Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-02-04

GENERAL GoRMAN.-It is very clear that the
opposition to the confirmation Of the nomination
Of Brigade, General Willis A. German is simply
political one. That is II springs wholly from
his bitter political opponents at home, some Of
whom are In Congress, and another an employee
Of the House Of Representatives. The pretense
under which they seek to defeat his nomination 10
that on one occasion he caused two negroes TO be
whipped. The circumstances under which he
did so, are notoriously as follows. Viz: The ne
groes in questio on occupied huts in the immediate
vicinity Of his camp, and were VIGOROUSLY en-
gagged in sureptitiously selling pestferous
whisky to soldiers. In so doing, they defeated
all Gen. Germans efforts to keep the men under
proper discipline. They were repeatedly warned
OF, and every other expedient at hand to compel
them to forego their profitable infamous traffic
with the men was essayed in vain. Whereupon
General German was ordered by his superior off,
Ger to try the virtue Of I" birchn upon them the
next time they were caught so offending; which
order he carried OUT after having carried out the
same order upon the persons of half a dozen
worthless whites engaged in the same nefarious
traffic.
Wesubmit that he not only simply did his duty,
but that II would have been better thus to have
punished the offenders long before they trsrs 90
punished.
His home political enemies here have generated
an abolition howl against him on account Of this
affair; his well-knOwn ability and efficiency as an
ofdcer having deprived them Of every other excuse
for sndeavoring to defeat his nomination He was
appointed principally on the recommendation of
General Scott, under whom he commanded a
regiment throughout the Mexican war.
We submit that II is high time that the Senate
should cease to be Influenced in acting upon
army nominations by the political efforts Of out
siders. Men must be selected for positions in the
army because they are most likely 10 make good
ofhcerS and II such men are to be driven ont of
the service by the Senate because their politics do
not square with those Of a majority of the BODY.
there Is an end Of all rational hope that the arms
Of the United States can triumph in the war.
Day by day and week by week inhamatory alb
clifton harangues are being made in the Chamber,
until large portion Of the body have worked
themselves into the belief that the country will
sustain them In driving out Of the service every
oficer who falls to set himself up against the law
OF the land where slavery is concerned. That
law is as positive in forbidding the military to
interfere with the action Of the civil authorities
In carrying out the laws for retaining fnqitIyes
from labor II is In forbiddng the military from
the exercise Of It's power TO return fugitivss from
labor. Nevertheless, the theory upon which these
sensation orators insist that all Army OH GERS shall
act hereafter, is that ii is their duty to protect
within their camps all runaway slaves Of loyal
men (as well as Of rebels) from the process of civil
law.
Now, If in the face Of the law upon this subject,
none are to be allowed to hold commissions in the
Army unless they will hereafter consent to turn
their commands into harbors for the robbery Of
loyal citizens Of their slaves, it is high time that
the country should know the fact, that 1t may hold
those to due responsibility who are thus ma king
the success Of the arms Of the United States pal
Paole impossibllity, in their work Of making abo.
Htion capital for Themselves at home