Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-09-20

GEN. WALTER GWYNN.
PErERsBURa, Sept. IL, 1856


concur In the opinion you have expressed that We
are now making the last experiment, that for long ao
to come will be made Of tie Capacity Of any people to
enjoy free sefgovernment. concur in tie opinion of
Daniel Webster that the Press muAt De as free as the sir
We breathe, else national liberty is at an erd cen
our in the opinion tina. the immortal Juniu, expresses
that wrong done an indiv.duL is q wrong done the
whole people, under whatever form OF Government
Men in authority who are impatient OF suggestions Of
now plans, or of correction, Of old ones, show them
selves unfit to be the rulers rather the conductors Of
the destinies, Of any people seeking to be free.
There scarcely any other opinion II prevails, which
Is 60 vicious hst the Press departs from s spprcpr
e dignity in dealing with individual Of hardship
into which the existing Government is betrayed through
mistake or by design. The Nation or State Ia but
aggregation of individuals Noindvidua CITIZEN wbeher
in or Of authority, should any more b. regasdd
shove the censorship of public opinion, Ian ieo nsg
nfcau for the protection Of the laws There no oter
nsrumeutaty suitable, because there Is no other
more likely to be effective in all the range ofrprovsmsnt
under Government intended to secure al freedom con-
sis:ent with efficiency, than the Press.
II, in any Of these suggestions am unsustsined,
either BY reason or by respectable authority, you will
please throw this article under your table, instead OF Civ.
ing It place in your columns
Let me premise further that the Confederate States
Government in the mighty struggle pending does not
need the service the most capable czn in tina. post
could r,uder all the poets Of indispensable service
already well led they be, then let this
dele be repressed.
Soon after For: Sumter torn from its federal ten
ants, Walter Grynn, native Of Virginia, long citizen
of North Carolina and the time and for several years
resident Of South Carolina, repaired to the State Of
his nativity and offered his services waich ept-
3D. and he was appointed Major General by competent
authority lie assigned to duty 10 command Of the
forces ~ then in Norfolk hsrbor.
Il shall here suffice, though much remains to be writ.
ten in respect to his services n Charleston to refer to
the letter Of Governor Pckens accepting bis resignation
Of the Office to which that Governor early in the South
CarOlina troubles and struggle, appointed him. III mas
in Norfolk, IUndsrstand sh,a h, resigned that es..
In respect to his services in Norfolk, first Majr,
and then by the action OF the Convention, al Brigair
General It shall suffice to say that he has letter writ.
ten by General Huger, which only high-toned gentle
man would bsve written but which is the less vb
u,be as . testimonial, because It was written by
of liberal lsce 10 which It Is admitted that the System
v
cuted by the latter precisely It projected by the
former, except in few slight Improvement, which de.
veloped themselves in The process Of construction With
this testimonial in hand from so competent j1dge OF
the design Of the Notifications 10 and about Norfolk,
will not fail TO be observed that he design sr;ien,
or else that the authority (of the "Auic Council y
which brought abou. the resignation Of Cen G"ynn Is
cupabe for retaining Gen. Huger in the service
long IS they did retain him. IL will not fail mofecyeT,
to be observed in view Of that implied admission tia.
tia plan of Notifications was sufficient that he who pro-
iected tho plan without fault unless he was slower
in executing Il than with the means be had, be ought TO
have been unless indeed, it be fact thai be orghtto
have created, as well applied, the rqiste mesn.-
Toe means required we're troops transportation, ma
terss and labor The three last be was not furnished
with the money purchase or prcc1re and 1t was not
bis duty TO furnish the money BE had no authority 10
raise troops. He did msks calls on the country
and the cities for al the service required, which
was not q. his command. From the resources ct
his persons. friendship, With little besides at his
command, be mansge3, with energy which sIpro-
prs.ed every eIpedent his skill discovered, to deter
any attack which the enemy, in sufficient force in
the vicinity, vas invited by the rich abundance Of
stores and munitions Of war in the Navy Yard at Cos
port to make that |. vas daily expected Ia word, he
effected % much that the only complaint made BY enc
member of the Aullc Council" vas that Il sI isarsd
tia. he had been too tariy 81 erecting the land de-
neu," that 10, the entrepched CAMP" believe it is
caed which he had laid off, bat h,d no! begun to eon'
sruct only because be did not have the labor to Gerry
on the water defsnces q. the same time 0oe or he
other was arst to be dous he could not do both at