Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1847-05-06
APPOINTMENTS IN THE ARMY.

The course pursued by the present Administration in
appointing to high military Offices political favor,es-
the meres parllzans, who have single claim eleva
lion TO such oces Is without precedent in this country
We have frequently pointed out the great injustice done
TO the men Who Lave seen service. WHO Lave fitted
themselves for military duty, by placing above them tn Sc
Who never saw day service and whose only merit is
thai they had been busy elections and had used their
influence and exertlons to help along Mr. Pok and De
hocracy The latest appointments To stations If iieh
grade were remarkable for the neglect they exhibited Of
great ability and distinguished service in the war We
mean the apo nments Of General Pillow To be Ma nr
bentr raj, and Colonel Caleb Gushing to be Brradlrr
General. We find in the New Orr, aus Picaynne the
following veryJnsi comment on these appointments The
pcayune is neutral Journal aud rs remarkable e It's
larnesS as II rs for lis general Intelligence
- he task ct fault finder ungracous enc always
Yet We mag be permted to say that these promotions
l"ih one tXcerton) wee nolndcaied by the confidence
o the army IN the persons selected, suggested by any
display great military abilities the part Of the an
pohiees Zen. Quiinan distinguished himself il is
true, AT Monterey, and this his promotion will
be more acceptable 10 the army; but for the other Two we
look IN vain Tor services emitting them exalted rank
ten Pillows doienc,S OF tanargo were the laughter of
the service In throwing up nrenchnenis he a, tualy
made the ditch on the wrong sde-corvcrting the breast,
work designed for the protection ot the city into conven
lent cover for assailng party Now that he is major
general III reasonable to suppose Thai the next time he
tries his hand at the business he will dig his dtches ON
both sides
Gen Gushing has yet to smell gunpowder He is a
man Of talents and distinguished above ms cmnpeers "a
acclan In civil matters. If his strategy in war prove
equal to his man9uvrlng in politics. he III make very
effective general. Yet there is great doubt whether
his cvll Instincts qualify him for command in service
where the majority is with the enemy
There were at Monterey mea " HON acrowd would
spontaneously look leaders in crisis Of dfFrutv
Such men as Gen. A. 5. hnson of Texas Col Jcffer
son DAVIS, OF Mississippi, Col, Campbell of Tennessee.
&c who distinguished themselves in battle and who
possess the military knowledge and actual cxrerien. nc
cessary for high command They ENJOY also the conf
dence OF the sodery If gallant deeds as in the case Of
Ten llnnan are regarded claims to promotion these
gent eInen were equally conspicuous at Monterey Col
DAVIS has since then rcshoned his laucls at uena Visa
aud Cot campbell was before Vera Cnz with his regi-
men The country will acknowledge the right If these
brave officers TO com lain Of neglect and the service will
sufer from species Of tayonisln calculated To drive the
best men out Of it.
There Is thai in every Southern mind. or Northern.
or either which rebels at the idea of making the gallant
and distinguished Davis subordinate to an unted oflic,
like General Gushing. We would not disparaoe Gener-
al ushlng, bat his sword has yet tested the dn of
battle while Colonel Davis has eshed his sabre in fields
all reeklng with carnage Gen. Gushing has gone to
JON Gen. Taylor. where he will rank officers whose
pro"ess decided the issue of combat This is all wrong
TO our thinking aud would not be surprised if the
twelve months enstmens refused % a uan To pro,lu
their stay IN Mexico. Il is hard service that in which
chvay and successful waller are not rewarded by rank
| and command"