Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-17
MISUNDERSTANDING H. lo'''
zeh Vance and Blockade Running.

AZ t;overnor of North Carolina during
the p,nchlng period of the war; zen vance
.xb,hited foresight and sagacity not IN
yariably shown by the statesmen oil '""'
day. Indeed one of the rocks upon "H'V"
our Confederate ship Of state went !"
,.ocoe WAS the inability Of most OF our
leaders 20 realize that the struggle ~oui"
be a long and desperate one
IL, the time that the second year OF 'he
var WAS unon US the Confederacy was we"
nigh strlpped Of such supplies OF ildhu-
focturcs aa We had been depending uPo''
tho North for. The consequence was ''d'
most Of the soldiers in the Conieder-
ate army In time got TO be very ragged
Many regiments wore clothes as tattere1
as may be found upon the average tramp
of to-day. Here and there. indeed 'here
were commands which were fairly We'll
dressed but the reverse OF this was the
r,Ie After awhile. however. the whole OF
the immense body of North Caroii'la
troops became an exception 10 the rue
and appeared comfortably clothed whlle
their fellow soldiers generally were IN
tattcrs
The reason of this change was that
Governor Vance, acting under authority
granted him by the State LEGISLATURE
houeht a steamer ana proceeded To run
the blockade of the port of Wilmington,
carving out cotton ana bringing In mill
tary clothes shoes, medicines, food. etc,
etc. on account Of the State Of North
Carolina.
Not only was this enterprise OF North
Carolina sufficient to provide for the com
fort of all of her troops. but was extend
cd so as to be of great service to other
States of the Confederacy, and to The
Confederacy itself.
1t is scarcely possible 10 make the
people Of the present day comprehend the
value of this service, because they cam
not imagine to what dire straits the
people of the Confederacy were reduced.
The example of North Carolina finally
stimulated other States 70 import such
goods as they needed, and so gradually
there was much improvement In the
quantity and quality OF uniforms issued
10 our army.
Had the policy which was inaugurated
BY Governor Vance been vigorously IN
augurated by the Confederacy at the be-
ginning of the war our soldiers in the
field would have been saved much dis
comfort but for q long time the expor-
tation of cotton was secretly, II not
onenlv. discountenanced. 1t was gener-
ally thought that there would be a cot
ton famine" in the manufacturing towns
of England and that thus that govern
ment would be forced to recognize" the
Confederacy-a mistaken idea' which W.
learned after long and costly waiting.
When the Confederacy did so vigo'
rously into the blockade-running business
II had no available port for the busi
ness east of the Missippi save VII
mington, n. G. OF course Wilmington
was blockaded too, but nevertheless many
of our blockade runners passed in ant
ont taking their chances on dark night
and whenever else 1t was thought posi-
bile to elude the vigilance OF the enemy
feet But without discrediting the effort
of the Confederate Government, or II
agents, or others, we think we may safe
lv saw that Governor Vance showed tn
possibilities of blockade-running witt
special reference to clothing the troop
in the field.
The excellent service done North Caro-
lima as war-Governor, fixed Zeb Nanc
firmly in the affections OF his people
and his oratorical power extended hi
reputation. He was one Of the creates
popular orators land one of the creates
Wits that the South has produced. III
was irresistible on the stump, and W
have heard him In North Carolina and /
the two Virginias. He was also sue
cessful lecturer-his subjects and the
treatment showing fine scholarship an
excellent adaptation to the audiences fc
whom they were designed. His rank
the Senate was high, and his servic
there valuable. Beyond all he was true
hearted, kindly In his nature, and keenl
alive to the interests OF the masses.
Virginia joins in North Cardinals grit
ct his death and considers ii a gres
privilege that one of her sons-a ministt
who was the warm personal friend Of Ii
and Jackson, and who was also much b,
loved by President Davis-should ha,
been called upon to take prominent pal
In the funeral ceremonies held yesterda
in the United States Senate Chamber.