Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-04-09
:. For the Standard.
THE SUSPENSION OF FLOYD.

.s- 2 = =
THE SUSPENSION OF FLOYD: 80
It sseems from late developments that the man
who exhibits the highest courage and the moss ~,
sstent energy is not always certain to msc . Win
due appreciation and consequent reward IaouEn
the war we are now engaged in with our ,mp
and inhuman enemy is no less .unparslieeu n', 20
wickedness than it is exorable In its demanos 10,
the modest exhibitions Of sacrifice ana sunels s
pluck yet comparatively few leaders nave S;,
before the public gaze. who have disp.ayea On ao:
ty equal to the crisis, ana nave ,"s \, - -;
action thorough appreciation OF the pressing e1r
gercee of the hour Having carefully watched the
evants of the war as they have TRANSFERRED nave
sse,' sonr characters standing forth like "Agamen-
o, King of men," above their fellows, and as each
have daringly seized upon the occasions that nave
presented themselves the muse of history pas re-
corded their names in letters OF living light upon
her imperishable scroll. The first, Beauregard, 10
nrenarinc, even while WRITE to meet the proud
and unprinciped invader by calling into requisition
the nowerfu! resources of his ALMOST inexhaustible
mind. and by rallying around him at jackson the
dashing and intrepid soldiery Of the South. The
second Sterling Price, is fresh from another CORY
battle-plain, from whence ne mas ooluly pluckea
another leaf to be added to the unfading chaplet of
his glory. The third Earl Van Dorm, holds his
sword still red and dripping with the blood Of the
insolent maurauder who came forth to pillage and
Law waste the fair heritage of his fathers; and at
Eikhorn, where brave Ben McCulloch, and intrepid
Hebert, and gallant Mcintosh fell, he has added
another brilliant ray to the immortal aureola that
already encircled his name ard which had been
bravely and nobly won on other ensanguined fields.
And where is the remaining character who should
complete the group-the immortal quarternion p
Where is the grand old man who drove before him
the Eaudal foe at Cross Lanes? Where is the hero
of Carnifax Ferry who whipped 5000 Yankees with
100 men. and afterwards by an exhibition Of con-
summate stragegy foiled completely his antagonist
at the head Of 10000 we'll equipped soldiers p
Where is that citzenso6ier who did more to check
the advance Of the enemy in Western Virginia than
all the other generals combined? Where is that
man of heroic mould who marshalled our troops at
DonelSon and furnished the world with our noblest
example of endurance, determination and courage?
The answer IS he is suspended from command by Or
der of the President
To this hour this war has not given so bright a
name to the country as that of John Il. Floyd, un-
less we find it among those already mentioned, and
yet when the enemy Is laundering at the very cta-
del of our strength, he is compelled to seek hui
initiating inactivity. His unqueStioned military &C.
MUS. his unaagging energy his prodgious courage,
all lost to the country in this hour of her Crisis
And for what reason is he thus summarily disposed
of? Why this attempt to disgrace the brave old
man? Because he fought to the last at Doneson,
and would not surrender. In other words, he Is
merely the victim of army punctilio. His trans
ferrng his command to an inferior or junior coin.
marder not in accordance with the rules gov
erning such inatters-waS an nractlon OF Draconian
etiquette, and hence, however great his merit 9TH
erwise however extensive his influence or unqucs-
toned his. talents for command; however undying
his energy and unfaltering his courage-he must,
pcrchance, be for the time disgraced. Shame upon
the false judgment that s,note him! The country
should cry aloud for restoration. We have no men
of real military merit to spare We have many IT,
tied commanders, but few genuine Generals Epau-
lettes and swords are as thick Autumnsl leaves
in Vallamb-osa," and yet men Of positive stragcti.
cal ablty--of real talent for command are as scarce
as daffod,ls in winter. And how long is General
Floyd to remain under the cloud of Executive dis
pleasure? How many weeks must he do "Penance
before he receives Presidential "absolutlon?" II
is to be hoped that 70 other than mistaken judg
ment caused his suspension. The President is re-
puted everywhere a man Of high integrity, of much
fairness and honesty He is fltii5!s though, and i
he but knew it. there are thousands Of true men
as himself throughout the South, who have beer
mortified and shocked at his procedure. The write!
| of this has long been an humble admirer Of presi
! dent Davis many exalted qualities OF mind ant
character. He has especially liked him since hi:
! generous and very able defence of his brave ole
fatherin.law, Gen. Zachary Taylor, when basely rs
sailed some years ago in the old Congress- and yet
with every intelligent man with whom ne has inter
| changed opinions he must condemn his action il
! the case of Gen. Floyd as unfortunate and unwse-
I perhaps unjust. Whilst the country has been cha
! grined and has fairly groaned under the burden o
the stupid genera,shp of some, the sluggish ndit
ference of others, and the gross incompetcncy o
many, the government has still thought proper t.
retain them. Whilst Floyd. and his companion II
the disgrace attempted to be heaped upon him. Gen
Pillow, have displayed the most daring valor ant
the most unconquerable activity, they have onl!
met with frowns and reproacbes. And yet, whcl
has the President himself ever exhibited even
1.-THE of the generalship that Floyd has, whom he in
coutinently disgraces? Why, even Pillow, with al
his immense vanity, is gallant fellow and in Mex
leo, and at Belmont and Donelson, he gave evidence
of as true manhood as the leader of the Mississippi
LIST did a. Monterey and Buona Vista
The country needs in this hour of her peril, mel
| of pluck-of intrepid yalor-of matured Judgment
of fertility aad skill and consequently needs Gen
Floyd. Where is the regular Army officer, who
during this war. has shown an equal ability as
soldier if except, perhaps, the two already refer
red to? He may have acted, doubtless he did &C
contrary to ell precedent, when he handed over hi
command to Gen. Buckner, a very brave and accom-
l plshed officer. And yet in order to vndicate tn
latter was it necessary that the President shout
disgrace the former II army usage and etiquett
were rigidy enforced it is probable that all men Q
originality and resource-the Napoleons and An
drew .Jacksons of the world-would hardly be abl
to retain their commands. There are, howevc,
many Generals of poor skill and Indifferent courag
who might be placed upon this Procrustean bed an
the interests of the country suffer no serious detr
ment; but when for mere point in army usage
like Floyd is broken of his Office, for the time
the victim is not the only suferer-the people, who's
homes threatened and whose rights are endange,
ed science, become participants. If General Floy
should be privileged to fight another great battle
he will only square" his action by the "arm
rule" and fight just long enough to satisfy the re
quirements of "scence," no disgrace willis him
But if in the boldness of his intrepid soul he shout
fight fer three days, displaying throughout the pre-