Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-03-05
RENOVATION OF THE GOVERNMENT.

The Richmond Epaniher has some comments on
the Inaugural of President Davis, from which we
make the following extracts. The censure may
seem severe, but the present position of our affairs
| demands that the Government should be controlled
and guided by our ablest and wisest statesmen:
| The public expected much more important COM
muncation from the President than this. 1t is the
fervent hope OF every rational and DISTINGUISHED
patriot that he would with all speed create cabinet
OF the ablest, bestnfOrmed, most experienced, and
| especially of the most active and energetic men,
| 1t is hoped that the President will now see the
necessity of real counsel and assistance in the dis
| charge of his difficult and overwhelming work.
Men Of strong characters, who know the affairs
| of the nation at large, men who have the motive
| power of steam engines are needed here now
Under the present regimen the SO-caled Secretaries
are mere clerks. They fit to be nothing else
They are men of business in their various private
professions they may be tolerably familiar and adj
rot in the local politics Of their cities and neghbor
! hoods. But not of them is a statesman Of
callbre equal to these times or any other times.
If any candid observer is asked for the cause of
our present of misfortune he will be compelled
to give the notifying answer: that the Yankees
have outwtted us; that they have managed their
power with much more Judgment and that on just
the point where the South supposed superior to
the NOrth-that is tosay, in the art of government
|
ton should come to naught and the country be lost
it will not be because it not full of money and
men, because the people were not willing, the
soldiers brave their officers competent their ter
ritOry great and difficult to conquer their slaves
obedcnt, their supplies sufficient, their resources
ncxhauStible it will not be because their cause was
not Just their motives noble their spirit high still
less will it be because they had not luck and chance
on their side, that fortune did not favor them or
Providence smile upon their endeavorS. Never was
the chance of so remarkably on one side as in
last summer never did government or generals
enjoy such opportunities to win the greatest prizes
OF war with the least trouble never were free peo-
pie more obedient and doce in their department to
their ralers never were politicians so important to
disturb government; never in any money
so plentiful bread abundant levieS so easy. The
Confederacy has had everything that was required
for success but one and that thing it was and
it is supposed to possess more than anything else
namely, talent But the COniederacy has not shown
ability iE conduct. We have refused fortune when
il was thrust upon US and permitted the magnificent
armies that rushed forward last year to dwIndle
into imbecility and inSiguIicance. Yet State
has or docs refuse its quota; every quota that the
government would ask Of any State would be ordered
without murmur. No tirmneSs has been shown
towards the troops in hand. The War Department
has showed furloughs and discharges and when the
three months men, the six months men, the nine
months men have arrived at the end of their terms
they have been sent home without the slightest
stigma. The most puerile partality has been dis
played in the treatment of individual officers little
cutenantS and colonies have been erected into major
generals without achievement justice; and it
would almost seem that the government was afraid
of genius and will, so sedulous!y has it kept at
distance individuals Of lofty intellect, wide know
c1ge and enduring energy. s.' s; :--7S.S
We must get more talent into the Confederate
Government, or be ruined. The Naval and War
Departments must be filled with real men, who can
comprehend the state of affairs know the resources
and character of this country and Of the adversary,
who have the ygor to call into full action the powers
and resources Of the Southern republic Unless we
can get such persons to do the heaG-work of the
nation, our great means are as useless as the gold
that is buried All party hates, all personal feuds,
all popular decisions should be kicked out of the
way the search for the ablest men, If anything
will turn the tide that has lately set in it will be the
advent of intellectual superiority to the control of
the Departments. How often does history show
nations redeemed from the most difficult positions
by the appearance of few sufficient leaders, who
have changed in few weeks the relations of con-
tending forces.