Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-01-07
Cue stinn.--Tae Next Twelve

Months
The Military Committee Of tie House reports bill
repeating all existing exemptions except such as are ex
tended to the officer. of tie tate ard Confederate Gov
ernments.
The whole question of details aid exemptions is, by
this bill, virtually turned over to the President
We do not know whether this bill greatly affects the
question Some exemptions there must and will be, !!
and some details Also At fret blush it would look as
though the House shrunk from the responsibility in,
vel7ed 10 the settlement of this question and was dis
posed to cast it all upon tie Executive, but upon re-
Fiction do not think that such is the motive at the
bottom of the proposed legislation.
The great difficulty with all laws aud systems has
ever been their abuse or defective execution. All hu'
man laWs and Institutions administered by human
agency must be liable TO souse and are abused to
greater less extent. There evils and abuses likely
to be developed in the operation OF any law, which no
human prescience anticipate o. provide for, and
which practice alone can make manifest, and
practical remedies alone can remedy prevent. By
leaving the regulation of this question of details and
exemptions within the power Of the Executive perhaps
it is though: that the appropriate remedies be
promptly applied to any abuses evasions soon as
they deveope themselves and brought to the atten-
ton of the Department, which probably could not be
the case were the whole matter fixed by positive enact
nent, as it has been heretofore.
1t is plain that good deal might be said for and g.
gainst this BILL as think have shown above, but
since quite much, if not be said for than
gaiust it, We naturally incline to the favour able side-o
believe that the bill has been gotten up D good faith with
view to meet the present emergency of the country and
not to ovede responsibility by casting it upon CO
ordinate branch of the government.
The truth is that the action of all authorities de-
mands frem every spatrot not only fair but liberal
construction 1t would be folly to deny that this year,
while it holds out to the eye of hope the chance of
fav urshe and honorable conclusion of the war, also
cor:l ms The elements of most and trying crisis
to inset which will require that all the available
gies Of the Conlederacy SHALL be pat forth. not reluc
family, not evasiyely standing upon the mere letter.
not sticking and haggng and quibhng, and invoking
the sanety of the law and the spirit Of the constitution
to deiend-not bertbut personal ease heaped up gain
OR cherished speculations We reverence the constu
sn-we oppose inyasions ca the rights OF the people
as much as any ore We have en- instructive regard
70, law and order. But neither Johnny Cope in bis cry
of beef beef nor ShYock in his attempted exaction OF
his pound OF assh up to cur ideals of law and
der nor, we confess, co in the present day who
sS6h W ZIG
pardize the cause by legal bubbles, show to US in
a much better light.
The utmost nerve--the FINEST front, the most un-
daunted courage, will be required during the coming
twelve months fom all who are charged with the man
agement Of affairs in country, whose position
gives them any influence in forming guiding public
sentiment. Moral courage-th9 power to resist the
approaches of dependency, and the faculty of
nicating this power to Others will need greatly to be
called into exercise for have reached that point
revolution which is inevitably reached in all
lutions, when gloom and depression take the place Of
hope and enthusiasm-wle1 despair is fatal aud des-
pondency is even more TO be dreaded than defeat In
such time understand the profound wisdom OF
the Roman Senate in giving thanks to the general who
had suffered the greatest disaster that ever overlook
the Roman arms because be bad not despaired of tie
Republic"
We do not mean that we should shut our eyes 10 tie
dangers that threaten u.s. and thus render them douhy
dangerous by reglecting tie of the proper mean.
to avert tbem neither do we advocate any ssryle ada
lation of our governmental authorities, any unrea-
soning approval Of all their measures. We only contend
that where any admits readily OF favor
able than of unavorable construction Justice ahd
good faith to public servants struggling under innum
cradle difficulties demand that it should receive the for
construction. We contend also that the leaders
a peope-those possessing Influence in moulding O
GU ding public opinion ID hour like this are as great
~ to be blamed for publishing degpairng views and de-
pressing public frmatss as niLtary officers would b
who told their forces IN the presence OF enemy tina
they were already whipped, and they had better rul
away or surrender But such, regret to say ia tn
tone Of too many papers, especially in North Caro!irc
Ouch tone is suicidal, and We confess We think it
next to moral treason, if rot worse.
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