Wilmington journal., 1867-01-24

And think it kindness to his majesty
4 stubborn race fearing and flattellng none.
The Yankee NatiOn-HALLEcK.
g In clinaes where fields of tropic viSor rear
Rich crops that task the Southern farmer
Cotton Of snowy fleece, luxuriant cane,
And rice with dropping heads of golden grain,
Where safe from fortune, sable laAOrers share
The feast, rejoicing, that their hands prepare !;
Starn in resolve, and ardent like his skies,
10 tread the shining path where glory hes,
Frank courteous, brave. tenacious Of his claims
Prompt TO abandon gain for nobler aims,
The dauntless yCOman laughs at war alarms,
And bids defiance 10 the world in arms"
The Ojd SOJ:tl--GRAYsO2.
Safe from harrassing doubts and annual fears,
He breads no famine in unfrUitful years;
If harvcsts fail from lnaUspIciOus skies,
The masters providence his food supplies.
No paupers perish here from want of bread
Far other fortune (tree from care and strife
For work or bread) attends the negros life
Aud as through life pauper want he knows,
Laments no poor-hOuse penance at It's close"
The Negro an Lang Syne-GRAYsoN.
The first blow of the war, as it is vel
known, was struck in the harbor of Char
lesion. This venerable city which had
been the earliest to laise the flag of resis-
tance, was destined to STRIFE boldly and We
hemently IN it's defence, as in a mysterious
providence she was destined to suffer be-
yond all others in the fearful struggle which
had Deen inaugurated.
As soon as South Carolina seeded from
the Union, she sent some of her prominent
citizens to Washington to arrange for the
cession of the Notifications in the harbor,
and to agree upon some terms, If 1t were
practicable, to prevent the etfuslon OF
blood. Their efforts proving a failure, other
commissioners were sent by the COnfedcr-
oC1
but with no better success. The pressure
II III the North was too great to allow Mr.
Lincoln to consent to the abandonment OF
these strOngholds, although there is abun-
dant evidence that he inclined to do at
one time, and sanctioned the publication
of a paper which committed him to that
course. At the critical moment a secret
cOnyocatiOn of Northern Governors at
Washington in one night changed the
programme. Mr.. Seward in the language
OF the day 9 'cOquetted with the commits
sioners. in order to gain time and gave
assurances which it was alleged were not
complied with.
The Confederate authorities though will
ling to stipulate, pending negotiations, not
TO disturb In any manner the existing Oc-
cupadon of the forts. very clearly could not
consent, having in view their own safety
streng thened, or their capacity to maintain
tbem> elves III any way increased. The eX-
pectttion was that by close blockade they
would he compelled before long to surren-
der On the first attempt OF the United
States to communicate with Fort Sumter,
therefore, the steamer was fired upon and
driven back, and when not long after it
was understood that fleet had secretly set
sail from Northern port with the same
destination, and with objects not clearly
understood, The public mind of the South
was aroused to the highest pitch.
Fort Sumter was strong and almost I'M
assailable work, and at distances ranging
from one to three miles was surrounded by
other Notifications and works, which were
either of ancient date, or had been con-
structed since the secession of the State
These latter were manned and defended
by several thousand State troops under the
command of the distinguished Beauregard.
That skillful engineer and commander, who
had SO admirably planned the defenses, was
telegraphed as soon asnews Of the fleet had
reached the Confederate Capitol, to open
communication with the garrison under
Major Anderson, and demand its immedi-
ate surrender, and if this should be refused
to proceed at once 10 reduce 1t.
Acting upon these hrders, a memorable
day and night were consumed, but al three
o'clock ntue morning, negotiations having
failed, the fire from an immense line OF
batteries opened upon the devoted fortress,
and Il rain of shot and shell was poured up
on it for twenty-four hours. This the gar
risOn answered with like herOism, until the
whole interior OF the fort was involved in
flames, and the magazines were III imme-
diate danger OF explosion. Then amid the
Of col. al Io 1i,on Of
and behind frOwning parapets, (which were
answered by thousands and ten thousands
in the neighboring city, who from the
wharyes, house tops, and from every posi-
be position had witnessed the exciting
scene,) a white flag was seen to go mp. and
the roar of battle was followed by the calm
of death.
So perfect were the means of aggression
and defence, that nOta soul was harmed in
the protracted and fearful struggle, but as
the news of it flashed over the wires, the
excitement of the country surpassed every
thing that had been witnessed in history.
Well must we all recall those ever memoir
able days, and the awful emotions which
We're aroused. Was it possible, after all,
that the issue would be war ? Was it pos
sible, there was not wisdom enough among
the great men Of the country to settle such
tt question: "ltiIOuG lilC SIlttitlluS DI
oceans of blood Was this, indeed, the
beginning of fierce, sanguinary strife be-
tween brothers, fathers, sons and friends,
and what would be the result, and where
wOGld it all end ? Was the old flag gone
forever, and was it settled beyond appeal
that we must maintain a separate govern
ment, and do it only by the sword Sad
were the thoughts which could not be re-
pressed, and thoughtful people could not
unite III the general jubilation.
At the North the effect was magical. 1t
seemed as if the whole people. from Maine
to the Chesapeake, and to the Falls of st.
Anthony, were made delirious with excite
ment and passion. All the large cities were
covered over with flags, and the neglect to
hang them ,ut, melted at once the violence
of the mob. A reign Of terror had COM
menced, and woe to the individual who ex-
pressed Southern sympathy or BETRAYED
Southern connections. The cry of ''war. %
"war, was alone heard, and it seemed as
If millions were ready to rush forward and
sweep the South out of existence. 1t was a
time indeed that tried mems souls, but the
people of the South never for an instant
faltered
Not until this moment did her people