'jPHfi W1LMING ION JOURNAL.
CUSk EDERATE STATES OK AMERICA.
WILMINGTON, IS. C, THUBSDAY, FEB. 2, 1865.
PEACE HUMORS
Have been abroad lor some- days, and have been ea
gerly seized upon by the people.
That we ell desire peace is too evident to be con
cealedtoo natdrjJ and proper to be denied. We do
desire it earnestly. Is it ai hand ? Upon what are
the present minors founded ?
First then, upon the nature of things. It is reason
able to suppose that the people of the -United States,
as well cs thosa of the Confederacy, are tired of this
terribly devastating and exhausting contest. The mor
al feeling of the whole -world is efeocked by its contin
uance, an ipog3ibIy the patience of the world is be
coming exhausted by the ffering entailed upon whole
populations by some of its incidents. All these furnish
general reasons for supposing that some effort would
be made to come to an accommodation. Bat these are
simply reasons why each a thirg might be. What evi
dences are there that such efforts have beso made, or
are in tram of being made ?
In all protracted wars, and specially in all wars cf
the character of thir. now waging on the American con
tinent, rumors, earmise3, efforts, frequently unfounded,
frequently fotile, always precede actual negotiations.
Tfrse rumcrf, shapeless in form and iryBtcricui in ori
gin, very efter foreshadow coming events with an ac
curacy nimoat prophetic. Such rumors are now abroad.
Bat em ji rumors have been abroad before, and have
resulted in nothing. So may these. The present ru
mors, eo far as we can eje, derive their significance from
the fact that Francis P. Blair, Senior, the right-band
man of Lincoln and Seward, paid a visit to Richmond
some time since, under fiag of truce, ostensibly to look
after some papers alleged to have been taken from hia
house near Washington daring the lust advance of our
forces in that direction. This was hh ostensible object,
but it is certain that his real object was to sound the
Confederate authorities. At any rate he did have tn
interview with President DaviB, private, ba. perfectly
unofficial, as Blair was clothed with no powers or offi
cial character, but was understood to know the views
and possess the cocfidence of the Washington govern,
ment. No doabt Mr. Uiair obtained Mr. Davis' views
and most likely carried with him to Washington a
written minute of these views, made by Mr. Davis
bimaelf. At Washington he has long interviews
with the heads of government, especially Mr. Lincoln.
It is to ba presumed that he sets the facta before them,
and makes them acquainted with the views of the Con
federate government. JLaat week Mr. Blair made a
second visit to Richmond, rumor attributing to that
visit various motives and objects, but all of a pablie
character, the most reasonable statement beiDg that he
brought with him a programme or proposition from
"Lincoln for the appointment of commissioners on be.
half of the Confederate StateB to negotiate a settlement
of the difficulties existing between the partic?, and of
fering any such commissioners . appointed by the Con
federate States a safe condact to Washington and back(
All this seems to receive confirmatiou from tho telegraph,
ic statement that Mr. Hunte:-, of Virginia, Mr. Ste.
phens, of Georgia, and Mr. Campbell, of Alabama,
had been appointed commissioners, and started to
day for Washington.
Thua far we are on safe ground, and can pretty p.ain
ly sue cur way. A pekt hss been reached to wMch
previously no approach had been made. A communi
cation has been opened between the belligerent parties,
with tne avowed object of trjing to negotiate a peace;
ut uctil we know whethtr any basis has bea agreed
rponj we oaanct say whether even the first real step
has been taken towards the accomplishment of the ua
tomsible object. It is contended, with some forc, that
MrBlair, at hia first interview with President Davis
waff put ia possession ti his views, and with the posi
tion of the Confederacy, and that there would have
I sen no u.v? in his coming araln with any programme
that did not concede a basis mere or lees in accordance
with these viewj. It is also contended thatjeatlemea
cf the character and position of Messrs. Hunter, Ste
phens and Campbell would cot consent to go on to
Washington as commissioners ualass upon the assur-
' ance that they would be mat on some ground upon
which they could open negotiations, without derogation
to the honor and independence of their government.
K or, indeed, can it be supposed that the Confederate
government would send tham upon any such mission
without each assurance first given. All this, however,
ie predicated upon the assumption that these gentle
men have an official character, not only conferred by
their own government", but recognised by the Lincoln
government. In regard to all this, we are left iu the
dark. We confess we have very serious doubts. We
fear Lincoln will take the ground that Buchanan did.
Ham ay offer to receive them, not as Commissioners,
bat as eminent citizens of Virginia, Ueoigia and Ala
bama. All this will soon be known, for that position
on his part, and we mueh apprehend it, will . put a stop
. to the whole matter. We do not see that their position
as Commissioners is recognized by the appointment ot
similar Commissioners to greet them on the part of the
L:oco1p government. This may have been doae, how
ever. Hae Lincoln suddenly concluded to lower his tone,
and if se, why T
It would be sheer folly to attempt to coccsal frois
ourselves or others that the advantages of (he military
situation are decidedly with hia. That recently the
balance rt success has been largely in his favour. Ap
parently he has the boll at his own foot, and that he hfie
it absolutely is no doubt the firm conviction of a Isrge
proportion of bis ovro people. If the propositions he
is willing to make the basis upon which he is willing
to Legotiate, shou'd be at all admissible by the South
ern people, we must attribute it to causes operating
frem the outside. We have not been able to extort
these concessions from his arm?, and we know him too
well to expct them from his love or his generosity
XI things should come around ec as to meet our wishe?,
we may rest assured that the wiley Seward is trimming
bis sails to meet an approaching storm ; that he has
bad an intimation of a coarse of action to be adopted at
an early day by the Western European powers, and
that he wishes to anticipate them perhaps to outbid
them, perhaps to secure the Confederacy for an ally in
stead of an enemy in some great struggle fast approach
lag. We make these suggestions merely as sarmises. We
ean account for any lowering of tone on the part ol
Lincoln in no other way. Unless there be some for
eign pressure some cause in operation unknown to us
to urge Lincoln to make advances, then these advances
are a snare and a trap, intended to create false hopes
and thus weaken cur people by exciting divisions
amongst them. Thess things cannot ba too well guard
ed against. All our hearts bound at the thought of
peac3, but they all shrink back from the suspicion of
dishonor. Should our Commissioners, on arriving at
Washington, consent to enter upon negotiations, then
wt may rest assured that all ia well, for they will not
take a dishonorable cr dishonoring step. We tru?t
that the basis is already settled. If that is so, the rest
will follow. If that is n ot so, then nothing is done, and
we are jast as much at sea as ever, The Richmond
papers appear to be as much in the dark about tae.ie
things u their readers, that is to say, they were so c n
Wednesday the latest dates ws have. The Charle-.ton
Courier ittaxkcs icme importance to them. So do we,
but not much. The Richmond brokers, (and the pocket
nerve ii the most sensitive of oll) certainly, hare as
increased reepeet for Confederate funds and securities.
