Washington telegraph., 1862-02-05
Is GEN. rRIcE SUBoRDINATED?-

1 u
Van Dorm, recently promoted 20 Major
| Generalcy in the Confederate service,
passed through this city on Sunday, en-
route for the Department of the West, to
the command of Which he has been as
signed 10y President Davis.
He is an officer of accomplished educa-
tion, decibed ability, and ample expert
ence. During the war with Mexico, as a
young West Pointer, he acquitted himself
with credit. He has continued in the
army ever since, aud is regarded by all as
capable and gallant soldier There is
every reason, therefore, why our conf
dence shall follow him in his new field of
labor; and we eutreat for him that kindly
appreciation which is SO necessary to the
success of every military leader, but,
which, under the peculiar circumstances
which environ the present instance, T ight
be withheld By perhaps an over heated
prejudice on the part of many.
But, whilst we thus sincerely accord to
Gen. Van Dorm his deserved meed of
praise, aud earnestly invoke for his miss
sion the HEARTFELT cooperation Of all good
meu, We are not to be deferred from an
expression of indignant chagrin and NOR
tiication at the continued and protracted
neglect by the Administrator at Rich
mond of the claims of Gen. Price, en-
dorseI by one unanimous sentiment of the
whole country, far and wide.
We are not 50 fully advised as to deter-
niue whether the appointment of Gen.
Van Dorm is "a subordinaton Of General
D.. Nc. -hat nd ~
our fears be true-althJugh we fervently
hope they may prove susceptible Of ex>
planatIon-the course of au honest, indie
pendent journalist Is too plain to admit of
question OF deviation. We shall not be
found wanting in our duty to fairness,
candor and integrity, both to our own
opinions, aud 10 the voice of 4 united peo.
pie, who will not receive the immolation
of d chosen hero in silence.
Meanwhi!e-uutil more fully advised
we shall speak as though our worst ap.
prehensions are realized; and endesvor to
: present some of the results, which are
sure to follow u step so disastrous. Thus
We frequently avoid danger by taking it,
like time, by the fore lock
When the first tidiHgs of the subordl
t nation OF Cen Price reached the public,
: IA burst of Indignation responded from
every newspaper aud private citizen In the
, South
TO which. what did the President say?
, He sent tclegr,phic dispatch to Mem
pnis, denoupcipg the suspicion, much less
the fact as false throughout. anu dictated
: by spirit of niaignance towards himself.
! Il g
r is TO subordinate Geu Price, or divide hi,
command, or impair his auth orIty, or in
[ any shape or form to siife the free! -!om OF
| his movements, then the dispatch of Mr.
5 Davis was Il sub; erfuge, unworthy his rep
r utation for mlnIiness and courage, aud
utterly foreign to the character of the
President of the Confederate States.
t Were it not that this is no new ques-
3 tion-whicli we have discussed SO thor
r ouohlv and reflected upon so seri usly--
, we should be inclined to doubt our own
: impressions, aud to attach much weight
to the mex plaiued course of public au-
= thoritv, But the case stands so manifest
, the service of Cen Price is SO undeni
able-and the fate of the Missouri cam,
e paign hangs SO tenderly on the issue, that
4 we cauuot be mistaken He is the Wash
S ingtou of the war Alone and unaided
o he has coll cted brave and powerful ar
= my, lily armed aud equipped, it Is true
0 but ike
Z, -''the old continentas.
E In their ragged regimentals,'
fired + Y spirit of freedom, and led by 4
cheftain Of genius, as unconqueratle a'
life. With these self-sacriicing children
; of faith, lie has noby stood against the
foe. Together they have swept the State
from one end to the other-here to-da '
aud there tomorrow the terror of Lyons
: aud Fremont and Halleck, ard the sever
est thorn In the side OF Federal arms. To
him, mere than to all others, are We In.
debted to day for the safety of our fron-
tier, which had, long ere this, swarned
: with double reioforcements, but for the
large force he has compelled the enemy Ia
retain in Missouri. Aud wthal, he has
borne himsef So meekly under his hon
ors, SO patlentiy, so unobtrusively. We
hear no complaint from him; throughout
his cause has been espoused ouly by hi:
fcllowmen. When he has spoken, it has
, been with his sword, flashing death to the
| fee. Noble, magnanImous, stainless hero
content to be forgotten, but not to forget
to be neglected, but not to neglect; to d.
his duty to his country, for its own sake
regardless of everything except honor and
patriotism.
!, Such is Sterling Price. For what he
is, his men adore him, and the country
round and round. loves and respects him
As our leader i'll the West, we feel an ever
confident hope, in sure triumph; anc
for what he mag do, we, in common with
united press, have called for justice tc
: him. 1t has been denied.
For why, we know not. We have
J. indeed, heard, now aud then. aud some
times violently, the most odious reasons
assigned. Such suspicious makes US blush
e We cannot believe them; and will not re
v peat them. But this will we do: we viii
T never hold our peace until ample ligh
has been cast upon subject. which W,
{ must confess grows more and more obscurt
the longer we reflect upon it; until ih,
Il lr- fcrabnJip,, of l., oo,nla a m,