Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-03-03
TIE sEORErARYsuIps OF WAR AND NAVY.


70 the RSstor i the Wig
Il times of such profound peril IS that through which
We are now passing we calno. hszlrd the experiment Of
eutrusting military aft irs to popular politicians The
true patriot when c,red position beyond his oapaci
ty, or when rewarded with bonors beyond his merit
should decline both Every plowman is not Clncinna.
us; every lawyer is no. Secretary of War nor is
every chairman of NaTa Committee Secretary Of the
Navy.
lis w,n to pause and ask ourselves the question,
have the rghs in those two departments of the
Government, upon whom the Defence tho existence Of
this Ocnfe1eacy 30 much dependss Have the ScretA-
ry OF War AMI the Secretary o! the Navy the ability,
the experiences the common sense which their Offices
demand at this critical psriol' II they have no. these
psep, Ct the South d. mAnd that their places shall be
supplied by those who have.
As much the Yankees are dees.ed By the people Of
the South, it would be veil to initiate them in p'
ticuars at least: first OF ALL in dcp-rias iaeoppcts
Of req ,asiJls eSess; aud secondly, in prSsper
anes. The very idol Of the Nor,h-old Scott, failed,
but be paid the pensl Y; and with Mcdowell, Ere
mont and Stone; ard though it known their Navy
soud give them greatly the advantage over US, their
Oopgres has appropriated millions Ai:er millions for the
construction of gunboats, aud for every possible con-
tr,v'nce that could aid in sabjussiioa, aud set a.
nought the mes: mush obslinscy of their highest off
cills opposed TO their designs.
1, may be i.:imsd, it may be unfortunate, that any
oh,er o; tho Government should be censured at this
time. Wa kGoE that eosmies will gloat over the
least'sgu of m,souteut when they endeavorng to
persuade themselves tia. there is an element 10 this
Oonfderscy scloi:ou for reconstruction Of tho Unioa
bu les them goal on. To talk of sublgs!ion is folly
10 think Of submission is treason. II Is the great body
o. the people who have staked their lives their for
tunes snd their scrsd honors in this their struggle for
all that is dear to nln-it is the people who demand
energy instead Of apathy; ability instead of mbeciy
ra,ous scQaesceree instead of buhealsd obstinecy.
II the members Of toe C1binst are to b, toyed with as
- many pupps : II they 70 have no individuality,
10 opinion no pswer M choice 10 the selection Of the
cscs serving under their if,rcut Departments If the
P;csien il to be both President and Cabinet the Cab
net il a silly peadalt Of ths Government and to all in.
tents and purposes we hal 0s vel drift at ino
absolute .mola-eNy. As mu,h IS vc admire TIE slga
city Of oCr Pr1sdeDt a s.AtssmIn, IS much rs We Rd
Inire hs ability aud courage soldier, much as
Se honor hin Pet dent, do no, believe il IA
in the power Of mortal man TO dc;ompsh wat he urder
takes TO do. To relieve him Of such fearful RESPONSE
bit7 aud 10 the country years Of the mOst devAs
asing and oa'hsons war the right mrs be put in
the right place. Tie rstUS If IA, e6ee must suggest
t's character cf t+s naH John B. Floyd and Ro. E.
lee both holding high commissions, both having seen
ssyice, both knowing tao requirements Of the army,
bo,h msn Of eK.rsodnsry slgasisy, the country would
hzNTd nothing in sevsing either to the responsible Of
6ss OF Sscretlry of War. NithsO F. Ea'Ty and Wm.
r. Lynch, bo.h well known 10 science and the world,
both Es familiar Esh naval ttfrs Household words
either would mAks sleb Secretary Of the Navy as we
we'll might 6e proud OF. B.