The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-04-12

-. =
e .a, WHEELING, TUES]
ana il shows the absurdity Of the state
ment recently made by Gen. Neal Dow, to
the effect that "the resources Of the rebels
are exhausted--thst the rebel government
has no money, and Is destitute OF credit"
WHAT THE REBs DO FOR MONEY, IN THE AB-
sENcE OF A CIRCULATING MEDIUM OF ANY
~ 3 III %sshia1e' d yxLUE. go -
. This is isappazaling Question TO Us here at
the North, afl The taoffs SO when we read OF
people in the South paying $75 for bar
rel of -four, and $35 for pair Of boots, and
other prices in proportion But the diff ;.
Guilty is moro imaginary than reaf.ci 1t is
true that the rebel paper currency is depre-
ciated to that extent that it is nearly WORTH
less. But it is also true that the rebel cur
rency is not mach used a. q circulating me-
dunn when it can be avoided. The farmer
or rplanter who wishesIto buy dry goodsior
groceries has something which the dealer
in those articles values far more than rebel
currency. He has cotton, raw sugar, rice,
wheat, corn, potatoes, cattle. hogs. horses,
sheeps cheese, butter and milk sfA Hi
Dry goods and groceries command enor'
NOUS prices; but so also does every one ofthe
commodities that have named In order
to promote mutual convenience, therefore,
well regulated system of barter or ex,
change has been established ell over the
South; and the rebel government although
they are annoyed at seeing their paper
money summed whenever practicable, have.
had good sense enuough h not only to per
nit the practice, but even to encourage it;
and tney are now reaping the good effects
of that policy. 80 y.
Thus it is that the southern people supply
their necessities; the dealers in blockade
goods are encouraged to purchase largely of
foreign goods; the planters and farmers are
encouraged to bring in their cotton, to culti-.
vate grain, to raise horses and cattle, and to
make butter and cheese; and thus it is
that the credit of the South is established
in Europe.
OF THE BLOCKADE RUNNING BUS.
mess.
Owing to certain facts which will men,.
tion presently. the running of the blockade
10 order to bring European goods to the
South, will not be matter of such vital
importance in a year or two; as it is now
But now it is a matter Of paramount impor
tance, and indeed of vital necessity. And
although Wilmington is not the only port
where the blockade is evaded, still it is the
principal entrepot of all the foreign goods
that are used at the South Measures, to
which I win allude subsequently,, are on
foot for The introduction Of French goods
and fabrics by way of Mexico. But under
existing circumstances, if anything should
happen to break up the blockade trade at
Wilmington, blow would have been struck
which would injure the rebels more than
the loss Of great battle ---
roR THE SECURITY OF WILMINGTON
The attention of the rebel government,
therefore, 10 constantly directed to the Sc.
curity of w ilmington, and the protection
Of the line of railroad running from that
city to Richmond The small number of
troops actually composing the rebel army
and the necessity Of employing 80 many of
them at points where engagements with the
federal forces might be expected, have pre-
vented very large force from being sta-
toned between Wilmington and Richmond,
while the neglect and apathy which the
Federal Government has always manifested
towards the blockade running trade at Will
mington has seemed to make the necessity
OF the retention of very large force there
unn ecessary. '
But the confederate military authorities
did not forget that the Union generals
might possibly attempt to do what plain
military common sense dictated that they
ought to do-namely, to capture Whining
ton, or at least to destroy the railroad be-
tween that city and Richmond And to
this, day the confederate authorities are
amazed that this has not been attempted,
instead of the Quixotic expeditions which
have uselessly fritted away so many thons'
ands of our troops. Wilmington has been
fortified therefore, imperlectly it is true,
bnt still to degree that will allow of its
being defended until such time as sufi
cient force Of rebel troops can be concen
Irated to beat off the attacking force
There are seldom more than 10000 rebel
troops along tho railroad between this pOiRt
and Richmond but there is standing
arrangement with General Lee, in pursuance
of which any required number of troops,
from those nearest Richmond, are to be de
tached from the army under that officer,
and hurried down to any point on that
railroad where they may be needed. But
as long as General Butler is in command Of
that department the confederates consider
that fact as guarantee that no serious at.
tempt against the railroad will be made
Raids from small bodies of cavalry they
expect, and against these they have made
what they consider ample provision.