Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-06-12
Military Appointments.

Military Appointments.
The appointments to military positions in this
State, seem to be attracting some notice from the
press In private circles, the subject is no doubt
one which claims its share of consideration. Some
Of our cotemporares are very emphatic in their de-
caratons that former party affiliations should have
no influence upon these appointments; while others
less scrupuous do not hesitate to claim the Offices
for the precipitation, or in other words for those
who have had principal share in forcing North
Carolina out Of the Union; forgetting that under
that regime, Mr.. Lincoln and his advisers would
doubtedly monopolize the whole Of them.
OF the merits Of the appointments we have no dis
position to express an opinion, if unfavorabe, un-
less forced to it. nor will We without great proyoca
ton allude unkipdly to the motives which have in
fuenced or determined many of them. We are not
ignorant of the dific which have pressed them
selves upon the app, power The most acute
mind and the soundest discretion Of any man in
the State, in the possession of the most vigorous
health, would hardly have been more than sufficient
to grappe with those difficulties. But an ordinary
mind enfeebled by months of disease and surround
ed by advisers unused to the details and the prac-
tce, if not wholly ignorant in fact, of the theory of
planning and arranging for military defence or cam
palgning, it would have been wonder if most Sc
| rious blunders had not been made Besides, much
allowance must be made for the multitudes of appl
cants and the scantiness Of fit material in some of
the departments, out of which to fill the appoint
ments. Moreover, we presume, such was the pres
of off hup Tho hod poor1v
| we'd themselves from sheer hard work in the bus;
ness of precipitation that in very few cases the post
was allowed to hunt for the officer, but in most in
stances the officer hunted for the post
| Of the appointments made from the old U. s.
Army we presume one complains. So small a
portion of the few q. S. officers which North Caro-
lima had have resigned their positions and rendered
their services to the State it was difficult to do bet
ter, although in some instances among the younger
officers, the stride which some of them have been
assisted in taking, may have been little too long
for safety.
All things considered, we doubt if any one can
justly complain of the appointment of Gen. Holmes
to the command of the coast defences, or of Col.
Hill to the Camp of Instruction. of COL Bradford of
Assistant Adjutant General Riddick, of Major RAM
seur or others Of the late u S. Army. We presume
these appointments give no body any uneasiness-
But the selection Of civilians to fill important militia
ry posts, involves greater difficulty, and might have
been expected if not udciously made to create dis
satisfaction. We make no complaint and care not a
ot if In every instance honesty, capacity and moral
worth, were the basis upon which the appointments
were made. There is but one other ground upon
which we might object And that is in those in.
stances in which it does appear the precipitators
wanted Office to shield themselves from the dangers
of the war, who in the judgment of the appointing
power were capable of leading squadron in the
field or of shouldering musket. Such persons we
claim are entitled to no immunity from the war
certainly they not entitled to pay for bringing
iton.
Now our cotemporary, the Charlotte Democrat
admits that "all parties in the State are united ir
maintaining her honor and independence-thost
who were formerly Union men are doing as much
as any others for the Southern cause-and no par
ticular preference should be given" Our very
plausible cotemporary further saith, "we are conf
dent however, that Gov. Ellis tries to mpartally
and do what is right" And again, eve know tina
many of the highest positions have been given by
Gov. Ellis to political opponents as well as equa
number of the lowest posts in the military" Blu
still further, "in fact, we think Gov. Ellis has beer
disposed to treat with special favor applications from
those heretofore opposed to him, and in some in
stances preferred them to old political friends"
Well, we think it cannot be denied that since tn
election of Abraham Lincoln, there have been bu
two parties in the State the conservatives and tn
precipitators or the Union men and the Secession
Democrats afirmations, we append list of all tn
appointments to "hig " military "positions" " iron
the civil ranks made by Governor Ellis and hi
Military Board. We leave out those who were il
the U. S. Army, for the reason that all admit the.
were entitled to Offices in the Army. Now the Dem
ocrat will oblige US if it will point out single off
Ger in the following list, who was an undoubtet
Union man in the election of delegates to the Con
vention in February last and especially up to tn
time of Lincon's proclamation. We want no quib
bling friend Yates. Come;up to the test like man
Military Board.-W. Winslow, H. W. Guion.
Brigadier GeneraL-Walter Gwinn
, Colonels-Cois L. OBJ. Branch, VIM. Johnston
} NJ. S. Stokes c. e. Tew, G.. H. Meares, D. K McRae
: G. F. Fisher.
It, Colonels.-M. W. Ransom, VIM. P. Bynum
R. H. Cowan, j. A. Young, w. T. Dortch.
Majors.-A. M. Lewis, W. Beverhout Thompson
John W. Wood6n, w. L. De Rossett
Surgeon General-Dr Chas. E. johnson.
| ChaDLaiua-Rey E. A. Yates and Rev. F. Fitz
gerald
These are all the appointments that we know o
in the highest positions" which have been mad
from civilians. If the Democrat can find the hal
of late Union man among them, it has the powe
of discerning spirits quite beyond our reach.
South.C Carolina Troops.
The seventh Regiment of Riaemen, of Edgefeld Dis
trict S. c., commanded by Col. Bacon, arrived her