, 1862-10-02

even te!efably well managed. Yet these
worthless and imbecile hangers on cf d
long peace, seemed all 10 be smitten with
the sacred love Of gold lace aud shoulder
straps; and, what made it far worse, wers
backed up, endorsed, and thrust forward
for rank in the army BY importunate and
brazen-faced relatives and friends Of both
ee1es, who could have found no other rea-
sons for the bouadless trust in the military
genius Of these men, than that they had
never been found good for anything while
out Of the army.
This desperate and determined onset. Of
men, who had been an utter failure in all
the walks Of peace, and who were ago
nizjng to try the fresh chances Of var, as
their last and only hope; and who bring
ing to their help the fcrcest and bitteress
party threats and denunciaion, created
pressure almost impossible to resist, Was a
source Of the greatest embarrassment to
the department As the appointing power
was also necessarily dependentupon others
Tor all its knowledge Of the fitness and abil-
ity Of the aspirants, 1t could not but be
often mislcd by the partial opinion Of
friends, the exaggerated influence Of local
aud provincial regulations, and not seldom
BY deliberate and studied fraud and living,
Thas with all these obstacles and Difficult
tiesin the way, our army has on the whole
teen so well offcered, and our SUCCESS has
been 80 seldom hazarded OF lost, by incom-
Ietency and imheci'ity, is worthy Of our
gratitude It is also encouraging to know
that we are still less liable to failure, or
disasters in the future from men who are
not TT to command. The progress Of the
war has thrown bright light on the CON-
mandipg officers, and We need not fear
1'enccfor,h, as we did year ago, the com
potency or the loyalty Of the most Of them.
Neither the government, OF the country.
las any good reason for keeping men
longer in high positions, whom the stern
tests Of actual conflict and long campaign
have declared unfit for their places. Il is
also getting to be well known whom the
country can trus:, and what generals have
passed through fire and come out pure
metal We shall expect to see MANY
changes made in the ranks Of the army.
and with the increased force Of the new
le'1es, and the enthusiasm and spirit which
sAey viii feel in being led by men whose
courage and skill have been proved, We
shall look for more rapid advances an1
greater victories than We have yet seen.
The often DEFEATED, and ever bafflcd he
rots Of the last campaigns will find them
selves transferred to posts where stratecv
can be studied, tactics practiccd, and the
science Of war unfolded, with none to mo-
lest CT make afraid There are positions
10 be found, whtTc change OF bnse can be
made without hszard where to keep Open
Il line Of retrca1 would be the hi:ht Of
folly; and where your enemy can never
ste your hack, f,r tcere is uo enemy uear.
IL IS fortunate for The country that these
places mus: be held, possessed and occu-
pied. As these positions are never attacked
they can never be surrendered; and as the
enemy will never come near, teachery
can never yield them up. No better place
can be found for the heroes of Munfords-
vile and Harper's Ferry; no other promo
ton should wait for the sluggar1, the COW
ard, OF the oft-bcaten, but never yielliug
commander, who is always fastening to
lew retreats, and fresh disasters.