ann at an early peac
upon the conditions above referred to, but whether
can secure it or not is another question. That it viii
come and must come finally. we can have no doubt Il
the meantime, the may to close at a com
paratively early day, may be protracted to al
indefinite period, it may be as well to look at tn
matter with reference to the relative effects of brief
of lopg-continued struggle.
1t has beemfe feared that if the should come to al
end too soon, before actual war had drawn line O
blood between the sections before compulsory nonner
had taught the South to depend upon herself tn
separation might be more apparent than real. 1h
South might win her political independence indeed, bu
be still held in commercial and financial vassaage to tn
North and the work of revolution remain half-dene
with only record of sacrifices endured without an,
realization of advantages secured That this premature
peace will be patched up there is little fear. Al
ready the looks of the people averted, and thei
hearts turned away from their former idols at tn
Great Norrad y the of the public and prvat
men of that section and of its government has
mems eyes WHY look at the list of TRANSPORTS in tn