Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-03-26

Plain Talk -
The Standard it is well known, whatever a sense
Of duty to the State and the country has prompted
it to say condemnatory Of the appointment Of in
competent civilians and politicians to important
trusts in the Southern army, has never spoken dis
paragingy Of the appointment of the old United
States Army or Naval officers among Us, who have
been placed in legitimate or proper positions. We
have been willing to take it for granted, that for
one to have been educated at West Point or at the
Naval Schools, was pria tacie evidence Of his it-
ness for some post, and hence, when appointed by
the authorities, We have not uttered word Of
complaint
We have, however, all along known that erery
man thus educated could not make either General
or Commodore. A man must have the brains as
we'll as the culture to make either Schooling never
puts brains in mans head, nor can West Point
make General who was not born with it in him.
Hence, we were content with the appointment of
General Gatn in command Of our coast defences,
supposlns that he possessed sufficient talents and
energy for the position. For some weeks we have
heard complaints OF the inactivity and apparent in
difference Of Gen. g. to the duties of his post,
usually accompanied with some very severe allu-
sions to his habits. But not knowing the truth or
fasity of these rumors, have not felt called upon
to speak of them but have only labored to stir him
up as well as others in general way to greater
activity and alertness.
Since the disaster at Newbern these complaints
Of Gen. G.'s inactivity &C., have become very gen.
eral and loud and his removal has been very ur-
oOoI c., L..
of Gen. g., that he was confined to his bed with
sickness at the time Of the battle.
Now, it is plain, that the government should in
vestigate the matter, and if he be found incompe
tent or derelict he should be removed. We have no
apology to make for friends foes, who in this hour
of the countrys danger unfit for their position
Nor is it enough for US, that men holding important
trusts do the best they Our authorities, both
State and Confederate, military and CIVIL apollo
gsed for by their partizan friends in this way Bat
will that answer? Much as we have complained of
the civil and military authorities in this State of
their inef6ciency and bad management We have
never charged them with not srying to do their
best We have never questioned either their loyalty
or their intention to do we'll. But as old writer
says, "all the way to hell is paved with good nen-
tions" And must we sit by and see the State and
the country going to wreck and do nothing or say
nothing because it is said those in authority are
doing the best they can? Does that help the mat
ter? The crisis demands, and the people have
right to expect that everything shall be done that
ought to be doe to bring successfully out of this
war; We hare the men in the State and the South
that can do better and if those in Office can do no
better than they have done, let them resign and
give place to others. Their loyalty and patriotism
and the dearest interests of the country demand it
When we opposed the appointment OF General
Branch, it was not because we doubted his patriot
ism, or that he possessed ordinary courage or that
| he uouM not try to do his best. We knew that he
would try, and we had no doubt that he would
do his very best to make General but We knew,
at the same time that it soas not in him. the dis
aster at Newbern plainly proves. Should he live
to be an hundred years old, he will never have =
better chance to display his Generalship than he
had at the battle below Newbern. 1t is therefore,
the plain duty of the government to investigate
carefully and impartially the whole case ; and if
there be manifest ncompetency or inef6clency in
either of the Generals, or the Engineer, or coward
ice in any of the officers, let them be dealt with
promptly and deservedy. Nothing short of this
will the people of the State be satisfied with
and if the dearest friend we had on earth had
been there, and been guilty of either inefficien-
cy, incompetency or cowardice, We should demand
bis removal