We can only "trust in Ve Lord and keep ifcir pow
der dry." We cannot help hoping and wisbiig, bat
we mast base no calculations upon these rumors nor in
any way relax our efforts. We repeat, they may be
only a snare.
Tnffcs can be little doubt but that the developments
of military power and military endurance upon this
continent have astoniihed not only the people of Europe
but the people of Amerka themselves. The United
States Navy has also swelled into formidable propor
tions, whilst its armament is of the most fearfully tff mo
tive character. -A terrible naval and military power
has arisen.
Sat while this is so, and while it has taught Euro
pean powers caution in interferinc in American quarrels
it ia evident that the very efforts required to evoke this
power have bad the effect of depriving its possessors cf
the chance of using it immediately to advantage.
Crippled finances, declining trade, fighting population
exhausted or unwilling, all the burdens of a four years'
war hang over the Lincoln government, and would par
aijza tnei" nnaa in any ngni witn a rresn and unex
hausted power like England or France, and still more
so itb both combined. It is thns that with all their
assumed bravado, and real power the Yankee govern
ment may well ahriuk from risking a collision with any
of .he mcritime European powers which would sweep
last vestige cf their commerce from the ocean, which
wuli embarrass their recruiting by cuttirgoff the for
egn emigration which has supplied so much food for
powder, and which would finally render public bank
ruptcy an inevitable occurrence.
Ft these rc&Bons, most probably, the intimation
of foreign intervention might, at this time, be all-pow
erful with the Lincoln government. Even the fear o
a foreign collision might induce the Lihcoln government
to attempt to patch up some sort of accommodation
with the South. Without some such imrellincr motive
for action, Lincoln will make no advances upoa which
the least value can be placed.
Sach threatening manifestations frem abroad are not
wanting. The U.S. tJeaate has flatly refused to re
cognize Maxiraillian as Emperor of Mexico, and thus
thrown the gauntlet down to France, or at least to
Louis Napoleon, who is France. The reciprocity
treaty with Canada has been abrogated and notice has
been given to Great Britain of the intended abrogation
of that provision of the boundary treaty which limits
the number of armed vessels and guns' maintained by
either power upon the lakes, and the Spring will see
these great inland oceans swarming with war vessels of
both powers. The plot thickens. It has not .thicken
ed to please us, so that we need experience uo sense of
responsibility. But if the jealousies or quarrels of others
tend to hasten our deliverence from the horror? of
war, why, bo much the better for us. France did not
acknowledge the United States out of any abstract
love for the straggling Colonies, but on the contrary,
outcf feelings of hostility to England, and from a de
sire to accomplish the dismemberment of the British
Empire. So it may turn oat in this case. God send
it. Talk as we will, the revolution commenced in '76
was pretty hard pressed when Freneh assistance came,
and men desponded much mors than they do now.
Washington and hia compeers hailed foreign help. Ia
jt any di3graee for us to wish for it ?
Ti'-MOKROYV.
Sanday ie fcBt becoming a marked day in the ainals
of this town, as well as of the country at large. Oa
Suaday, December 25th, 1S64 Christmas Day, the
guns of the enemy, booming from over fifty vessels, dis
turbed the solemnity of a solemn Christian festival, and
mingled in ead discord with the sounds of prayer
and praise which ascended Jromi the Churches in oar
midst.
On Sanday, January 15th, 1865, the united naval
and military force of the expedition against Wilming
ton engaged in fierce hand to band conflict with the gal
lant defenders cf Fort Fisher from half-past three until
10, P. M., losing one thousand of their own men, and
disabling or killing eeveral hundreds of ours, celebra
ting the resorreetion of their Savior by a carnival of
death, only exceeded in extent, and hardly equalled in
violence by the, greatest straggles of this or asy ether
war.
For a time the cload hangs silent in the sky, and the
lightnings slumber, but we can cot tell how soon the
storm may again burst upon us. Sunday has been a
favorite day. It will behoove us to-morrow to watch
as well as to pray. Daily Journal 2SfA.
If the telegram from Richmond is correct, we hardly
think that Blair's mission to that city is likely to ac
complish much. If be 3imply eaura to find cat on what
terms the Confederate States wcaJd agree to re-con-struct,
he might as well have etaid at home. But thee
street rumor may not be correctly represent the object
of Mr. Blair's second visit, as, it appears to us, he must
have learned enough upon hia first to have convinced
him that that alone would, not tend to effect anything
towards peace.
It is something that per tit i have found and are wil
ling to aploy a medium.. All are wearied and wil
ling to s'cp. If bo the meat unpromising beginnings
aaay produce substantial results.
Daily Journ al, 28th.
as Ealeigh Con 'derate of the 26th coses out in
rr turning forth deata of Mr. A.M. Gorman, one ol
.it editors, which took place oa Tuesday night, the 24th
iusUnt.
Mr. German aa 51 years of age, a practical printer,
a good writer.-aid a worthy citisen. He was a cative
of Ruleb, where he served hia time under Joseph
Gales, of the Register. Before beiDg connected with
the Confederate fce had published the Spirit of th$ Age
for many years.
