Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-10-20
From the Richmond Wing.
The Value of Free Governments.

Ire New Ork HerCtG, repiylUS 10 an artice ID tue
Tribune wherein it charged that the numbers OF
the Yankee army on paper deceptive, says that
the report G. the War Department, made IN December,
1861 gives The result of the several calls made tor
men, during that year. GAO 637 volunteers for three
years, and 20 1874 for the regular army From shat
time the present. the total number called for has been
400 0O0 all for three years, except the 100000 nine
months men, called for in August, 1862 and the cali for
years men, made in July last. Exclusive OF all
calls for less than nine MONTHS the number called out
for army and navy up to this time, is 3, SO 962!-|
The number of those who could by any possibility,
have been counted twice in this aggregate up to the
first of last August, AZ O34 under the first call for
three years men. and 800 600 nire months called
out in August, 1862. Throwing these entirely out
of the question, there still remain 28ll 935 who
could not possibly have been counted twice, and who
actually have served. 1t makes the brain reel to lock
such list of human beingf, all i'll the service OF
single despOt banded together Tor the purpose OF des
roying the liberties Of brave and Intelligent people.
The fighting men of the army and navy OF Aerzes num-
bered but 1900 0O0 according to Herodotus, who's
estimate is considered excessive. Julius Cea was
said TO have fought forty pitched battles, taken eighty
towns by Storm defeated thee millions of Man, made
million of prisoners, and slain many fairly the
field But be was engaged eleven years IN making this
horrible carnage, and his e.emies were baTbarlans
brave but undeciplined 1t was reserved for the Con-
ederate States have within the space of three years
and half, more men launched against them than Aer
xes brought to the conquest OF Greece, than Caesar
slaughtered in the forests and marshes OF Gaul Germa
y,
Assuredy, is without parallel in the history
| of the whole world
The overthrow of the Union has afforded matter for
an immense triumph to the absolutiss Of Europe and
of despondency some friends of free Institutions In
this country. They think it proves that not
pablo of governing himself 1t does prove, indeed that
the Yankees incapable OF self-government, for
it they that destroyed the Unon by converting it
into an engine OF oppression But 1t proves no soch
thing with regard to the Confederate, for it was
through their exertions that it kept together
long as it was, and when they left it, they did not
render their liberty The Yankees the contrary have
given up THEIRS thing not worth the trouble OF
keeping. TLey resigned it for the same that
Esau gave up his hrthrght that is, they parted with
it fjr consideration in exchange for the prospective
p,ucder and confscation Of Southern estates. peO-
PIE very apt uHless too weak to support their claims
10 have just ss much liberty they entitled to- and
that is what the Yankees have under the Lincoln ty-
nasty They ao no proof OF tie truth of tie propoai
ton above enuncated, because they dd not appreciate
free stitutiors and lost them. But the ContederateS
know how to estimate them at their tui value aud they
have not lost them. That they do not place undue
value upon them, we think ls sufficiently proved by the
statement which we have condensed in the above par
agraph from the New York Herad. 1t is fair to judge
of cOrstitu by the character of tue people raised
under them. Now, did any people that TIE Wolt ever
saw, make such resistance SO hat Ia Piled b. tie
figures given above? Ii theory &c true ougl,
free institutions 10 have the credit # this 1tiG
resistance Gould any people of Europe have dona ii
We are iLcned to the be iet that OIL er could.
Talk Ct the Dutch and Philip the II WY, tEeir
struggle was mere holiday parade in compaiison.-
Talk of the Allies ard old Frederickthe invasion Of
Prussia was procession of monks alongside Of
this invasion. Talk OF Napoleon aud the Spanlards-
the Peninsula war compared to this, mere sue
cession of harmless pasmes Never before, the his
tory of Chrisendom were three millions Of men precip
itatet upon One country
No. no Let no son of Confederate States undcr-
value the institutions of his fathers This has been the
greatest battle fought BY people for toe preserva
tion of their FREEDOM aud it could have been fought b
q no people that had not always been free.