Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-08-20
The Character Of the War.

Northern enemies. nor one marked by the charac-
teristcs which ordinarily obtain among beligerent
powers guided by the lights of civilization. Con-
trary to all analogy, all experience all history as it
clearly was to expect the dismemberment of great
Republic like this under any circumstances, with
out warm fact many wars-t was equally Uto-
plan to look for an early peace, war indicating
throughout, the exhibition of humane and Chris
tan principles. great family of peoples was bro
ken up; hence, in many respects, civil war-a
conflict among brethren, always most fierce, deadly
and destructive, was initiated. In this case, the
contest might have been expected to be unwontedly
fierce, despotic and overbearing, because it was
contest of the strong against the weak-of might
a, yainst right-of fanaticism and despotlc rule,
a. ;ainst constitutions and laws
Severe and damaging as the war has been both to
North and South already, it is evident from recent
de velopments it is becoming more sanguinary and
ba rbarous on the part Of our enemies. Every
where in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Vir-
gnia, and more recently in North Carolina, the
Yankees have thrown off all restraints Vandal-
ism and barbarism mark the progress of their
forces. The spirit Of retaliation is becoming more
manifest among our people, and ere long, we fear,
the black flag with its attendant horrors may wave
over every battle field.
Much as we have deprecated the ineffciency and
want of forecaste in conducting the the part
of ur government-manifest as was the incapacty
for heir posts of MIR. Benjamin and Mr.. Mallory
still we have ever felt just pride in the high
grou nd occupied by President Davis, and the
principles which have guided him in its conduct
So fsr, high civilization and just sense of the
claims of the laws of nations and of Christianity
have controlled him and the South. 1t will be a
sad clay to our hopes when even the atrocities and
barharism of our enemy may force upon us de-
part,,re from those just and safe principles.
| The outrageous conduct of Gen. Pope and his
troops in Virginia, has recently caused the Presi-
dent reluctantly to yield to the demand for retaa
ton. If the second sober thought" of the North
could be reached as was the case in the threat of
the President to avenge the blood of our privateers
it might be we'll; but little reflection upon the
present temper of the North controlled as it evil
IDENTIFY is, to large extent by the dabocal spirit
of abolitonism leads to fear the consequences of
sanguirary and semi barbarous resorts in the spirit
of retaliation on the part of the government Sure
| ly the SOutn desires 10 see lnauSu-
| rated general system of official retaliation
| Would it not be better to leave particular cases
which seem to demand it to the discretion of our
commanders, than to inaugurate system under the
! seal of the government, which may fill the whole
land with bloodshed and mourning9 Let us be
understood. We are no advocate of submission to
wrong from any quarter. But we are looking to
the fnture-one which we hope will be glorious and
triumphant to the Southern Confederacy, and that
will force the nations of Europe not only to admire
and applaud our courage, our endurance and our
skill in arms but our forbearance under wrongs
and our claims to high civilization.
Gen. jackson has recently captured number OF
Popes officers. We have proclaimed them outlaws
in certain contingency What if the madness Of
Lincoln forces upon that contingency, where will
it end? 1t is game at which two can play, and
while We may be most fortunate in securing the
largest number Of prisoners, yet in the chances OF
war we cannot hope that all of our brave men can
escape? And what one true Southern man would
the South be willing to see suspended upon ga
lows to atone for one hundred Yankee necks broken
by the halter? The consequences Of such state
of things is horrible to contemplate If however
the worst consequences should follow, we might
we'll appeal to God and to the nations of the earth
that it was not our fault On the head of the Lin
coin government the ignominy and disgrace mus
rest