Shbkhan seems resolved to obtain soma sort of po
pularity in Savannah. He has put down whiskey to
three cents a drink and bread to five cents a loaf.
ine murder is out. reopie drinking that kind of
whiskey could not be expected to do otherwise than
" take the oath ," or any number of oaths. The bread
is a better idea.
Hobson's Choicb. The New Tork liibune says
that " should Wilmington hold out against the forces
now in its vicinity, it will become aa easy prey of
Sherman, while if it surrenders before he approaches it,
there is no longer a temptation for him to turn aside in
his march to Raleigh." It seems that we are between
the devil and the deep sea.
Fire. Just as we went to press, at one o'clock this
afternoon, a fire broke out in a lot of cotton, on the
wharf opposite the Custom Honse. There are not many
hundred bales, but the flames are still raging as we
write. A strong west wind f revails.
Later. The flamea have been subdued. The cotton
will mostly be consumed. The Eaginea are at work.
. Daily Journal, 2Sth.
4? . r. .in
There has been no armistice declared at orcear
Richmond or at any point along the opposing lines, that
wa know of. There certainly was not at Richmond as
late as Wednesday last. On the contrary the heavy
booming of guns came up from the lines, especially in
the vicinity of Dutch Gap, where poor Butler dug his
ditch. The telegraph ehowa that there was heavy
uuus awes ice un.es ai retersDwg yegterdsy.
TI1HC llSf A'B OK DKKn3-l(7i.
The above is the t omj frem wbiih our people
are now inte apt to bu'Jer, and the iffjcia of which are
moot to be dredtd. If we can only maintain the farm,
undaunted 1 1 oat with iricb we have so long coafrented
the enemy, lucre can be few fuars tor the Goal result.
Te combat this depreion in the duty of every pairi-
ot. To deny its exis'tcci or ignore the causes which
have given rise to it would be fully, and worse than
folly.
We have met with disaatets We may' neet with
more, ret we sua liv. vvc win sua live, survive
flourish, if we only hold on. Tbicgs have cot alwaja
been well mataged, but in what etafe -or country, or
during what p:riod or age of the world were things al
ways well managed ? If we are to say that the cause
is lost because'we have met with disas'ers, or because
there has been occasional mismanagement, then we
ought never to have taken up the oause at all, einoe oc
easional disaster is incident to all wars, and frequent
mismanagement ia iaperable from, all human affairs,
whether in war or peace.
Depend npon it, the enemy dos not think sa meaniy
of our condition as some'ef oar own croakers do ; and
that he doea not, begins already te be appaient, and
will icon be much more apparent. We dislike most
the kind of croaking and despondency that comes from
thoee who are theieto stimulated - by fears for tkeir
property, eepeci lly property accumulated while the
life-blood of the cation has beet, pouring out like water
while the poor have been niade destitute, and moder
ate livers made worse than poor.
With the soldier in the field the casa is different.
He has indeed had a long and a bard seige of it. Ue
has borne labors and privations, and still bears them
more cheerfully than the home croakers bear the pros
pect of parting wi a some of their queerly got wealth.
But there is a limit to himan endurance, and the war
worn veteran sighs for the' comforts of home and the
enjoyments of peace. Bath, we honestly believe, are
near at hand, and they will be tha sweater and dearer
when eD joyed ftt honor and independence. Yet a little
longer and the goal will be won. We know that those
who have nobly givn their all to the country will not
now sacrifice the reward of all their labors by stopping
iafcort of" the object they set out to attain. That would
batobefilde to themselves to their past lives to
their future years to their ancestry, and to their pos-,
terity.
They will not be thus fake. They will persevere to
the end. And if there be a resource in the country it
ought to bo fre?ly used for the support of ihe army.
If there be a serve it ought to be fully strained in ef
forts to provide for the comfort and efficiency of our
oldiers. Now, lefa than rver before, or perhaps ever
again, ought there to be any holding back of anything.
What we give we give to ourselves. If the tnemy
takes it, he takes it forever, and uses is for our destruc
tion. Men of thought men of speech mea of writing
snen of action all men who have their countrj's inter
est at stake owe it to that country to combat this die
&B3 of djpression which is laying hold on the country,
and sappisg the vitals of its power both at home and
in the army.
PROVISIONS. T3K CUKRENCV.
-TIIK Bj.OCK-
AUK. P2 ACE
IIUMOR5, AC.
Tasday morning we strolled down to the market, not
liie a roaring lion, but still seeking what was to be de
voured. We found a fine supply of fat poultry at $4
J per pound fjr cMekens and 84 50 for turkeys. At
I. j. l I i i.t i di t rrv
one cart 90 was aaxea ur iur&eys, uui mote at ?- oj
:gtruok us as being quite as good.
Beef and pork were in proportion, and in everything
toe change from the occasion of oar last visit the
Week of the fall of Fisher, wa3 refreshing to a man with
bowels to feel for himself or other hungry individuals.
Then poultty was. 88 a $lv) and other things in prd
Ijiorticn, being more than double what they are now,
and still they are fa'ling. This fall is mainly due to
the rapid appreciation of our money. It is said that
sales have been made at Richmond at 21 for 1 ; here,
veek before last men paid as high as 100 for 1. Some
folks have got bit, we think. We do not know that
our feelings are much hurt. At any rate, that is iheir
business not ours
Some attribute thy rapid fall in gold to the closing
af the blockade running demand for it. There is no
longer an outlet, and so there is no longer a market.
Perhaps this may account for some part of the fall, but
only for some. There must ba other causes at work.
Eightly'or wrongly a certain amount of weight is at
tached to the peace movements so much talked of. In
'this we find the main solution ot the fall in the price of
gold, a fall which is progressive and is not yet arrested.
We have already given our views iu regard to these ru
mours, acd we have since found nothing either to con
tradict; or to corroborate these views. We must await
dovelopements. Farther speculations can only tend to
confuse.
