Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-11-20
For the Journal,



Behold it dropping upon its staff DER
yon soldiers grave. Like Noah's dove it
folds its weary wings above the dead, for
among the Icing it finds no rest.
Truth and Justice, with their golden
pens, had traced the opening pages of the
history OF our young Confederacy Ali,
but ere one blot appeared upon its pure
leaves, the fragile clasp was sealed and
the precious volume waited upward on The
sable wings of defeat
Retrace your steps with me into the dim
and beyond the dark past where the sun
is ill1mined by the sun of Prosperity, AID
all nature is basking in the light Of Con-
tentmeut. Words are totally inadequate
to describe the glorious scene that will
there meet your gaze. Stately Magnolia
trees wave DER the noble Southern man
s'ons, and the perfume of their pure white
waxen leaves rises as Natures incense up
to the footstool of Grace. A carpet of soft
velvet-green moss is spread out at your
feet. The FLASHING OF crystal fountains,
and the signing of the evenings zephyr
steal gently on the ear like the wandering
sounds of a distant lutte. Lofty mountains
tower above these all as if to shield them
from harm. It seems, too, this lovely land
had had the choice of beauty and good
ness. The infant on its mothers knee is
a picture Of innocence and purity, the
bIushing maiden an example of the highest
type Of beauty. The old man, tottering
on the brink of the grave, is meek and re-
signed, for his has been Christians life,
and his will be a Christians death.
Yet this sunny land was doomed to be
the victim of just Gods correction
When our hopes with respect to it were
| about to be realized, darkness came upon
it, and trouble, such as it had never be-
fore witnessed. Her rights were threat
ened, and Tyranny was endeayoring to OBJ
| tain the ascendancy, when her noble
sons rose to arms, and soon that land,
that had lately been the dwelling place
of Peace, became the stage upon which
WAS beheld one Of the most terrific
panoramas that the world has ever
seen. Panorama it seenled-a fearful
vision, Il troubled dream, that waking has
failed to dissipate. Alb, would it were
panorama Who cannot recall, with pain
ful vividness the circumstances attending
| the opening of this struggle When, seven
years ago, that glorious war cry sounded
DER hill and dale, it was with pride that
the Southern boys donned the Grey, and
pushed forward to join the heroic band
which rose in defence Of its country. It
was then that the glorious flag was raised.
Twas then that it crowned itself with lau-
rels.
As months rolled on the Angel CT Death
descended, and as he rose again he bore
upon his wings thousands of noble souls,
that to-day are singing hymns Of praise
around the Throne CT God. The golden
cord in every land Was severed. and as one
10y one Of. the bright links were crushed,
fearful sights and sounds met the ear and
eye on every side, and assembled on every
breeze. Homesteads were desolated-
hearthstones forsaken-peaceful dells con-
verted into burial grounds,-children rem
dered orphaDs-mothers sonIess-wives
WidoWs-and as their wailipgs resounded
through the land angels turned away, sick
ened at the sound.
After four Years Of fearful ravages the
cry Of victory was heard in the North,
while in the Sc ,-th wailings Of defeat rang
like funeral knells. The Confederacy now
became the sepulchre Of all our hopes.
Our noble Banner fell, and as it fell its
bright bars Of red and white became folds
of crepe-its noble staff a stem of cypress,
and every star a Brilliant jewel in the crown
of the God Of Battles. Like stately oak,
it had withstood the tempest, but as the
flash Of lightning came it shiYered it into
q Thousand fragments, each one of which
entered the heart of every true Southerner
Like weary child it wrestled its head
upon the lap of its mother earth. and as its
peoples mourning came upon its ear, like
sad lullaby, it sank into a last, deep slum-
Der. There let it rest
"Touch it not-unfold il never,
Let it droop there, furled forever,
For ats peoples hopes-are dead
Important to Dealers in Tobacco. Snuff
and Cigars
Among the supplemental regulations con-
corning taxes on tobacco, snuff, and ci-
gars, issued by the Commissioner of Inter-
nal Revenue few days since, we find the
following:
'The monthly returns OF tobacco and
cigar manufacturers for the month of No
vember must set forth the whole quantity
sold during the month, the number of CT
gars stamped by the inspector under the
old law, and also the quantity upon which
tAx-paid stamps were affixed, and the tax
will be assessed only upon the quantity
sold without tax-paid stamps. When
stamps have been supplied, the returns of
tobacco and cigar manufacturers will no
longer be put upon the assessment list or
be receipted for by collectors on Form
233.
. Under the act of July 20, 1868, no pro-
vision is made for the re-working or re-
handling of spoiled tobacco after the same
has been stamped.
inspectors will not be required to in
spect tobacco, snuff or cigars, when the
4ax oka off b. h.