Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-02-15
The Press.

III tue press OF tnlS state anu virginia nau sec
onded our efforts for the protection and defence of
Roanoke Island, we have 10 doubt the government
would have furnished ample means for its defence
and the Island now would have been in our posses
sion and the enemy vanquiShed. But no, are
too afraid of giving the enemy information too fear
full of offending the powers that be, to utter the
complaints of the people against their rulers. Now
since the Island is taken and twelve of richest
counties are at the mercy of the enemy, and the
rear of Norfolk rnenaced, they can abuse the gov
ernment outright Pity that people will not
learn that the time talk is before the horse is out
of the stable. The Norfolk Day Book lets off its
pent up wrath after this sort ~
The fact cannot longer be concealed that criminal
nesli 5enCe is chargeable somewhere for the dsas-
trous Overthrown OF our brave and gallant men at
Roanoke Island.
The fact cannot longer be concealed because it is
upon the tongue Of every rejecting man. As
public journal, devoted to the public cause cause
in which all possess and realise the deepest interest
this paper is aVerSe TO the suppression of griev-
ance of such magnitude from any sicklied senti-
mental fear that injury is to accrue to the true in
erests the people by free comment and exposure.
Thus 10 WELD the engine of the press We regard
the true glory and noble aim of the press OF free
people. When it ceases thus to speak, the benefits
of its mission lost unattained, and it becomes
but the panderer to power. This is the position
which it now occupies under the heel of the North
ern despOtism. -.
If the public press is to be muzzled or to muzze
itself from fear of bringing down upon the heads of
these in authority the meritcd condemnation which
maladminiStraton justly demandS-lf it is to main
tain silence from fear Of exposing even to our
mics the patent fact that some of our men in
thority are derelct in duty and lack the euafca-
ubir --th I've.
tiers type may be as well sent back to the foundery,
abuse of power in high places go uneXposed the
perpetrators continue their maladniniStration the
public interests be suffered to anguish, be disre-
garded and crminally imperiued The brave men
who fought the enemy at Roanoke Island, and many
of whom poured out their blood like water in the
futile attempt to maintain their stand against an
overwhelming force were sacrificed to criminal
neglect to reinforce them. This is the fact which
has impressed itself upon the public mind and to
which w hesitate not TO give utterance and an OBJ
jeciiyg form. --.,......
Notwithstanding the knowledge possessed by
every man in our midst and within the hounds of
the Conede~aey, of the fitting out of the Burnside
Expediton-no its reported presence
lowering off the Carolina eOast-notwthStandng its
proclaimed arrival off Roanoke Island disclosing the
manifest intention OF the enemy to attack that devo
ed Island and to possess it as another sragetic base
for future and more important operationS,-not-
withStanding the fact, known to our men in power,
that this important post was not sufficiently man
ned-that the force there was inadequate to defend
it against the attack by which il had been menaced
for weekS-notwithstanding this and more, which
might be stated yet that handful of brave and de-
voted men were suffered to remain there insufficient
" reinforced aud to await the moment when, ap-
parently uncared for, they were to be "butchered
to make Northern holiday" and to furnish the
demorazed press Of the savage and soulless North
fit theme for their truculent boastng and tiendish
huzzas. Such is the culpable neglect which demands
ventilation and calls for remedial interposition Of
the executive arm Of the government at Richmond.