We do not know what to make of the mysterious
givings out about the approaching Fourth ofJJiirch
which is uuppesed to mark an important crisis in the
rotations of Lincoindcm with foreign powers. That
pe riod is set by some as the appointed day for the re
ca gnition ol the Confederacy, on the ground that Lin
coln will then have filled out the term for which he was
cc-astitntioaally elected President of the United States,
arud that on the fourth of March he Will enter upon a
tewm to which he has been elected by the votes of only
atiertain number of States, the rest not voting nor be
int? allowed to vote. Therefore eay they, Lincoln will
ba recognized simply as President of those States
which participated in his election, and the Richmond
government will be recognized as the representative of
an. independent Confederacy.
Well the fourth of March is only thirty-two or thirty-three
days off, and when it comes we shall see what
it brings. We really think all the above theorizing is
alfiogether too fine spun. We simply mention it as a
matter of curiosity. '
If the "Richmond Sentinel ia correct, and we suppose
it ii, the Bo-cailed commissioners have really no official
ch aracter, and unless something elsa has passed, then
th e public are aware of the whole affair amounts to
nothing. No btsis is agreed upon and no real progress
mude.
The fact that some attempt has been made, may in
dicate something, but so far the attempt itself is so in-
tangible, so informal, so wholly nugatory, that really if
anything comes out of it, it will be in contravention of
ono1! of the primary a noma of philosophy which declares
that out of nothing, nothing can be made. The com
misaioners, if they do get through, will not even have
the pleasure of trying some of that whiskey that Abra
ham brought with him from Spiingfield, for ws doubt
if any of them properly appreciates old rye.
1 ; '
Teeterday passed in perfect quiet. No sound of
war to disturb the Sabbath Btillness which seemed to
float upon the frosty air. To-day the weather is pleas
ant, but still frosty, though less severely so than for the
past week. We think there has been more frosty
weather this season than for many seasons back.
Daily JoxAnal, 30lk.
There are and have been all manner of rumsrs in re
gard to Cabinet changes, but in reality but one has yet
been jffected that of Mr. Breckinridge aa Secretary of
War in place of Mr. Seddon, resigned. AH the reports
in regard to other members of the Cabinet are vague
and intangible.
Daily ourns, 3 CM,
Mxssrs. Stxphkks, Huntbu asd CAureELL lave
at last g" ff for Washington. Although they go ia-.
formally, tilt we cannot doubt that they go by the. in
vitation o Lincoln. They cvideatly carry with them
the best wishes of both armiee.for the success of thei
Mission. Ia these wishes both peoples join. If there
be any truth in the statements ot the Richmond In
quirer, copied in today's Journal, and such positive
statemeuis from the Inquirer are entitled to much con
sideration, then some marvellous change has come over
the spirit of Lincoln's dream, for we have no doubt of
Blair's being an unofficial envoy of Lmcola's, fully ad
vised of his views, and sot exceeding his wishes. If
Blair was willing to go so tar as represented, the mat
ter simply rests with' ourselves depends upoa our own
firmness; and if firm, we can obtain, or perhaps com
mand cur own ttrsss. There are inflaences working in
our favour the precise character of which .wo can only
proximately estissate, but the power of which we
may, if we choose, already sufficiently appreciate.
We are not sanguine that this visit of Messrs. Ste
phens, Hunter aud Campetl to Washington will at once
result in a eettleaient. It may, but we rather think it
will not. Bat it is plain to us. that the thing is bound
to eventuate in a peace and that at no distant day. If
we are now weak-kneed or listen to the counsels of these
who are, we may patch up a peace by the sacrifice of
all for which the Confederacy has been fighting dur
ing the last four y tars. Wo may patch up a peace by
which we will acknowledge that the best blood of the
South has been shed in vain. We may patch up a
peace that will deliver the South over oaco snore to the
fraternal embraces of those who hive desolated her
hearthrtonee, destroyed her property, debauohed her
slaves, iceulted bor women aaJ children, and murdered
her old men. Oa the contrary, by a little more firm-
ness, a little score saoriflce, a little more suffering, a
little score true patriotism, wo will certainly become
the arbiters of our own destiny, free to carve out for
oureelvec suon a fetuie as Uod and our own exertions
may give al. One way or another, sooner or later, this
must be the deetiuy of the Confederacy. Without it
without independence, we have no iature no destiny,
and it is useless to talk of "getting the best peses you
can," ko. Without independence there can be and
there ought 10 be no peace. With independence once
conceded, we weald be as unw Uiag as any to protract
the war by higgling over minor matters.
It is trae, we here are threatened with devastation
with present lots of property with many ills. Others
have Buffered the same and have stood firm. We trust
that North Carolinians will not stand less firm than
Virginians. The Tallev of the Sbecandoah has been
ravaged by the Yankees worse than the Palatinatoras
by the French, and yet the people of the Valley are as
true now as at the first. If this attempted negotiation
for peace serves to encourage our people" by showing
them that they begin to approach daylight, and have
only to persevere a littie loager, then it may be a bless
ing. If, on the contrary, its failure should plunge them
into despondency or turn their minds toward peace at
any cost, then it will turn out to be an unmixed curse.
Will not our brave solditrs who have so often and so
long withstood the shock of tne enemy's hosts endure
now a little longer, and crown their glorious career
with an equally glorious termination ? Will they, who
have so nobly endured, now falter when the goal of their
great race is in bight, when the reward cf their great
exertions is within 'heir grasp? Will they abandon
the cause for which so many of their brave comrades in
arms have laid down their lives ? We cannot and we
will not believe it. Their own fame their tried cour
age, their true patriotism forbids it. Oh, let no man
stab bis own reputation or jeopardize his country's
honor by straggling or desertion.
Daily Journalist inst.
It would appear that the peace movements have mat
with a hitch at the very outset, the commisaioners hav
ing not yet foft, Petersburg, and whether they will go
at all or not -.jmainiBg a matter of considerable doubt.
This delay ma be accounted for in some s -tisfactory
manner, but as the thing stands it does not look as
though the way had been very effectually smoothed by
the aged Marylander, or mueh progress made in ccming
to an understanding in regard to the sabstantiais of ne
gotiation, since the very preliminaries the mere safe
conduct of commissioners, is delayed and demurred to.
We repeat, so far as we can see, these delays augur any
thing but success to the movements now hoped for, al
though apparently not even inaugurated.
