Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-03-22
Plain Talk.

The Standard, It is well known, whatever sense
Of duty to the State and the country has prompted
il to say condemnatory Of the appointment Of in
competent civilians and politicians to important
trusts in the Southern army, has never spoken dis
paFagingly Of the appointment of the old United
States Army or Naval officers among US, who have
been placed in legitimate 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 priuaa fdcie evidence of his it
ness for some post, and hence, when appointed by
the authorities, have not uttered a word Of
complaint
We have, however, all along known that srery
man thus educated could not make either General
or a Commodore. A man must have the brains as
well as the culture to make either. Schooling
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 Gatlin in command OF our coast defences,
suppoSIng 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 alu-
sons 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-
gently called for. We have heard in extenuation
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 can. Our authorities both
State and Confederate military and civil, are apollo
gised for by their partzan friends in this way. Bat
will that answer2 Much as we have complained of
the civil and military authorities in this State OF
their inefficiency and bad management we have
never charged them with not trying to do their
best. We have questioned either their loyaty
OF their intention TO do well. But as an old writer
says "all the way to hell is paved with good inten-
tons" 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 a
right to expect that everything shall be done that
ought to be DONE 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 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 General
Branch it was not because doubted his patriot
ism or that he possessed ordinary courage, or that
he could 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 IL not an him. the dis
! aster at Newbern plainly proves. Should he live
to be an hundred years DID, he will never have a
better chancs...' 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 incompetency or iDeficIency in
either of the Generals, the Engineer or coward,
ice in any of the officers, let them be dealt with
promptly and deservedly. 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 ineificen-
cy, incompetency or cowardice, We should demand
bis removal