Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-02-12


splendid navy already prepared by the enlightened
Yankees It is singular expedent, but NECESSITY is
the mother of invention Columbus Ga, Sun
From the Augusta hronicle Il Sentinel.
National Retribusaon.
1t is solemn, but yet encouraging reflection that
the destiny of nations is left in great in their
own hands They count their lives by centuries while
individuals reckon theirs by ars For the FIRST there
is hereafter in eternity, for the last there is little in
tme therefore i1 is the just that the first should
retrbution for their crimes-a retrl lbu ion
sometimes slow 10 coming but to come, in civil
war tie dOwnfal of their greatness, the dvlslon OF
their territories, the degeueracy of their people, the
irremediable loss of their prosperity and OF their
liberties.
France atoned for the blood stained and uGbrided
satlrnaa of her first revolution by being crushed by
an iron hand of military despot-she expiated her
lust of dominion by giving her children to Whiten with
their bones every battle field of Europe-by seeing her
capitol fall before the eagued nations whom she had
rushed to revenge by her aggressons and her Emperor
chained tor life to lonely and barren rock far off n
the midst OF the Poland was blotted from the
map of Europe the corruptons and dissensons of her
people gave the signal to the spoer and made her i'm
beetle for resistance and Rome fell rom the saa cause
that has brought ruin the United States in the full
of their unpareled prosperity but old in marion
al crime. The has been blasted by just retrbu
tion in the stately pride of its youthful vgor.
Conquest, territorial aggrandisement, disregard by
maorties of the rights of others at home and abroad
offensive nsoence towards other powers, perversion
OF political liberty into corrupt license have been the
arrows eathered from its wing which have brought
down the dust the boastful American Eagle. TO
these causes, than any other, be traced the
cOnVusions which now agitate the continent. Fer
these national crimes national retrbution is be
ing enacted mex rabe and unavoidable the wages
awarded to the sins of individuals The crimes of the
nation have become its punishment the scourge which
drives it forth beyond the pale OF the wo ds sympa-
thies is welded by its own hand.
Some share of this retribution is awarded to the
South she suffers the evils of civil and her blood
is poured forth in expation OF her share OF the national
sin. But the bterest part of the punishment spared
her, the shame Of failure and the SCOTS of the world
The justice of mankind her partnership 10 the
national wrong, doing having been poweres3 to
stem the tide of crime which in the Unio1 for want of
the numbers which rule theoretically in republic and
in place of the derson which assails her oes the SYM
pathy and admiration OF the world is ealsed IN her ia
by her gallant struggle against odds which appear
ed so overwhelming. Still the scourge falls on her ;
though not with the weight of ignominy which sharp
ems its sting upon ber foes She has not to blush al
humiliatng defeat mbecile government never
yet has she had to acknowledge herself conquered on
any fair and equal field. She has gained the good will
foreign nations, although she has deigned to
conciiate their preudices, which she has suffered to
take their color from the ISLANDERS of her enemies
Her cause has yet been pleaded as it should
have been to avet wholly that part OF the retrlbu
tion which consists in the worlds judgment Sc
| cure in her own strength and Setia0t OF all ene-
miles, living apart and only desiring to be let alone she
entered upon this unknown to civilized Europe
Russia two centuries ago, Turkey until within
the past few years fut is powerful dlttuser OF
| knowledge and as the Crimean did more to make
both Russia and Turkey known to the world than ages
of peace and Libraries OF travels, our own case tie
present war; by the attention has aroused will elicit
just and enlightened judgment toward the South, her
Institutions, her power and her Importance. Foreign
ers will longer be content to take the judgment Ot
foes fair impartial reliable, aud will hereafter
form their conclusions from observation and critical
examination.
If we desire to secure the good opinion of mankind
always enlisted in favor by the gallanry of our
struggle and by the sympathy universally felt for peo
pie struggling against subjugation-if we desire to
avoid the punishment which sooner later falls
tions which become corrupt within, practice wrong
abroad-we should heed the warnings of history, es-
pecially our own, while connected with the Union
The arrogant trampng upon the rights of muorites,
led to its destruction the shameful and foul corruption
which for years reeked from every pore of its body po
litic and stank in the nosrs its people, lost it
their support. 1t mpossib to feel patriotism to-
wards it. The insoence of its conduct in its inter-
course with foreign nations lost it their sympathy when
the days of its trial and downfall approached When
the scourge laid upon it, few grieved-its day OF
reribution had come, and mankind stood awed before
the justice of Providence and stretched forth hand
to interfere, and raised voice to ntercede. Through
out the globe, few but fanatics sympathise with the
falling Union the dying convusions of the giant are
dangerous and stand aloof and give aid to the
destroyer, but there to offer it aid or en-
coura cement Let the Southern ConfederacY, the
newest born of the nations having before it marked
a warning, escape the retribution by avoiding the
crimes.