It would be very desirable for our people not to
bother themselves over-much with thinking over the
" peace ramors." rlhee rumors will be just as apt to
result in something tangible if wo leave tb!ngs of that
kind to take care of themselves, and bend &1! our ener
gies towards preparations for the coming spring cam
paign. Indeed tbey will be far more apt to result in
tangible good if the hands of our negotiators are held
up by the arms of our soldiers. Let us be alm, cool
and reasonable, and we will ran so much the better
chance of being . successful. If any body thinks that
there is enough in these late rumors of negotiation, etc.,
to justify the relaxation of a single effort, then we tell
him candidly that be is altogether aad woefully mista
ken. But why fret and weary and worry. Things will
come in their course, and our taking heed will not alter
them any more than' it will add te our stature or to the
color of our hair or the length of our nose. Let us try
to do oar duty, firmly, thoughtfully, truly, but not de
spondingly. Despondency never did any good and it
never will. There is an end to all things, and there
will be an end to this war ia God's good time, and is
bis own way. Care,- eare, care, eare all the time will
break the most buoyant spirit and render peace and
prosperity themselves no boon to those who have lost
the power of enjoying them, and too many of us are ap
proaching this state of aind.- Daily Journal. 31.
Twabdlb. The leading editorial in the Saleigh
Conservative of the 30th ult. The Conseivatift has
simply laid itself very much open, and the less it now
says the better. It only commits itself farther by its
floundering. Its assault on us we care nothing for.
So let that pass. Its references to eneral Whiting
shocked the moral g?nse of its eotemporaries. We con
fees ourselves unable to characterize it without using
language to which we seldom or never resort. 8o,we let
that pass. The Conservative will do better the next
time. At any rate it ought to know better. It will
learn perhaps. Ws wish it well. Good-bye.
Tub first decision of Salmon P. Chase, now Chief
Jastiee of the United States, was that Western Tir
ginia is legally a State. The decision Oras given on
the question of placing the name of that State on the
list when calling tbe docket. Such is the character of
one branch of tbe government which we are asked to
reconstruct and to which too marjy week-kneed per
sons counsel out obedience yes, obedience, rabnission
such are the woros.
Ws learn that a couple of Yankee deserters who
came into our lines this week, said that they ran away
to avoid th8 battle shortly to come off. They said the
sixth army corps (Yankee) was expected, and when it
came an advance would be made by the enemy. We
give this for what it is worth. Not much probably.
Daily Journal 31f.
How pften do we see in the papers the announcement
that General Lee is sanguine, or General Lee favours
this, or he favours that, or be favours the other tiding,
but the General himwU e&ys nothing at all
The Richmond Enquire', of the 26th ult., give.rLe
ollc wing version of the propositions informally made
by F. P.BIair during hie recent visit to Richmond,
which visit was terminated on the 25th this day a
week ago :
MIMISTSR BLAIR AND HI 3 MISSION.
Mr. Blair left Richmond yeuterday raornioe upon the
ateamar Allison, with Commissioner oald, for the " trace
tryet" at Boolwara'a Lin ding:. It ia understood mat Mr.
Blait'a mfeaion to Bihmondlwaa emphatically one of peace.
After lay lDg; betoro onr authorities, informally ot course,
tae wishes of the , Federal government, the intrepreta
tioa of whioh is peace on a subjagation basis, and finding
that tbeio modest desires were not likely to be complied
with, he came down poiatedly to the proposition of reun
ion npon any terms, and-desiied to know upon what terms
the Seuth would agree to return to the sheltering ttgU ef
the old tag. He aaggeated the " Union as it was," tbe
"nigger as he ia," and the Booth as it used to be. He Bug
g estei also that the Korth would foot the bill, & pay for all
aegToas stolen acd property destroyed by the armies acd
emissa ies of the Federal usurpation. Of course he made
all of these suggestions oa his own responsibility : but
whether deemed authoritative or not, he received not the
slightest eaeoaragement to hope for reunion, and was made
to understand that the South was fighting for independence,
acd independence only, tie then inquired whether, if tbe
indeoeiieence of th ttoath were recornizsd bv tns fede
ral Government, the Bomth would make oommon oanae with
Ue North d drive the French from Kexico f Tbe re
sponse aiders toed to have been given to this diplomatic
feeler, was, " aCake the proposition foraaally and officially,
and) oa will got a reply." This is the substance 01 Mr
sta r's Boliticii converss'icns wun persons in ana out or
authority while ia Richmond, so far as we have been able
ta learn. Inere may bw aonielhiDg yet suo rosa, Due wa
doubt it, though, probably, there may have ben some al
lusion to " driving the English out of Cauada," in eoeceo
tioa with the last preposition.
'J he Enquirer ia another place reiterates 1:8 asser
tion that such were virtually and substantially the pro
pasitions made by Mr. Blair, and treats such preposi
tions gravely as coming from Lincoln. It says :
The cejond mission of the Hon. F. P. Blair, Br., to Rich
mond is end-d by tbe return of that gestleman to n ach
ing ton yesterday morning. That nothing baa been accom
plished towards an immediate peace we fee: jasunta in as
sariDg our readers. The enemy are willing to permit us
to dieiate our own teraii, provided, only, we will not dis
solve the Union. Any guarantes tor slavery, any constitu
tional provision tor i protection aid extension ; full
compensation (in greenbacks) for all -the negroes- thai
have beea earned cfi during tho war ; anything, every
thing that we caa ask cr in ink will bo freely granted, if
only wo will consent to re unite with them. These may
Bat have beeaexetiy Mr. Blair's terms, bat they embrace
the t-ub$tunce ot his msslon, and do uot in the leai exag
gerate the extrvm ty to which the enemy are willing to
eoneede as if we will only retu n to the Union.
Bat these terms oanaot purchase our liberty. We are
nol fighting for slavery, neither its protection nor exten
sioa; we are willing to give np slavery f r our liberty;
we intend to be independent and tree' ur to be extermina
ted. The enemy will understand the -eainettneea ot our
people iu dne umo ; as yet thsy do not lolly know m, bat
they are learning fast.
