Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-04-02
THE EFFICIENCY or THE WAR DEPARTMENT
AND THE DISCONTINUE OF THE NO RMoN AND
pIAcr prpI-pr ,c,n our,n,


THE EFFICIENCY or THE WAR DErARTMEN,
AND THE DISCONTINUE OF THE MORMON AM
BLACK REPUBLICAN ORGANS.
The advent of an able, fearless aud useful office
can always be ascertained by the camor and hostli
ty Of the particular class OF offenders upon whom th
full weight Of well directed discipline falls mos
heavily. The value and services of distinguished
official are to DO ascertaned by the unanimous opin
ion OF those most familiar with the duties Of the de-
partnent over which he presdes.
The concurrent opinion Of all who are directly in
terested in the War Department ia that the presen
Sscretary Of War is Of the most energetic, yiei
liant and able officers whom we have had since III.
days of MIR. Calhoun. Officers Of the highest rsns
and greatest experience declare that in executive
ability, promptness and decaion of character. in tbe
rapid dispatch OF business, in the avoidance of deuy
no selection for the office Of Secre;atary Of Wal
could have been more fortunate than that OF Gov
Floyd.
Peculiar and accidental circumstances have con
tributel to make the post of Secretary of War the
most trying and important in the Cabinet.
The duties of the Office are unusually lsborious and
delicate. Although our relations are those of pro-
found peace with all foreign natonsyet we have two
large and interesting assormsnts Of domestic traitor.
to keepin order. The present Administration found
Jim Lane menacing the peace Of the republic in AN.
sas and Brigham Young at the head of polypamous
horde il Utah. Both Of these individuals boasted Of
armies rearly rs large as any that Santa Anna com.
manded during ths Mexican war. Both OF
them were menacing tho peace and liberty OF
thousands Of we'll disposed citizens, when MIR. Buc.
hanan we iuaugurated E.
To the iudicious employment Of large body
of unl!d States troops in Kansas, under the
command OF well selected officers, We may al.
tribute he entire substance of that terrible
military hry which threatened, some twelve months
ago, to uake the redoubed Lane the AttiIa of the
West Qnety without noise, and in the most orderly
manner the Administration have, by the presence
of the amy, diminished the thirst for the blood Of
the prolGvery party, which Lane and his associates
msnjiiesed a short time since So admirably have
f.w pe,scns are cySf, Nsndss beg mapgcGl, tart
force which has been n ha. territory for long time
past.
We ar,every cay receiving gratifying newa Of the
comparative comfort OF the army Of the United
State. II Utah. Al! reports concur in cheerful &C
counts O the rgors Of winter as terrible rs that
which dcimated the French and English armies in
the Criuea, having been endured, without SUFFERING
upon th part Of our army IN Utah. In spite of the
rapiditywlth which the necessary preparations for
Gen. Jolnson's army made, the eminent practi.
cal ably CT the Secretary Of War, and of the off
cers OF be army, has saved our army from nearly all
The sutsrDg which it was feared they would suffer.
The orces of the United States, being at this time
empIoed mainly in the necessary, although unpea-
SAINT tsks, Of keeping the Mormons and the Black
republicans in order, it is not strange that the pecu
liar ogans of Lane and Brighsm Young should be
di.oced 10 manufacture all sorts Of falsehooda about
the Secretary whose especial duty it is to see that the
rebeous rsscs!s ir question are kept from numbering
emRaats and violating their wives and daughters
Whist the Mormons are manufacturing muskets in
Utsl the more cowardly but not less malignant or
gan OF Lane, Read and Kallock, srs fabricang the
moe unblushing and astounding lbes in the Eastern
Stats. As the entire stock in trade Of the abolition
pres has for years consisted of mendocity We had moi
deemed the sghteat notice Of their febrcations ne
cesary until they were copied by the Wing press o
thi State. For the obvious reasons 10 which We
hve referred, tho Secretary of Wer, to whose activity
ard energy the disciples OF Lane attribute their die
cm6ture has been wnutoDly and grcundleasly viii
Ad. Fortunately Congress killed the first fab
ristion by the appointment Of an investigating
| Committee, and the celebrated Fort Smelling Ii
| bd will long be remembered as the most tho
| rugby riddled and demolished accusation Of th
pesent century. The facts in connection with tha
cdumny, as presented to the investigating commit
te, PROVE that the best and most profitable sale o
military lands yer made by any Secretary Of War wa
usde by the present Secretary. The investigation
b. overwhelmed the eccusers with shame, and com
petely vinaicatsd the Secretary of War.
The most malignant of the Kallock and Lane press
| even the "T'riGune," is silent upon the subject o.
F,rt Smelling. No viudicaton was ever more tri
unphant than will be that Of The Fort Snelling inves
tiesting committee.
| Undismayed by the fact Of the Tr,Lune'," e1plo
| del charge the notorious Webb Of the "Cour,er ant
Enquirer" tried his hand the other day at what the
Back Republicans aattered themselves would eclipse
tbs wel.csrned rspItation Of MUScHAUsES, whose
demise, before tine establishment Of "Kansas shrek
ing" as profession ia TO be regretted.
The difference between the abrcatione of Greele,
and Webb consists in this that tbs only fact in th
Fort Smelling charge was, that there was q sale o
public land ordered by Congress beore Mr.. Buchan
a., election, whilst in the charges Of the "Courie
and ENQUIRER" there is not ons particle Of fact.
chemical analysis of Webb's charges would moi re
veal the mionth Of one grain Of fact. His fc!ion5
unlike the works Of Greeley, not "founded OF
| 6aatitutp nf ffrut sir author n
of gratitude, for hs is said to have returned act o
kindness by false accusation.
The charge which the Wing papers of Virgn
have copied ia, that contracts for horses and graf
have been made by the Wsr Department which al
ford profits so enormous, 10 suggest fraud and
ruption to the mind of every man who hears Of it.
II turns out, as We have sed, that this charge wa
| manufactured out of whole cloth. The contracts Il
question, hars not been made at oil, and the hors
and gram contracts esiH only IN The hungry imagi
notiou of The editor Of the "COurier and Enquirer.
The Black Republicans viii now make the di:
covery, that an able officer ard powerful Admins
tration csn never bs Injured BY fabricstions dest
tute Of truth.
Circumstances have devolved upon the Sec,etar
| of War unusually heavy, grave and responsible du
ties AS those who were familiar with his eminen
abilities anticipated he fas proved equal to the duie
and labors of his Office. The efficiency Of the arm
and the praise OF veteran officers attest his usefulness
If they did not, the groundess assaults and franti
hownga of the Mormon aud Black Republican o.
gaus would He ia fortunate in having incurred III
dislike of those who recognize Brigham Young. Jill
Lane, Matteson and Greeley as their leaders and o.
aclss upon all questions o. morality aud military vi
e''