Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-10-13
THE MORAL OF The BLOCKADE.

The special correspondent of the "1imes," writing
from Wilmington, North Caroline, under date of June
9th, on he subject of the blockade, says:
I cannot leave the subject of the blockade without
pointing the moral which is being taught by it, and
which is inconceivabe why England does not tase
more pains to understand There is no nation upon
earth which has tenth of the interest which England
has in closely observing the working ofthe only block
ade on large and imperel SCALE which has been es-
abiished since the introduction of steam nagaton. Tt
can scalc:iy be pretended that information in re-
gard to the system OF showing ighH to guide
in coming vessels concerning the inG0ite IN
tricscles of detail which experience has taught the
olock kade-ruuLers of Wilmington, Mobile, &c, con.
cernng tse most favorable conditions of sea, sly, and
tide for running out or coming iD ca1 be obtsineo
Otherwise than upon Southern soil. Yet it i5 not
aeemad by the British Admiralty to be matter OF
importance that they should pe represented at Viii
mlng:on and elsewhere by OF most accomplish
ed nava fiji ers. It is humiIiatiug to be told,
uave been agan and again, that such emissary will
5e sent without the consent of Mr. Adams and thai
ibis Consent he will give. But great it is the
concu of opinion among Engllshmen in America
upon the Importance OF this SUBJECT there is but too
much reason fear that this blockade will be unheded
and its lessons learned by competent English officials
1t is idle for to poin out that not ooy il there
opportunity for naval officer to gain invaluable
,nformation but that, 10 spite of the answer given
three months ago by Lord de- Gray to the effect that
u was Lot important to seud military officers to
the South by reason of the lnferiority of its
resources, it is the opinion of every English
officer who has been to the Southern States that
there is Infinitely to he learnt here during month
tnan in the North during year. It is think, pet
we'll admitted by this time that, as regards construc
lor of guns the architecture OF iron clad monitors
Engau has nothing to learn from the North But in
every other department OF the vast science OF there
10 more be gained regards the present struggle by
studying it from Southlrn than from Northern
point of view AS an instance, 1t may be asked wheth-
er there is upon this continent anything to be compar
ed in interest with an inside view OF Charleston and
Fort sumter. 1t is the opinion of experienced judges
that the earthworks around Richmond the most tor
| midabe thst modern experience has known. Tee no
vel system Of defensive works around Mobile is descrb
ed to me upon excellent testimony as the most iustruc
tive of stuues for military engineer koow not wheth
er there be truth in the assertion which has greeted
me here that two French officers of ability
tary expected in the South but it has awaye appeared
to me ncomprehensibe that the French Emperor shout
have shown an apathy about this which, mistakel
as hold it to be IN Engands Case, adml,s, far
England is concerned, OF easy and piauso explana
| tiOn
AS an illustration of the falacy and certainty will
which the blockade is now def d. will mention in con-
cuson few facts. Between the lst May and the Is
of June no less than twenty vesss made the pOr
of Whining Ton safely, without dsas bealling sing!
vessel No wordtr that piles upoc piles of G0v1rn-
ment goods are stored here, awaiting when there is
rain upon the railroads. transportation 10 Rcbm
and Atlanta. [ am informed by the 4overnmen
agent here that in bis whole experience, lie has neve
Lost single outward. bouud etttr. e. gentleman a
Bermuda the agent Of an eminent English firm, told mi
that during two years bad sent average of thre
mails per mouth from Bermuda and Nassau into Seces
sia and that in the whole time only two mails hae
been lost"