We are seeking a place among the nations of the earth,
believing it to be a right secured to us by our fuieUtLcr).
Slavery nas notlicg whatever to do with this war, we wil.
sweep the iaBtituiioa from Latere a the moment it stands
in the way of the accoa'pliahmsnt of oai liberty. Tue ene
my xaighr ad well abandon the tCoit to bribe ua: with pro
tection fer slavery, out ot our liberty. We admit tbat there
are a few recreant wretches in tntse States who woali
sell their liberty for theu ncgioe, but our word for it,
hey are fjw and at erly contemptible. Koiolu'icns nuy
be introduced into the VirgU.l'', Legielata a lookioc to re
coasti action, but they will ee rejected with an unanimity
which will forever damn the wretched traitor that has tans
sought to bring shame and disgrace upon the fair nanio oi
the Btate. When they make their appearance it will be
time enough to si eak ot their antnora aod abettors iu their
treasonable w;rk. They will be tound to be mou of lo
eartoly iLEHnoe, men who have cbtuiatd their places iu
the Legislature because the 'army had taken into its ranks all
ihe men lit lor such peaces. Thosa who would now en
tertaiu the proposition of recocntruciiju and reunion with
the murdereB of our sons and brothers, the violators cf
our women, the wratchea. who have bamcd our houses aud
desolated onr fields, are either already purchased "up or
have fixed their own price upon their treason and are sat
isfied they will ebtiiu it. It womd bo most moitifjiag to
see any such resolutions introduced, aaa we do tarycaily
hope that good senau may prevent their bt-iug offered.
This scond musicn ol wlr. Blair is the beat evidence
that we caa desire that our people have only to be iraa to
themselves, aud ihey will evoniually eeoure teir iiewaora.
Whoa 3r. Lincoln is, willing to givu up hii luve for freeing
tbe negroes, wnen fit and his people are willing to give
constitutional guarantees lor the protection ot s.avery,
aad even to repeal all the laws prohibiting its nnxodmctioc
Into the free States ; to pay for all the stolen negroes
ilwre can be no better evidence that the enomy are egm-
r,irnr to Hderatand that tne tub" is too "bis. Btaid
firm now. Wehaiegoue through the iiery ordeal. We
have only to be aa iauhlul to tur cuuae us wero the bonti
unri hmtheia we naw mourn, and wo bhali soon njoice in
the esjoyment of our liberty and independeLce;
There is compromise that yet may oen tt-e way to peace,
it has been suggested that tne United b'.atcfc wnl aekuowl
edge oac independence, provid-.d a treaty ol commerce,
and a league cflsnsive aad defensive lor tno application ol
the Monroe doctrine to aU the btates ol iSorth America,
can be agieud upon. When that proposition ia i ade it
will be time enough to discuss. Iu tha meantime, ou;
readers may as will revolve tnesubjsct in thoir niiudd lor
it ia aot Improbable that it may betiuine a living, tanginlu
propostion bsfoie mauy month a.
Ths Fayetteville 'Observer says ' It is understood
that the Legislature in eeoret session appointed Sena
tors Hall acd Posl, and Commoners Petsea and Car
te , to proceed to Richmond to aecrtaiD, probably
from tie Presideat and our Congressman, the cocdi
tion of things. They ICfc Kaleifh od Wednesday last.
We suppose they will soon be heard from.
When the timid or the unfaithful leave us let no mac
on that account despaad. We are baiter without
them. Their going dcej not prove that the ship is
sinkicg, although it may show tbat iLey arc rate. Let
as be skocked if we will, bt let us not be depresied.
Are not our best, our bravest and our truest still with
us end still firm ? Who souads a doubtful note, whose
voice is worthy of baiog heard ?
Sh5SJl.tioxal. Tne reports of "heavy skirmishing,"
infantry fighting, etc., between our forces and thoie of
the enemy below are 'purely sensational. As yet the
enemy has shown no serions disposition to advance.
Pbomoted. We take pleesare in stating, for tbs in
formation of his nuoaerou3 friends, that Capt. C. W.
Mc Clammy, Jr., of New Hanover county, has been
promoted to the Majority of the 3d N. C. Cavalry, for
conspicuous gallantry durirjg tha campaign juat closed.
We are requested to state that Col. Burr, (previous
ly to Mr. Wallace's communication ia Saturday's pa
per,) had appointed two responsible gentlemen from his
command, to visit the country to bay provisions for
tbe sufferers of Wilmington.
Daily Journal, 30'h.
Some things we ean account for and somethings we
cannot aoeount for. Among the latter we must ean
didly place the great and apparently sincere outcry in
favor -of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. For the life of us
we do not know what Gen. Johnston has done. -
See on other side, list of officers captured at Fort
Fisher, etc., etc
Thixqs 15 Richmokd. The editor of the Mobile Reg
later, just; returned irom jtuenmona, writes as touows 1
" Three weeks in Richmond showed us tbat General
Lee is the master of that city's defences. With his
present force, Grant is powerless beyond the Confede
rate entrenchments. His army is not so great as tbe
public believe, and has not received the fresh hundred
thousand men ne aemanaea to complete tne job. it ie
believed in Richmond that bherman a late march
through Georgia has the Confederats Capital for its
ultimate destination, aud that he will try to effect what
Grant has so often attempted in vain, to wit : Occu
py the railway, connecting Richmond with the South
by Danville, Charlot'e acd Columbia the object beir
to cut Lee off fiom his granary, and force the evacua
tion of the capital. It is needless just now to speculate
upon the result of such a movement. We leave the
case in the hands of the great and good Gen. Lee, who
has never yet failed to defeat tha most poweral combi
nations of the enemy to wrest Richmond from his
grasp. He is not destitute of means and advantages in
meeting such a moremenl."
