Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-09-24
Patience In Il People-sFIsmnesa IA VOL
as Enterprise In the Generals.

la military operations lhere u, uhuer VIC
most favorable circumstances, Il great demand
upon tho popular patience. Among the causes
which produce this are the development OF
events which it was impossible for those who
have the conduct of affairs to ~toresee, and The
happening of some of the thousand accidents
Of war, az inst which it is impossible perfectly
to provide, and which often defeat schemes
otherwise certain of success. The besiegers Of
Rome, for example, were bafled Of their prey
By the cackling of some geese. But besides
these causes Of disappointment, an additional
appeal to:the popular patience exists in the
fact, that many of the difficulties which attend
military operations are unknown except to those
in charge, and must necessarily remain SO. 10
divulge them is to increase them, and to rer-
der them, perhaps, insurmountable OF una.
voidable. The plan Of a campaign OF the con.
duct Of & battle is often determined by these
circumstances unknown to the public at
large md for that reason the movements
often appear inexp!icable. Thus It often
happens that q policy which would appear oeyi'
ously wise, by a full disclosure of the con-
ditions which determine ii, is judged worthy Of
strong Reproduction by those who are not fully
informed bnt are yet willing 10 hazard an
opinion.
The prosperous management OF military at.
fairs requires, as an essential condition, a large
degree Of confidence in the leaders I'd whom it
is entrusted. The leader is Us much entitled
to it as is the physician to whom a patient has
been con6ded. Whatever weakcns that conf
dence, weakens his efficiency, and tends, in.
deed. to insure his failure. When confidence
cannot be extended, the management should
pass into other hands.
Confidence should, indeed, not DC blind !;
but yet it should be generous. Criticism
should, indeed, not be chained but yet it
should not be hssty ana rash, and swift to
pronounce an ignorant judgment.
Thus believing, this journal has not
thought it either modes. or polite to
constitute itself q Council Of War
or q Court Martial to determine policies or lie
nouncc judgments, without knowing facts OF
hearing eTidence. Preferring to place trust in
those who stand adjudged as worthy oft, and so
long rs they thus stand, We encourage the
people and the Eoldiers to e like confidence
And We pretend TO nc P ocular knowledge of
the views and tine plans Of these officials.
We have nc ia;ina1ions To make that We are
Gifted with \ miraculous penetration or are
the repository Of great secrets, which we could
tell if we liked. 4 secre! hus hcraldea
would indeed be half exposed. But we have
reason to be assured that the councils Of onr
camp ars conducted with so wise d secrecy,
that even Brigadiers often know not on hour
before, the movements they are to make.
But while guided by The views we have in
dicstsd, none attend With a more anxious soiici.
tude the operations Of OUT military none feel
an intenser interest than we in the adoption and
vigorous prosecution ola wise policy. We con-
cur with several ofour contemporaries, in earnest
" desiring thai orr army shall, if it be
possible, at once drive the tide Of War beyond
our borders, and give to acwn.irodden Mary
land u chance to rise, By crossing the Potomac.
We would press the subject on the attention
Of our councils but we dare 60 no further
They must decide whether it he prudent 10
attempt this movement with our present
equipment. Theirs is the responsibility ii
deciding, and ace hold them toit.. II through
timidity they abstain, or through temerity they
undertake, in either case they are guilty. We
would encourage them to be swayed IN their
decision by no rnan's fears, and nc by mans
clamors. Gen. Scott has said, and the North
has joined in general Confession. that the
'Grand Army" Tas sacrificed TO the ~iactious
cry Of ZOO to Richmond" Let us not suffer
disaster from the similar cry Of "On to PhiE-.
delphia !" Our Generals are under the dou-
BILE obligation of making gooa use Of our
brave soldiers, and taking $50 GEO Of .snen,
Let them not be supiHe!y OF limidly held
back from sny Ieat Of iarns or advan-
tage which lies within our ability
but neither let them, under ny pressure ofirre-
sponsible and uninformed opinion, be sacri-
feed in premature enterprises, or adventures
for which re are not prepared. To such a
claaaar Gen. Scott said he yielded, aod push
cd uen into p Eight for which he had not pre-
pared them; and, with the case so stated, he
pronounced upon himself the fit sentence Of
being "the greatest coward in America" Our
generals must be vigilant, active, AID enteTpri-
sing, wise in conception, and d,ligent in pre-
p~aration; they must be bold and valiant. as
BELTS the brave army they command; but lat
them aot be rash, or be precipitated into ad-
ventures without adequate preparation. There
is a wise middle course into which. q true
courage will guide them, while The cowardice
which betrayed Hull aud the cowardice which
betrayed Scott, becken thern astray to the
right hand and to the left. We believe that
they will so act az to justify the trust and con-
ddence reposed in Them, and that the intel!i-
gent ~citizeus Of the Confederate States will
await their action with due patience, and sus-
tain them in whatever course true wisdom de-
nands. If they iail Of their duty, the prompt
remedy is in tho hands Of President Davis, tho
credit Of whose administration, and whose per-
sonal fame are identified with the success Of
our arms, by whomsoever commanded.
The Sequesrra1ion Acs-When Will II be
Eaforocd
Whilst the Yankees are rapidly engaged in
the work Of wholesale con6scstion, we hear
of but little progress at the South in carrying
out the provisions of the Sequcstration Act
As yet but a single Receiver has been appoint
ed for the Eastern section OF Virginia, and the
telegraph informs as thnt no steps have Jet been
taken for enforcing the law in North Carolina
and other States. Nearly a month has elapsed
since the nassare of the Get, and ranid DIG.