Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-04-28
For the Journal.
Answer 10 20 Cato"

For the Journal.
Answer 10 Cato"
I have read with regret the criticisms Of Cato "
upon MIR. STEPHENS speech. While il may be admit
ted that the unanswerabe arguments of Mr. STEPHENS
might have been prudentialy postponed to time when
their utterance would not have subj eced him to mis-.
construction, such Cato " and multitude of 9TH
ers have fae into, it is nevertheless matter of sur
prise not unmxed with pain that the frank endeavor
10 preserve and the liberties which have cost tie
world reservoir of blood, should be so interpreted by
men of undoubted patriotism and intelligence. Ca
to is doubt devoted Confederate, and satisfied
with the powers that be-" and their untring efforts
to resist the.enemy and achieve independence. The
writer Of this yields to the entertainment of
exalted respect, love and adoration personally
for JEFFERSON DAVIS and the measures which he may
deem necessary and proper to meet the exigences by
which he and his gallant army are surrounded. From
the beginning of this contest Mr. avis was his firs
choice and bis confidence has increased the crcum
stances OF have developed character less SYM
merica and perfect in bis opinion, than that OF ash
ington But the writer, nevertheless, ascrbes to Mr.
Stephens as lofty patriotism and zeal for the cause
and looks upon him whose opinions
at this time are peculiarly entitled to res
pect and deep reflection. Wke1 it is considered
that by BREATH be may be constitutionally clothed
with the very powers be deems dangerous TO cur
liberties, we think it must be conceded be pre- sonts
the world far noble spectacle than q 3ar did
when thrice upon the Lupercal be did refuse the
CROWN unlss there turks in Mr.. Stephens breast the
latent ambition which only time deveope and which
made of CIs>r, Rome's subsequent tyrant. We t1ink
he ought to be adnred rather than condemned for bis
avOwa that the extraordinary deposit of power to any
is dangerous to the liberty struggling SO
maDtuly to preserve
The allusion to Washington as Dictator in the
Revolution is un 'Ortunate fur Cato" when we remem-
such necessity and particularly when it is remem-
beed that he never has been recorded by any historian
having exercised the powers creating him one. It
confidence he was worthy OF, and 50 is Chief
Magistrate but it was equally dangerous then as now,
and should furnish precedent whatever. The spirit
of r. Stephens speech has been shameiuy misunier-
stood and perverted. Ihcre is not word or senti-
ent that is not noble and worthy of being taught by
heart TO every child in the Gati0n. A calm and un-
preldiced examination Of the expressed views of Mr.
Stephens in his speech must lead TO the conclusion that
he is only opposed to The danger that while endeavour
ing tG avoid SyIla should not rGnd the ship of state
upon the rock of Charybdis He denies the existence
OF the danger which authorizes Con ress TO exercise the
extraordinary power Of suspendng the writ CT hQbeaS
corpus. He does not deny the existence of the power
but reutes the minor premises Of the propostion that
there is for believing there is lack of patriotism
in the people and necessity TO abrdge their constitu
ti0nal privileges. 1t is a slan1cE the past and tu
ture history CT cur revolution. In of danger to
the RGpubic, the writ may be suspended, but the
stence of that danger is souty Denied out of his
diminished confidence in the intelligence of the people
whose suages he is indebted for the high position
be holds before the world The uterance those views
this time may be sezad upon species OF sid and
comfort to those aaaected persons, whose mutterngs
are heard in the broken intervals 0! depression or
exutaon at the result of our success or defeat but
they count without their host, when they include Mir
STEPHENS as dissatisfied with the government, s ad-
mnislration, or its legitimate measures of defence
against the enemy. He is tor preserving the
principles Of torefathers which initiated the
test aud alone lend ustre and glory to the final
overthrow of the tyranny with which threaten
ed. lie s for securing agrateul postery the root,
branches and leaves of the Of liberty for wheh
their and oretathers struggled and without which,
it than useless to have shed the oceans of
blood to resist the yoke OF the Northern tyrant
REFLEX.