Trxu It waits for no man it travels onward with
an even, uninterrupted, inexorable step, without accom
modating itself to tbe delay of mortals. The restless
hours pursue their cocree ; momenta preES after mo
menta : dav treads upon dav : vear rolla after wop
Does man loiter procrastinate ? Ia he listfess or indo
lent ? Behold the days, aDd months and years,-uamind-fol
of his delay, are never sluggish, but march forward
in silent and solemn procession. Oar labors and tnifa
our ideas and feelings may be suspended by skep
darkness and silence and death may reign around us
but time is beyond the Dower f an? hrw J.
tides Omnipotence. The clock mav cease to strike th
sua to shine ; but the busy hoors pass on. The months
&d years must move on ever, forward.
For tbe Jcurni
TIMKO DANAOSKT DOXA VflUtKHYfuS.
Janvait Jlit, 1854,
Messrs. Edxlers:
There never has been, there never will be, aad Here
nevar eight to be but one issue between m and tar ene
a that isiae is suuccatioh or nuiriTwct
Any term of settlement short of tbe latter, neMsri!y )u
luf" tba.MoI.ee, it la criminal
tolose sighUoroae instant of tbe one, onlyL inexorable
demand of the Confederate States. Reuaion, reooa.trnc
t o., the old Stat. ot thiBJft 4i.f ffiean; a
ghsh, disbjnor, abj4C dependence, emasculation, rn io
aed the man who advocates tkeat L. a coward, and sa
enemy te every frteaaa i u. Beutb. Ibis is not tbe will
ravia of an aareo.int maa, th9 eflMlon a aa
B, XT'? ,!' lbValB BttMce ofcn o
apbeld ne Ua;e out I it wa. dUaclotaMt wbo bM Qflr.
ed ia this war as a soldlar, aad who ptlfr, lh honor
his native country, thoagh it iavolve th. tin vt bimi)U
acd his family, to her degradation and elaT.r,. j repeat
it (aad let every basest maa ia the Bout ,i'14 to tbe
same hoBest eonvioticn) we have only to chouse batwee
independence aod subjugation. Covsr ap and i.garor
terns as we please, It we de.not gala the former, the bit
ter fruits of tbe lattor are ours inevitably, and beyeuj
ary possil ly eootisgecoy te tbe coatiary. Why uj &0
evtrybtdy .as this 'i Why, ia this season of hone, Lu
our h.arts yearn for a favorable term icatioa to the .ego.
tiatiocu wbiah are laid to be pending- between enr Govern
ment "Bd th. United titates, will mau talk of alliances "
"constitutional guarantees," Ac, Ae., as if w. cos'.d g.,n -even
the liberty we had in the ol Ohio by any atMcl
ation er alliance witii those people .which ia not bassd uu-
on our adepenaenoe.
Our people are depressed some are already loblsc..
ted bat the army wai.h haa shed a deathless nil over
the came ot our C'eafederaey is hopeful and defiant as ever
It the negotiations now pending fail cf their object, th
weak-kaeed will sink in despair the subjugated, wi.l howl
more piteeasly than ever but the strong and tins willrisa
higher than ever in their proud determination to strlki
harder, and endare i the ead. I am not .me of those who
ars sanguine la their hopes of tbe rei.lt of the psadisg
negotiations. I most fervently pray they my inaugurate
a blessed peace. But 1 am prepared for a different reu)t.
Caa all your readers say the same? Arj tbey piepared te
say, " Uod send us peace, but if it be not His will at pres
ent, may He sireagihea our arms aad fortify oar resol.tioa
to fight it eat to the bitter end ?" if we cannot say this,
do wo ders to be fiee ? Well has a venerable cones
penpal cf aiina recently said nothing can whip as but
our ouin puaiLanimxty." Are we to show tha'tqaality alter
ei. rifyibg the wurlafor four year, past with our derated
aerciioi ? The army never will aid can tho men who stay
at home, ont of danger, exhibit the degradisg pusillanimity
of abande.ing the army and the saored ca.se io whieU
tbey are fledged, in order to embrace the i.taroy of o au
dience and base submission to the va gar tyraany of Abil
ham Lincoln ? May Sod forbid sach au evsnl !
II Alersrs. btephens, Campbell asd Hunter tail to eflect a
negotiation with nr. Lincoln, and return to thsir ccnayy
ana iriends, brisgirg tbe same message of conditional
pi Jou from a (teapot which has heretofore bet n Ou&t.mpt
uous y oBer.d us, wa t answer will the soul of a fmemau
nska l W in not tha cry ot Tatrick Henry rise to his lips,
uive me liberty, or gte me death ?" af ay this cry, la
such au event, ring uuauimously ibroughoui oar land, and
ciy every man wno can carry a maskt t move u ia battle
Held witu u on his Ups. v.
January totn, ltfufi, j
Messrs. Editors ;
tfitting in my shanty after a substantial breaktait, enjoy,
ing that everlasting luxury, the pipe, by the cheerful tiro,
that troublesome thought again passes into my cranium i
Why cau't we bave a reporter to putt ai ia the paper "
Maddened by these thenghts, about how vastly we lose,,
because nobody wi.l puff ui, aud goia on the popular
idsa nowadays, "if no one will blow tby horn, blow it thy
self, and witu all tby might," your humble servant seizes
hii very green horn arid bloweth as folrBws :
It being reported in some parts that tbe Sampson Artil
lery (well known in Nassau and amongst blockaders and
biockada ruuners generally) bad lot their celebrated
Wuitworths on the retreat irom Fori Caswell, it is inoet
that the foiks at home should know, as well as the Yankee
ll jct, tbat such is sot the case.
Last evening one cf the enemy's vessels s arted from the
anchorage od Price's Creek in order to reconnoitre up In
this vkiity. Coming in view of this Fort from around th
pcint at a distance ot Smiles, ehe threw several shells, evi
dently at tho Fort, but which toll short of us. Now th.
&id Wuitvorths are stationed at the Fort, aud being
aroused by the saacy attitude of the Yankee, cne detach
ment manned thair gun by order of Col. Hedriek, aEd ave
her a shot which struck her; wheo she steamed ctl, not to
wards the Fort, bat away with all i peed. Another smaller
ship which had followed the larger one, now turned with
out having opened at all, and made for a safer berth; again
tho Whiiworib fired, this time falling a few :oet ehon
third shot struck her amidahipB, right into tbe whcelhoune.
tthe seemed to forget to return the compiimcnt in her
hate to be off, and alter a couple more shots irom W'hlt
wurth, 6he hoisted sail and literally Ceir o'er tLe waters
and out of night around the point. T. u uood not nay, Mr.
