Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-07-31

General and officers in charge. WHY was not
THIS guarded against? Whywas not the lower
end OF motifs Island so fortified as to be able to
there
As frequently hsppens, however, the fault
was not with the Commanding general and
omcers IN charge. out with the people them
selves. Gen: Beauregard wanted to level the
hills on Morris Island, behind which the yam.
KEGS sheltered themselves on landing He
wanted 10 erect more batteries and otherwise
fortify the island more strongly, but the plan
tiers would not furnish their hands, and there
tore the work could not be done To the call
OF the Governor and General no adeo uate re-
Spouse was made. Their hands We're making
crops which would be needed as much as these
works. But if Charleston falls hose who
sowed may net reap-those who planted IN "
not gather. The Yankees may be more bene-
fitted by these crops than either our soldiers or
our pe ople. We don't believe in that short
sighted selfishpess that tries to conceal itself
under patriotic excuse.
The same difficulty of getting labor is expert
enced here. Out of the whole slave population
IN cutlery is raised if six hundred hands ara
rs ked for to help 10 complete works that nav
protect halt the State from ruin. If, wheq the
tioe OF invasion comes some point is found
weak and unguarded, the blame will no dou bt
be thrown upon Gen. Whiting, when in fact it
VIII Justly attach to those whose near.sighteG
selfishness refused the necessary labor, as we'll
as TO those whose contemplate and traitorous
demagoguism has urged them to such course q
IL Is not too late to take warning, although
II may soon be. We urge Hpon the owners of
nancs 10 come forward and respond promptly
10 the calls OF the commanding General Re-
member tits not that little spot of ground called
Wilmington, that is to be defended to the last
1t is our great line of communication-our
rlyers-our last avenue to the ocean-the
enemy's best to the interior. :
The Journal. in looking at the present posi-
ton of affairs in all its aspects, notices few
points which seem most Important and says:
"The trans Mississippi District is now self
sustaining in the way of ammunition and mil
itary stores. Cotton finds its way to Metamo.
ras. consigned to an English House, and army
supplies find their way through the same
channel
We don't see that the fall of vicksburg and
Port Hudson can effect Western Louisiana,
Arkansas or Texas. They have always ven
more than they received, except in the way of
Generals, and they complain that they have
had some OF them that they could very well
have spared. 4
The raiders, who can effect little in military
point of view, but who are intended not only
to crafty the malice of the Lincolnites, but to
weaken the resources of the South and incline
her people to seek for peace even upon terms
OF submIsslon-yea upon any terms-as indeed
one or two papers in this State already pre-
figure, there somehow being always remark
able coincidence between their tone and the
movements OF the Federals, as though they
were, as the Animal MagIetizers used to say,
en- rapport.
After noticing in detail the most important
points, the Journal urges prompt compliance
with the recent call of Jeff Davis, and says:
'These things will arrest the tide of invasion
and press it backwards, if all our people re.
spond promptly to the call of the President and
yield to the appeal OF neither half traitors nor
moral towards. who would give up the ship
while she is yet fully able to weather the storm
and ride safely into port, battered and tempest
SCARED, indeed, but sound and staunch at bot
TOM
The Journal of the 21st walls thus about the
fall of Ficksburg:
There are things that we suppose we never
Will know, and there are others of which it
seems to be considered sort OF petit treason
for an editor to speak OF, but for the life of us
we can't help saying that the Vicksburg affair
is still a puzzle to u.s. We don't understand it.
We don't like it. 1t is 'all muddle.'n
Military Duty by Aliens.
The general commanding the Mobile district
has ordered all enrolling Off GERS TO observe and
execute the law as defined by Judge Jones, ex-
acting military service for local defense from
aliens. IT this decision, and the corresponding
judgment of Judge Magrath, Of Charle lesion, be
fully enforced, there will be men enough to
defend the cities.