Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1865-01-12


W. 2. Beasley, Lieut.. CsoBel,
n. b Gregory. Major.
with NN
J. W. Hnsdale as Colonel
W. p French, Lieut.. Colonel
A. Ellington, Major.
The 9th Battalion is now derominAted he First Batta
d. T. hiIIad as Mir.
Ths Rrissds s ss Pfs'sns osmm:udsd b. Sol $ Ar
N. G. papers please copy.
We confess ourselves amazed at the
course of some of our contemporaries of the
press. Some of those who were lately most
exultant over the prospect in Tennessee,
and dwelt with delight on the balance Of
advantage which must result to our arms
from the respective movements of Hood
and Sherman, are now rabid in their bit
terness. They attack not only Hood for
the performance, but the President for that
plan from which they were lately predict
ing such benefits. If this inconsistency
were all, the people need not regard it it
is no uncommon thing for passionate and
tickle men to be inconsistent. If the un-
reasonableness were all, that, too, would
be of no moment we are accustomed to
hear men deal in invectives, which prove
nothing except their own unchastened i'm
pulses. But some of these men do more
They show recklessness as to the truth
of their allegations-a disregard of facts
known, and an assumption of facts un-
known-that are truly astonishing. With
out the least scruple, too, they confidently
impute motives to the Executive that are
as absurd and impossible as they are de-
famatory and injurious. The object of all
this is to strike down the confidence of the
people and the army in the President, and
to inspire them with hate and detestatiou.
The object gained, and our ruin would be
gained-but they stop not for this. Sure
" some strange madness is abroad in the
land.
What do citizens mean7 We are not
surprised when we hear the Augusta
Chronicle declare that the future must be
judged by the past; and Judging by the
past, the madness and folly of our rulers
leave no room for hope. The logic OF that
is submiroiuu aud that is what the Chron-
icle is manifestly working for. It has an
object, therefore, in misrepresenting our
government. But when we pick up pa
per published in Virginia, and read trade
of a column made up of series of aston
ishing inaccuracies, misconceptions, unau-
thorized assumptions and accusations, all
directed at the President, and all intended
to make him odious charging upon him
as heinous faults and follies, the wise ma
neuvres of Lee; trying him by fantastic
fancies of what would have been strategic
and expedient, and, condemning him with
as much asperity as if the quackery OF the
amateur were the science OF the sage, we
can but pause with anxious concern, and
ask what such writer's are thinking about
The immediate object is declared 1t IS TO
denrive the President of his constitutional
functions, because he is supposed to abuse
them. A wise conceit truly; and prOsecu-
ted as if the people were to be intlmidated
into its adoption. He is to be rendered
impotent for good in order to drag him
down. He is to be overwhelmed with i'm
possible accusations.
The logic of the Chronicle in Georgia,
and the logic of the Chronicle in Virginia,
though inspired by different sentiments,
lead to the same result-the discourage
ment of the people and the preparing OF
them for submission.
We protest, in the name of the people
and States of the Confederacy, against such
unjust assaults upon the distinguished cltl-
zen who has been called to lead our affairs
We protest against the allegations, the
suspicious and the imputations as unWar- u
ranted, ungenerous, and Of evil effect
Nothing would be required to retute them
but an appeal to published facts, or re-
moval of the wells of secrecy. But this IS
unnecessary, or is not now possible. We
declare to the people the President Is gross
~ misrepresented to them; that he de-
serves their affectionate confidence; that
he devotes his eminent abilities to their
service with untiring diligence that If he
makes mistakes sometimes, there IS no man
who would not; that our Interests and our
success require that we should support HIM
in his tolls; that when we differ we should
differ as friends, and should not strength
en- the hands of the enemy and cause the
hearts of our own people to despond by
railing accusations against him, which have
no application, or no foundation but IN as
sumption or fancy.
It is unbecoming Of brave, intelligent
and just people, to turn upon their leaders
in every season Of gloom. 1t is perhaps
not uncommon among persons Of certain
temper or type of mind. The Jews were
frequently ready to stone Moses, "A Gre"
may revile the captain when the storm n
comes. The unlucky eronaut who fall
| to ascend, by whatever accident, Will haV