Edi.or, that ulie came up stern foremost, or your readers
might Buppese that, she intended to run or! anyway, and
our battery nrgbt lose some ot the ercdit ot having driven
her eff'i no, my intention is to blow a very loud bom.
Too much cannot be said in praise of the splendid murks
mannhip oi Sergt. Jones who acted as gunner, or ot the
proiupiuodd and dLcipline of the detachment. Neither
uuu tyj much be said of our gallant Captain who has or
giuized a first rate battery uudtsr oircumstancos which
would have defeated a less energetic and determined soul.
In coniuskB, let me atk to be charitably Lerd, as I on
ly wish to let your readers know tint about Fort Ander
son we ure yet a.ivs and kicking.
acaiu.
For tbe Journal.
Caur 2Sm Gsosoia Recixsnt, Jan. 27th, 1865.
Messk3. KoiToas : If etieing a communication in your
paper a fow taya since, suggesting a mode lor suppress,
ing straggliag aud plundering la the arm.", I take the liber
ty ot sag seating another and 1 think a more eSSoacious
oae 1 yen think it worthy of a plaee in your moat valua
ble paptr. It is to jncrease th e ralxone. The the Shorter
ration, th gtsAr tho treggUag, and conssnently the
mere plundering. If the soldiers felt tbat the government
was doing the vey best it could, yon would not hear a
word; bt the enlisted men feel tbat it is intended for them
but they do not receive it. Are not the tithe, of pork
given ia at the rate, of 2500 lbs. for 1500 lbs. bacon ? If
it is received 25 fcx 16, why is it tbat it is not issued to th.
troops ia the Basse proportion allowing them about 4 lb.
of pork instead of J ib ? One-third ot a pound of li.ak
meat is not esoogh ior subsistence.
Another question : What becomes ef the one-tenth al
lowed for wastage ? The Division and Brigade Commissa
ries are allowed this wastage, when there are cniy nine
divisions to be made four ta tbe Division and Mve to the
Brigade bat when issued te the Regiments where it U to
be dividid inte at least t,000 parts, no allowance is made
for wantage. This reduces it to a very simple prtpjkl
tioa : If one-tenth is wastod in nine divisions, what will
be wf.sted in 8,608? Admitting that each soldier geta hi.
ooo-thlrd of a pound, and there ia a surplus, ought not tha
soldiers in he trench to get it. Mound Division and
Brigade headquarters trooni Divisicu and Brigade Quar
ter and Commissary headquarters there is a retinue ot de
tailed mea and servants woo live in superabundance, aad
where dos It come from? Do they purchase it of tho
Government. The non-commissioned staff, almost to a
man, have a Bervant. and where and bow do they feed
them ? Tbey are only al owed one-third of a pound, and
that will not feed two ; and tbey are not allowed to pur .
chase from the- Government. Tbe headquarters officials
are allowed to tcrcbase one ration, yet taeir boards are
always spread with the richest viands.
Tne truth is, those men of leisure who live n the men
ia tbe ditches and who are pregnant wiih ottant cum diy
nataie are a great thorn in the sides ot the poor private
It is my eaacid conviction tbat if more attentloa was paid
to the enlisted men getting what the government .appose
tsey get, there would
bo
jcas assertion, straggling ata
plaudsri.g generally.
A SOLDIER,
28th Georgia Begiment.
For the Journal. .
Mibsu-1. Iirraas :
By " casemate batteries " I Beast shell-proof covers
fer ganB, either ,of masonry or iron. It floating batte
ries "ironclad" will stand, certainly fixed batteries can
not fail to do no. This is my opinion as a civilian, slot
being a soldier I can ob'7 think.
A fow detach. 4 redoubt, (say three) coald, I .oppose,,
if iron clad bave prevented a landing between Fisher end
the bead of ths Sound. To fortify five miles of eoaat or
country this way ia not a new idea. 1 could same a ease
in point if need bo.
Bo one is a better friend of General Whltlxg than tbe
writer. He has tbe endorsement of several (ienerals to
hi. skill and ability, bat has not ezterience shown that Im
provement, might have been uade bad aay one have fore
seen tbe " immensity" of tha Arc. VThoie fa Ut 1 it ?
None, to my mind. I was giving, or tryiag to give the
causes of failure.,, But enongb.
Ko " bitterness" was Intended. Tbat great soldier, Oea.
Lee, !s abov any attack by my paay arm if 1 desired it,
And i diu not for a moment. No oa oaa admire hint and
h!s great qualities more than i do. Yet Napoleon says,
he teho has made no mistakes has seldom made nar."
All I desiied was Jcsnos, and 1 agreed with yon that tbe
troops should not have changed position after the fir it at
tack. Had,tbey not, however, have done so would they
have prevented a landing?
ihis note :s offered in explanation.
W. O.
Camp Co. B, 24th Kiev. V. V. T.,(
P.tersbarff, Va., Jan. 21st, 18fi. J .
Messrs. Eli tors :
Please allow spaee ia yoar ooluma. fer the soldiers ef
this Company te tender their thanks to Mrs. J. P. Cox and
Mrs. E. Mnrrill, of Onslow County, for a box of provisions
and other luxuries kindly famished us. We canaol too
highly appreolate this last donation, aa it is oily oae ef
maBy welcome donations so kiadly contributed by
trio'io Ladies of Onslow Coaaty. And aciTo
all tbe perils and privations of this g gsn Ue war,
can be mere highly appreciated aad a"f
die-s around Petersbarg tbaa the acc1 J J ".
daily coming to ns from home. Tot ay oca we arc re-
mi Jed tbaf there U . .till b Vr? dal U
daily seekicg oar welfare and w eaB Jonly
ministering to our waejjj knowing they so richly de
promife them our momcuM' u,i to realise th.
ffi&tff as the good derived freat
their own boautial us. ORB OF 'EMf '