Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-02-18
Now is the Time for Action.

Any reverses at this time, it not compensated
for by the increased spirit of resistance which
will thereby be infused into the breasts of all
Southern men, are to be the more regretted
as it is important for US to be able success
fully to hold the enemy at bsy for several
months longer, by which time. if no victories
would have been gained by them, they would be
ruined for the want of credit, and Foreign Pow
ers would acknowledge our Independence
Concurring in the views expressed by the Er
amimer, we adopt its remarks in lieu of our
own. That paper says that, 'It greatly concel MS
US to resist bis present desperate onslaught
Ii we do so successfully, the war must soon come
to an end; for in that event, if the enemy's own
finances did not force him to reduce the scale
of his operations, the interference of foreign
Powers would compel peace.
| If he should succeed, however, by his present
grand demonstration in driving us into the
interior, we should have to protract tie war to
great lengths and suffer many privations and
losses in its prosecution. The war, in that event,
will have just commenced, the interference of
foreign Powers would be possibly postponed, and
we should have to depend upon time and mary
battles to convince the foe that SUI alton was
an enterprise costing far more than it would come
| to.
The question whether the war shall be long or
short, depends upon the events of the next month
or six weeks. The immense army of Xerxes
did not dislnay the Greeks, and we need not be
dismayed; We ought rather to be elated by his
numbers. We have the North, as it were, by
the throat. II we defeat his grand army we end
the war; for he will never raise another. Or,
| if we simply hold it in check, and ourselves
maintain a bold front in the field, so as to pro-
tract his present invasion, we defeat him by ex-
hanstion. He cannot subsist and pay his present
army six months; and the farther it moves from
home the more seriously will the expenses tall
upon that section. @
Now, therefore, is the time for the South to
be up ami doing. One victory now will be
worth more than dozen future ones can be-
One month of successful resistance at present
will avail us more than any six months of war
fare hereafter. If We have been indolent end
neglectful for valuable months past, we may still
meke all good by display OF energy and patlio-
tism at the present crisis
. Petitions.- DistiIleries.
Petitions are in circulation in this county pray
ing the Legislature sspeedily to enact the neces-
sary laws to suppress the consumption of grain in
D the manufacture Of spirituous liquor, account
> of the numerous evils resulting to the country,
under existing stances, from the increase
of distileries.
! We have no doubt that these petitions will be
numerously signed, as an overwhelming MAORI
s ty of the people feel that some effective step
:. should be taken to prevent such immense quan-
. titles of corn and rye from being converted from
blessing into curse-from being changed from
a supporter into destroyer of life. 1t is sup
posed that, in this county, FIFTY THOUSAND bush
els of grain are consumed monthly by the fifty
or sixty distilleries which are now in active op
Grafton. In Richmond, it is said, that one large
= distillery there consumes thousand bushels pei
; day. AS liquor will command any price, the
I, distillers can afford to pay an enormous price
for grain, and the consequence will be, that corr
:, will become SO high in price that the poor will
have to suffer, as they will not be able to buy.
II The Richmond Dispatch says that ssthe con
sumption Of grain in North Carolina for whiskey
8 was SO great, that the press predicts that corr
will be WORTH S. PER BUsHEL IN THE SUMMER, un
J less the distilleries suppressed
o In reference to the traffic in ardent spirits a
: this time the same paper says:
! ssThe authorities ought to take this subject il
hand. Sumptuary laws are in general imprope
and odious, but in times of great public emer
gency like the present, the sale of ardent spirits
ought to be suppressed as measure of publ,
safety and military discipline. The Southern
Confederacy would be better off if every drol
r Of spirituous liquors within its borders wer'
emptied into the sea. The Northern authoritie
3 seeing the havoc that hard drinking was doing
their armies, have taken strCng measures to sup
press it. Here is one instance in which we may
learn valuable lesson from the enemy. What cal
be done in this matter? Who will suggest ths
proper remedy for an evil crying aloud for re
G form ?''
I, ssIf there should be scarcity Of grain com
mencing in the spring, and the next crop should
fail, not be good one, what would be the
dreadful! consequences That possibility must b.
! taken into view in considering this question"