Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-08-11

CHAMBERS BURG, the capital Of Franklin County
Pennsylvania neat and Qatey) hourishing town, OF
5000 inhabitants, situated in the rich ard populous
Cumberland Valley, 45 miles Southwest of Harrisburg
the capital of the Quaker State, has, within the last
few days. risen Into notice, if it has at the time
sunk into ashes.
From the extrcme North to the extreme South it is
the theme of elaborate editorials and the topic of
numbered conversations, differing very much 10 tone and
character with the latitud in which the first pub
shed the latter have taken place Of course the North
papers regard its destruction something barbarous
and improper, while cashng opinions entertained
and expressed at the South to its policy and expe
dencyfew fany, question its right, Us an act of jus.
tiGable retaliation.
AS for the Northern opinions they are worthy of no
respect, though at the time they may not be
deserving of some slight of attention. It is
barefaced mockery for people who calmly looked on and
even applau6ed the burning Of Southern towns and
dwelEngs-the plumber of Southern property-the de-
portatiJa OF Southern men, women and chdren-to
raise such hue aud cry when, Tor the first tme the
poisoned chalice is applied to their own lips. Twice
before had forces crossed the Potomac and the pow
ertu armies OF LEE so acted as to appear like
bringing peace than waC-more like commissioners to
erring brethren than hostile troops in an enemys
country and in each separate instance has this forbear-
ance on our part been responded to by reher and
diabolical outrages the part of the enemy. Such
acts as the burning of Washington, n O. of jackson
vile, Florida of Alexandria, Louisiana, and num-
Der OF other townsville sack of homesteads--the
aimless shelling Of cities, show the return which
the Yankees are prepared to make for Southern gentle
ness and humanity and indicate their notion of the mo
tves which prompted to the exercise of such geneness
and humanity Having .ried one plan-hayipg exhaust
ed patience and out forbearance our military au
hortes have tried another pan corflent that matters
cannot be rendered worse and may possibly be improved
This 60 far as the conduct of the war is concerned
seems to be unq1estonaby true The plans of the
envy evidently embrace attempt to compel the sub
mission OF the South by the distraction G. the means o.
the people to live, and extend to determination az an
alternative Tor subugaton. So far then az LINCOLN
and those who sustain hiu at home or carry ont his
orders in the army concerned we think this ect of
ta iaoo is wise it is warranted. The only ones
ton which arises has reference to its effect upon those
who do not sustain LINCOLN and who do not approve
OF the War which be ia Taging upon the South. Will
reng' hen their bands will it weaken them? This
Is tne real question: and not what effect will produce
upon ABRAHAM LINCOLN aud his followers.
There are two sides to this question as there are to
nearly all questions o. tie one side it NAV be top
tended tbat the burning Of Chamo4rsburg and the de-
Vastatlon OF The Cumberland and Su quehapnah vaies
Will bring bone to the doors of the Yankees war with
all It's horrors, aud by giving them foretase O, tina,
retaliation which they may here ,fter expect will in
crease their desire for peace aud their growing
napce to coOtn uaion of the struggle, while At the
me tine II will enable them to form some faint ID.
of the kind OF war which they and their eoyer,r,et
have been Waging against the people of the South.