Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-03-10

consideration the condition OF the co"n'!' ~ '"' "
tendance is earnestly solicited
- - COY THE ConFEDERAC7 AND THE
s-1,TE THE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR.
Tuz campaign will open with the Spring, indeed
te preliminary movements have already been made and
tbe "tue of war will begin. The aspects OF the
field are favourable for the Confederate arms Never
we're our troops better prepared to meet the foe Never
was their spirit sapguine, their health oeer or
their resolution stronger 1t wond do some OF our oee
Oond2g farmers who distrus Confederate money anu
feel whipped in every important part OF their physical
and mental organizations immensely OF good 10 taik
toour men fresh from the armies OF LEE, OF JOHNSTON
or OF LoEGsTFEET The moral atmosphere WHICH These
,ut man bring home with them is perfectly refresh
ing.
have another sort Of campaign. We have 30 much
time on our hands-we have many energies running
10 waste-the enemy gives and the Confedoracy so
ttIe occupation that for want of something to do
10 think OIL we about to engage in the amusing d.
vertisement of political campaign, which, from the
elements which will inevitably enter into it, hardly
fail TO be heated and embittered.
The winter set in IN gloom, in the field and at home
Bragg defeat at Missionary Ridge depressed our own
people and encouraged the enemy. The weakened
tfeaoed the croakers and enemies OF the Confederate
cause exuted and hardly took the usual precautions to
conceal their exultaton. In many sections these
true men openly proclaimed to the people that the Con-
federacy was played OUT and the sooner they made
terms with Lincoln, the better. Gloom and despoE-
dency dissatisfaction or lukeWarmness abroad,
peryadpg the whole moral atmosphere desertors the
result of reasonable teachings alarmingy COM
non and even the fnest and most loyal felt that the
prospect was gloomy and discouraging.
The Spring exhibits great and favorable change
The ranks of armies have been ard are still being
rapidly filed mp. The spirit health,
ard determination of the soldiers magnificent. In
y all their encounters with the enemy this spring they
have demonstrated their superiority The enemy dread
Che encounter with the veterans of Lee JOHNSTON or
BEAUREGARD. At home, too, in North Carolina, at
least we have reason to believe that wholesome reac
ton has taken place. and that the people stand frmer
and are animated by better and more hopeful spirit
than for months past. We think they gradually
.etug themselves from the decisions spread before
them by those whose business has been to bring the
Confederate cause into odium end contempt, and as
these deusons pass away the influence of the deuders
passes away with them. But much OF evil yet remains
be comoattd aud tie internal foes of our peace yet
require be met earnestly as the external foes of
rent. bat the Objects to be accomplished the same
lie Confederate is at stake in both casts
though the danger is not perhaps equally apparent in
Size one case ii in the other.
As in the of the var which the United States
"a wagn against the Oonfederacy the latter party has
only .he option of defending ITSELF so in the political
contsst sb-ul 10 open in North Carolina the true
friends aud supporters Of the Conteder ate cause how.
ever much they may desire peace and harmony, how
much they may deprecate contests and divisions
have no choice left them in the case They mist de-
fend nemselVts and their cause. An agitation agaius.
bati, has already been commenced CT indeed we might
say, has been going all the SINE bat has become
active tie period TOR holding the State elections
approaches.
Opposed as have bseu stree the war com.
menced &c engaging in any merely part struggles we
participated very reluctantly in tb which arose over
The election for Governor D 1862 We held back long,
hoping that the thin0 might be avoided altogether
hut cir hops were destined to disappointment
O0''nF' VANCE brought out and advocated |
w the Standard on the most pEoscriptive party |
platform was pressed forward as a party candidate
by that paper and ts congeners whilst bitter warfare
carried on by ali Col Vance's friends against ali
those when they sneered at the seceshs or stig
tbey included four-fas of the good citi2sus Of the
town of Wilmington, aud goodly number of worthy
people elsewhere
Now, whether Col. Vance went all these lengths or
not, Of not able to say, further than this
mat he never TO knowledge, did anything to show
that he did not do But that is past and let it be
past We alue to it only for the purpose of saying
that it, as Govornor Vance's friends Or some of them,
contend injustice has been done that gentleman by
holding him responsible for the course of the &andard
then it is TO be regretted that Governor Vance had
laot pursued such course would have left no !
ground for doubt upon that point. The matter as
It stands now embaIrassas his position least it
rmbarrases and others who try to understand and
L stimate that position.
Now for own part we have no idea OF compro-
nlisjpg any principle abandoning any position by
Unr support of any party parties in the coming State
elections We think it right that every paper that in
any way aspires TO give expression to public opinion
should 20 this far at least. Thus, for instance al.
though as between Gov. VANCE and Mr.. HOLDEN we
should unhestatrgly support Governor VANCE, yet by
Bioing ne would not be by any committed to
size approval Of ell that Governor VANCE has said or
tioLe. We have no idea of any third candidate being
brought cut Upon the whole we would prefer that no
shird candidate should be brought out Had it rested
with u.s. the Governor would have been elected to a
see"nd term without opposition. We did not like the
il, unstances under which he had been brought
sut; but he was elected by large MAORI.
y and was entitled to fair trial As we did
sot like the circumstances under which he had been
afought out, neither could approve of every cir