Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-04-07
From the Richmond Enquirer.
The Fall Of New Orleans.

In the present ull of political and military events
it may be nopporune to eadeavor to vindcae the
truth of history in regard to important facts of our
revolution, which have been the subject of gross mis-
representation and of Injurious and dIsparagng refe
tons upon certain OF our people, whose zeal and fde
ty to our have been most uDustIy impugned
and whose manhood and devotion in the hour OF trial
have been most reckccsly and cruelty calumniated-
Such vndication of any portion of our population
should be grateful task OF patriotism and broth
erhood, and acceptable Offering to the pride and
love of country of our people.
In exciting periods like this, when the passions are
aroused to high pitch when the zeal of the people
is kndled to white heat and especially when the bit
terness of defeat ard disaster in good cause posens
the of honest aud magnanimous feeling in the
popular heart and nvokes those unworthy and distract.
ing dstruss suspicious and doubts that 90 often en-
danger and defeat the most vrtuous popular struggles
there danger that the intense and earnest of the
people, unwilling to believe that Providence can per
NIT such misfortunes that nature can ntarpose OBJ
staces to honorable and just Designs may seek some
human victim, the real criminal and agent in such
casualties. These passionate judgments frequently
involve the sacrifice of the most innocent and
pugnant alike to religion and sound philosophy
The one teaches US that the ways of Providence are
mysterious and hidden from mortal sight and the other
incncates stern justice to fellow men, and pa
tient and brave endurance of those chassemens which
| q higher than human wisdom has appointed, as the
proper and essential discipline of all who devote item
selves to great, glorious and mihsty enterprise
These precepts of regioE and philosophy are too
frequently disregarded by those who precpateIy and
uncharitaby crimnate the agents to whom the people
comrt the direction of their affairs, in the terrible
struggle in which we now engaged, holding them
responsible for any and every calamity that may hap
pen to our policy, without that digent nqui
~ and calm reflection, that needfu, in The
smallest transactions Of life, to conduct to just judg
ments an1 wise conclusions. There are too many o
who forget that mstortunes do not always arise iron
human dellnquences; too fe| who disposed to EN-
uate the sublime confidence of the Roman Senate il
the hour of great adversely and in the presence OF
terrible disaster when it declared its gratitude to
Of its mcst unfortunate chiefains, who whilst &C
knowledgng with magnanimous frankness and patriot
c honesty bis great defeat nevertheless did not despair
of the Republic. This charity to our public servant
. is made the more obligatory upon by the pecuia
situation OF affairs, which often G3als the lips
those charged with their conduct and compels then
to submit in senL2 to unjust reproaches AMI ACCUSE
tions, from which they cannot be excupated withou
confessions and disclosures that would mper or dam
age our cause Nor is such charity inconsistent wit
the most rigid accountability Of public servants an
the largest freedom OF opinion, for it only demand
that upon which ell honest opinion should rest, to wit
y utice-and such justice only be rendered ater
1t ull inquiry and lair trial Without this justice,
are in danger OF nictiDg upon cause quite es 81
rious injury may result from over confidence
our chiefs that OF weakening and depressing the
energies and enorts IN their great and serious duties
There middle course between these two evils, whlc
those at least who, by their position their habits
their profession, are-nvested with large an nfuent
70 over public opinion, should steadily pursue Sue
should be eminenty the duty and course of the hist
rian, the statesman and the journalist. An
This duty to our public seryants-so clear, so jus
30 consistent with the high mission in which pee
rs pie are embarked-s less, indeed, is nore obgn
tory upon us, in the formation OF our judgments an
opinions of the conduit OF our felowctizens and
patriots. Heedlessly and precpitately to suspect
question the fidelity and devotion Of those who are il
en- volved with in the same mighty struggle bstrays
lack Of confidence in the manhood of our race, or In
10 goodness Of our cause.