Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-03-12
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
coSFEpERATE STATES OF AMERICA.
U1 .Astac,roS. N. c., SATURDAY, MARCH z, 1858.
!. A,.rmlsls' % and :. ssnsa.ionists." etc.

In times like these if we would avoid the evils o.
supneas are apt to incur the imputation of being
alarmiss. This will apply both to the commanders
armies and TO the conductors of presses.
A few weeks since there were wellgrounded aprre-
tensions of an attack upon Wilmington, and General
WHITING issued address advising nonconbatants to
get out OF the way The of probable attack was
soon transferred to Charleston Savannah, or both
and, Judging from the movements of the enemy, Cen
BEAUREGARD issued proclamation urging the de-
parture of all non onbattan and calling upon the
people of South Carolina and Georgia to come to the
rescue.
Was General WHITING an alarmist, or was General
BEAUREGARp an alarmistf On the contrary were they
not acting according to their best judgment and was
not their Judgment correct, far human Judgment
without the gift G. prophecy, could be correct? AT
the time when General WHITING issued bis address
there is every to believe it the Yankee pro
gramIne to make an early, almost immediate attack
upon Wilmington. For reasons of their own that pro
gramme was changed.
So at Charleston But for some miscarriage Or some
discovered nadequacy 10 preparation there would, nc
doubt have been an attack made ere this. May not
the activity OF our Generals the evident determination
to meet attack boldly and unshrinkngly have had
much TO do with averting that attack?
Again, frequently information of the movements Of
the enemy is received by newspaper conductors and pub
Eshed in the columns of their journals which iniorma
ton docs appear be borne out by subsequent de-
velopments and forthwith such newspaper conductors
will probably be set down alarmists" sansa-
tionists" when, in fact, their information may have
been strictly correct far it went only lacking the
power of prescience to make it wholly go. We do rot
SC 4ob
startling intelligence and that such items likely to
create sensation too often seized upon without
sufficient examination into their probable trnh due
reflection to the probable effect which their publca-
ton may have upon the public interest But it would
be unjust to charge that all that appears to be secsa
tonal in reality SO. In the ever-cbangiDg move
ments of armies the extensive field of hostites
braced within the of the present war; the stua-
ton of today may not be that Of tomorrow, espe
ciay with leaders fond Of changing their base as
are the Generals of the Lincoln armies,
And agsin as to alarmists, -f at any point there
is a manifest Weakness want Of force to meet the
advance of the enemy and this weakness be
ed this force supplied by greater exerton the part
of the people, ought not the people TO be canddy in
formed of the state of the case and aroused to prompt
action Would it not have been better lad this course
Deen puIsueu WLen JOHNSTON, Wild TGlCniCpE-
ly inadequate forces was holding Bowling Green ard
other points 1t is true, that consummate General org
deceived the enemy but is also true that if tie ere
my was deceived so were our own people. Nashville
lost Fort Donelson fell the greater part Of Ten
nessee was overrun, and Northern Alabama and Mis-
ssspp invaded, and at last appeal had to be made
to the people when they less able to respond to it
than they would have been a. first.
So we may say now plainly without being ':alarEnsts
that greater exertions called for the part Of the
people of the Confederate States than they have yet
made Or now making, great as these have been.-
The impetus, that, at first carried all ranks and nearly
all ages along with it into the 6eld regardless of mere
position emoument, must be renewed, for the hard
est trial is in all human probability, yet before US
If We wouj have this impetus renewed, if we would
have Of position Of position, but Of char
acter equally willing to enter the ranks to take com
mands officers Of all grades must rccolect that
their fellow soldiers are also their fellow citizens and
such, their equals and that while the officer is emit
tied to implicit obedience in all things relating to the
service the humbest private is also entitled to that re
spectful treatment which his due as man and citi
zen of the Ccnfederacy, and as one who is exposing
his life in great without rank or emolument
We give elsewhere the Yankee Consumption Bill
which suppose has passed both houses of the Wash
ington Congress. 1t is worth studying in this connec
ton.