Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-08-20
The Character of the War,

we nave never looked 1or snort war with our
Northern enemies, nor one marked by the charac-
teristcs which ordinarily obtain among bellgerent
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 war-in fact many wars-it was equally Uto-
plan to look for early peace or a war indicating
throughout the exhibition of humane and Chris
tian 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 mg ght have been expected to be unwontedly
fierce, despotic and overbearing, because it was
contest of the strong against the weak-of might
against rght-of fanaticism and despotlc rule,
against constitutions and laws.
Severe and damaging as the war has been both to
North and South already, it is evident from recent
developments it is becoming more sanguinary and
barbarous on the part of our enemies. Every
where in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Vr-
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 battlefield.
Much as we have deprecated the ineffciency and
want of orecaste in conducting the war on the part
of our government-manifest as was the incapacity
for their posts of Mr.. Benjamin and Mr.. Mallory,
still we have ever felt a. just pride in the high
ground occupied by President Davis, and the
principles which have guided him in its conduct.
So far, 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
sad dav to our hopes when even the atrocities and
barbarism of our enemy may force upon US a de-
parture 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-
tion. 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 privateers
it might be well; but little reflection upon the
present temper of the North, controlled as it evi-
IDENTIFY is to large extent by the diabolical spirit
of abotoniSm, leads US to fear the consequences Of
sanguinary and emibarbarous resorts in the spirit
Of retaliation on the part Of the government Sure.
ly no sane man in the South desires to see inaugu-
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 mourningH Let US be
understood. We are no advocate of submission to
wrong from any quarter. But we are looking to
the future-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 a number of
Pope's officers. We have proclaimed them outlaws
in a 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 must
rest