Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-03-05
RENOVATION OF THE GOVERNMENT.

The Richmond Examiner has some comments on
make the following extracts The censure may
seem severe, but the present position of our affairs
demands that the Government should he controlled
and guided by our ablest and wsest statesmen:
The public expected much more important COM
muncation from the President than this 1t is the
fcrvent hope fevery rational man and dsinterested
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, men who know the affairs
of the nation at large, men who have the motive
power of steam eng ines are needed here now
Under the present reg linen the socalled Secretaries
are mere clerks They are fit to be nothing else.-
They are men of business in their various private
professions they may be tolerably familiar and ad-
roit in the local politics of their cities and neghbor-
hoods. But not one of them is statesman of
calibre equal to these times or any other times
If any candid observer is asked for the cause of
present tide of misfortune, he will be compelled
TO give the Notifying answer: that the Yankees
have outwitted us; that they have managed their
power with much more judgment; and that on just
the point where the South supposed superior to
y,
the Yankees have beaten us. If this great reyou-
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
inexhaustible 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
hair do that Nrt,,n did f,vo ham,
Providence smile upon their endeavors. Never was
the chance of war so remarkably side in
last summer never did a government generals
enjoy such opportunities win the greatest prizes
of war with the least trouble were free peo.
pie more obedent and doclle in their department to
their rulers were politicians so important to
disturb government never in any was money
so plentiful, bread so abundant, leves so easy. The
Confederacy has had everything that required
for success but one and that one thing it and
it is supposed to possess more than anything else
namely, talent. But the Conlederacy has not shown
ability ir conduct. We have refused fortune when
it was thrust upon US, and permitted the magnificent
armies that rushed forward last year to dwlndle
into imbecility and insgnlfcance. Yet State
has or docs refuse its quota every quota that the
government would ask of any State would be ordered
without murmur. No frmness 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
lieutenants and colonies have been erected into major
generals without achievement or 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 knowl-
edge. and enduring energy.
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 vgor to call into full action the powers
and resources Of the Southern republic Unless we
can get such persons to do the hea6-work of the
nation, our great means as useless as the gold
that is buried All party hates, all personal tends,
all popular decisions should be kicked out of the
way In 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.