The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-06-28

From the New York Herald, June Is.
Upon no Chief Magistrate of the United
States, since the days Of George Washing.
ton, has there been imposed, by the exigen.
cies of the period, so great q responsibility
as rests upon President Lincoln. The pub
lie have confidence in his integrity, and in
bis general wish to administer with impair
TALLY and wisdom the high functions of his
Office. 1t is evident, however, that many of
those who surround him, even in his Cabi-
net, are inspired with the most sordid and
interested motives and their unfaithfulness
recoils upon the reputation of the Presi-
dent, whose duty it is to understand that he
alone is. officially accountable to the coun-
try for every act performed in his name, or
which takes place under bis jurisdiction.
He cannot, therefore, be \too observant,
clearsighted, and firm and be should pre-
fer the necessity of changing his Cabinet
every week, until he has secured proper
agents and advisers, to permitting abuses to
continue, on the ground that there are no
apparent means by which they can be REM
edied. 1t has long been clear, that the sys-
tenn of army appointments is wrong, from
beginning to end fraught with danger !;
and that the loyal States may soon see their
efforts to put down rebellion frustrated, by
the shameful manner in which Coionels,
Generals, and Major Generals, utterly igno.
rant of military tactics, have, for purely
political reasons, been entrusted with the
lives of thousands of their fellow citizens,
and put into the regular army, over the
heads of those who have been educated for
that branch of the service.
In times of war, the government of the
United States, must unquestionably rely
upon the volunteer system, to meet emer-
gencies that may arise, and help out the
regular army in defending the country, or
in suppressing rebellion. 1t forms part
of that system, to appeal to local and indi.
vidual pride and ambition, and to permit
regiments to be differed by individuals of
their own free choice and selection. Ca.
amitles frequently arise, it is true, from
the ignorance and presumption of such per-
sons, indiscreetly removed from secular &C.
equations, to positions of authority for
which they are incompetent; but no rem
edy can be devised for the evil, excepting
for the federal government to prevent any
intermingling or interference of commands
in the volunteer, with that of the regular
service. TO transfer volunteer officer in.
to the regular army, is always a culpable
blunder. 10 raise such an officer, however,
to position of authority over trained grad
yates from West Point, who, after receiv.
ing a thorough military education, have
borne the heat and burthen of duty, as SOL.
diers for long course of years; and whose
experience and profession entitle them to
the highest consideration, is eminently
wrong and improper. Yet, from within
two weeks of the bombardment of Fort
Sumter, we have continually seen Briga-
diers and Major General Is taken from their
offices as civilians, and without ever having
heard the whistling of bullet, or witnessed
so much as skirmish, entrusted with the
highest responsibilities which ever are ex-
ercised by the most sagacious, practsed,
and distinguished commanders.
We are informed, on the most undenia-
BILE authority, that the number of applica..
lions received by the War Department for
Brigadier GeneraIships and Major General.
ships IN the regular army, from persons who
have never donned a uniform, and who have
nothing whatever to recommend them, ex-
cepting republican speeches they have de-
llvered in past political campaigns, is it-
terally overwhelming; and were all the as
plrants TOR colonelcies in the regular SER
vice to be entertained, it would REQUIRE a
force OF several millions of men to provide
them with troops. We could mention the
names of several lawyers in New York,
who know as little of lighting as they do of
shoemaking, who have been presumptuous
to put themselves forward for positions,
only second to that Of General Scott him
self, and who confidently believe they will
receive such appointments. Moreover there
are advisers of Mr.. Lincoln, who, from dem.
agoglcal and interested purposes, encourage
these dangerous aspirants, and lend Them
selves to their furtheran e. The conse-
quences OF the continuance of this state of
things, would be inevitable. Defeat must
accompany our troops wherever they 90,
and the rebel army, Offered by the ablest
generals of the continent. must be victorious
in every encountre.
1t is the duty of President Lincoln, to
put an immediate stop to the introduction
of this miserable political engineering into
the military service. TO do so, he may be
compelled to interfere decidedly, and to dis
miss memb rs of bis Cabinet but he can
not act too soon, for it is too probable that
the errors that have been already commit
ted, may entail irreparable calamities. We
understand that the Union Defence Com.
mlttee, with the political corruption, and
favoritism that have marked its existence,
is about to die natural death. 1t has en-
ulated the worst qualities of Washington
politicians. At the capital remedy exists
and should be supplied by the President,
and not single instance should again &C
cur OF the transfer of volunteer officer into
the regular army, except for stupendous
services, which demand the most signal ex.
hibition of national gratitude.