Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-12-17

northern journals by hum parsors eDgag7d 10 max
Ing appeals to the charitable for aid 10 preventing the
raVas Of dseas7, exposure and starvation among the
negro women and chi!dFen who sEe crowded into en-
| campnents.
TIE frontier Of our c0uutCy bears wItcees 10 the a.
lacry and efficiency with which the general orders OF
the enemy have been executed in the devastation of the
farms, the destruction Of tie eg icQlurnl lments
the burning of the houses snd the plGnder of yhng
Dioveabie. LIS whole aspect comment the ethics
OF the general order issued By the United States the
24th April, 1863 comprising "iGstIuctiors for the
government OF armies of the United States ia the field
and Of whiah the following is example:
military ssy admits Of all direct des; uction Of
hIe or limo Of armed enemies, and OF other persons
whose distraction is Incidentally unavoidable u the
armed contests OF the it allows of the aptusing
OF every armed enemy and Of every enemy OF import
a1ce to the hostile gOvernnebe O peculiar danger
toe capt0r it allows of ali des Fuctivn of property and
o.sruct0ns of the ways and channels of traffic. travel
or communication, aud all With ldDg of su5tenance
meaus of life from the enemy OF the appropriation of
whatever enemys country affords necessary for the
subsistence and safety of the army and OF such 6ecep
tio1 as does not Involve the breaking OF good faith
either positively pledged regarding agreements entered
into daring tie war; or supposed by the modern law of
War to exist Aun wac teke up arms against one
other in public war do not this account to be
Dora beings responsible to another and to Cod.
The striking contrast to these teaching and prec-
tees presented by cur army when invading Pennsyl
vana illustrates the moral character of people
Though her torbearance have been unmerited and
unapprecia'ed by the enemy, it imposed by their
self respect whcl forbade their degeneratipg from
Christan warriors puDdsrng ruff ins, assailing
the proprty, lives and honor of he 2less non-comba-
tants Ii their conduct when thus contrasted with the
inhumaR practices Of toe fail TO command the re-
sptct and sympathy of civilized naions Gay it
cannotaii to be recogaIz by 1teir Is deceived pos
terity.
TIE hope last year IN ef :aiaei of al early ermina,
tion Of the war has not been reaizsj Gould carnage
have satisfied the appetite OF our enemy for the desruc
ton of human lie, OF grief have appeasod their wanon
desire to ntIct human suffering, there has ben blood
shed enough both sides, aud two lands have been
sufficiently da kcncd by the weeds of morning induce
a disposition tor peace.
Ii unanimty people could dspei delusion it has
baen displayed too unmlsakably not to have slenced
the preface that the Southern States merely dis
turbed by acious rsurrection, and it must long since
have been admitted that they but exercising their
reserved right to modify their government
IL such manner as would best secure their
own happiness But these cons ieratlons have
been powerless to ailay the uuchrstan hate of
those, who long accustomed to draw large prOft' from
unloa with cannot control the rage excited by the
conviction that they have by their folly destroyed
the richest Of their prosperity. They refuse
even to listen to proposals or The only peace possible
between peace which recognizing the impassabe
guilt which divides may leave The TWO peoples separ
aey to recover from the ues iucted On both by the
cauSeleSs ged against Having btgun
the 10 direct violation of their Constlluton winch
forbade the attempt to State they bave been
hardened by ime Until they no longer attmp to veil
tler purpose to destroy the institutions arc subVert the
sovereignty and independence Of these States We
know that the only reliable hope for peace in the Wig
resistance while the Of their hostility
only to be expected from the pressure OF their neces
ties.
The patriotism of The people has proved equal to
~ sacrifice dtmandcd by their country,s need. We
have been united as people never were united under
like circums before. GCd has blessed Us with
success disproporonate to our means, and under His
divine favor abOrs must at last be crowned with
the rewards due to who haYegVeE all they possess
ed to righteous defence of their naenab!e rights,
their homes, and their affairs.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
RICHMOND, Dec. 7, 1868.