Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-09-24

BITTER DEEUScIATIoN OF JEPP. DAVIS AND
CAsSEr-T The GOVERNMENT PRoNogNcED
RorrES-ABUss OF "SUBNIs sroSIsrs"-
GENERAL SUMMARY OF NEws.
The following letter from the Richmond
Whig. Of the 9th instant, supposed 10 be from
be read with interest, together with the re-
marks Of the Richmond Wing appended to 1t !:
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
The following private letter to the editor Is
from an old personal friend, but long separ-
ated by party, and one of the first in position
and intellect in the great county Of Albemarle.
1t was obviously not designed for publication,
but on that very account, it may be the better
sign Of things unseen, and the better serve to
enlighten the Administration respecting the
temper of the public mind:
ALBENARLE, August %, 1861.
Dear MossLey-I am utterly disgusted with
your man JEFF. Davis, and his man Walker;
and want to know if you will publish my
spleen, ii utter it. have letter Just from
Manassas. Our troops there one day last week
had nothing for breakfast but salt and pota-
toes; were sent eight miles at double quick to
meet false alarm; and got neither dinner nor
supper when they came bask to their camp.
Now, Mosely, it is evident to me that your
Government is rotten in the head. Davis
ought to be spiked up Nhere men can see him.
You've won great victory, and got no fruits
frsm it. You've had charge of the Govern
ment for six months, and have done nothing
no meat, no bread, no powder, no wagons, no
anything, but salt and potatoes-and yet you
sing out: {" The Government has the entire
confidence Of the whole party" Now, it hasn't
mine, and want to know whether can get a
fair hearing?
The only smart thing I hsvo seen is your
proposition to postpone the Presidential cleo
ton That's excellent, most excellent. Push
that; it may save US. fl were in Congress,
rOTa1A of e
the war, (hOly though IL isl until Walker was
turned out, and somebody put in his place with
sense enough to attend to the duties Of il.
don't know either Davis or Walker Bat
have seen enough to raise suspicious in my
mind that neither is the right man in the right
place.
Why talk, then, about the confidence of the
people in the Administration / don't feel
any such confidence myself, and I believe
am not singular in my distrust If you editors
would only speak out full-toned about the abu-
ses which stink under your nostrils, things
would get right. 1t is a shame that cries to
Heaven Tor vengeance, when you men of the
pen are talking about confidence, &C., and our
soldiers are made to trOt sixteen miles on one
meal Of potatoes and salt There is rottenness
enough in the medical staff alone to damn any
administration. Why hOodwink the people
Your government is rotten and stiuks. We
must smell II at last. The sooner the better.
You won't smell any stronger to Yankee nos
trlls after you turn Walker out, and make Da-
Wis toe the mark, than yen DO now. They
know you can't advance upon them from want
of victuals and vehicles, and your weakness
remains patent to them till you reform the
abuses Of your administration. The smartsst
thing England did in the Crimesn war was the
reformation or abuses in the full view of the
enemy and her rival, too.
Your enemies know you are rotten. You
won't tell them anything new by turning out
Davis and his whole crew, which I am deci-
dedly in favor of, If they don { show themselves
more efficient. But all you editors sing slIe-
lujshs daily to Davis Co. 1t frets me. Your
soldiers are starving. But so long as the Pres
ident and generals can wear fine linen, &c,
you sing, 10 DC.
1t won't do, my friend; somebody must tell
the people the plain truth, or we are ruined
Freezing and starvation stare you in the face
for next winter, and you cali on the women
and children to give up their blankets and
bread for the soldiers. The women have sup
ported the war so far. You couldn't be in the
field to-day but for their needles. You've had
the government for seven months and YOU
confess your inability by your daily ways, and
still you speak Of confidence. It's waning
hourly, / assure you, and unless the press
speaks out plainly, and that soon, all is lost.
l don't know any politicians, and I don't
care for any. But care for ny country and
the brave men who are fighting for us, and it
treat my dogs and hogs.
Your proposition in the last Whig gives me
some hope. / beseech you to open FIRE on those
who deserve 1t. Don't be afraid of showing
your weakness to the Yankees-they know it.
Show your strength by putting things to rights
at home, and ysu will be then feared abroad
Very truly yours, F.M.
COMMENTS or The wHIG ON y. MS LETTER
Appended to the foregoing remar * able letter
the Wing has the following editorial comments
A word Of comment Our very good friend
holds as responsible for all the acts of the Ad-
ministrstion because we have aVOwed conf
dence in President Davis. That confidence was
bssed on the endorsements with which be came
among rs. The first men Of the States south
of rs had by general acclaim assigned him the
foremost place in the great movement of our
section for freedom. We had no reason to dis
trust their judgment, and every disposition to
confde in il. Neither personally, nor in the
past politically. was there any connection be-
tween US and President Davis; but when he
became the Representatives of the cause, which
stands 6rst in our affections and on the success
Of which depends the safety Of our country
and the preservation Of the liberties of our
race and the civilization Of the age, we en-
deavored to give to him and through him to
the cause whatever aid this journal could
exert IT, in the stern trial Of events, be should
unfortunately prove unequal to the difficult
and responsible position which he holds-not
broad enough and high enough, Intellectually
and morally, for the emsrgency-it would be
the greatest calamity that has sefallen free
dom in any age; for circumstances have ssso-
ciated him almost 40 intimate with its success
as was W sshington in our first struggle for in
dependence But great as the disaster might
be, il would not be irreparable. This cause
cannot fail; il may encounter reyerses, its tri-
umph may be delayed, but its ultimate success
is inevitable. If enc agent or set Of agents
prove unequal to the crisis another will be
found.
While avowing general confidence in Pres
ident Davis, there are some indications, we are
free to say, We do not like. Like our Abe
marie friend, We have been taught to believe
that loose league or Confederacy Of free sew
erign and independent commonwealths consti-
tuted the best frame Of government for the
happiness and freedom of man, which human
ingenuity has devised. The old Articles of
Confederation, which bore Us triumphantly
through the Revolution, is our beau ideal Of a
perfect government. That was shipwrecked
by the hnaneial embarrassments which fol-
lowed the war, sRd was substituted by the
uhf in Hau haa AZ