Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-06-25

responded to without stint. The grand army of the
Mississippi now at Cornth concentrated with almost
magical despatch the tons of gun metal from church
BELLS and the noble alacrty of the people IN making
every contribution in their power to the comfort ana
strength of that army all so many proofs OF the
ability and the eagerness OF the press To perform us
duties to the country its time oil trial.
This is war of opinion as well as OF arms II
our military Generals lead the soldiers OF liberty to
the cannons mouth on the battlefield, it is the Gen.
erals of the Press who plan and fight the great moral
battles of the revolution. The one deals i'll bayonets,
bombshes, blood and snews, and the other marshals
the spirits of the revo luton, inspires the courage
and persuadcs 10 the sacrifice of the people.
The army could no more carry on the war of IN
dependence without the press, than the press could
spare the army; and while the Chiefs of the army
upon the occurrence Of every crisis acknowledge
their position by their free use of its moral arms,
they owe to that coordinate power of the revolution,
at least respect and common justice"
MAJOR WEBB AND CAPTAIN FREELAND.
We regret to learn that Maj. Robert F. Webb of
Orange has been compelled by a sense Of self
respect, to resign his commission as Major of the
9TH Regiment of n. 9. State troops. The citizens
of this county will recollect that he was the senior
Captain of that Regiment and raised one OF the first
companies that entered the service twelve months
ago and that on the resignation of Lient Colonel
Dortch, Major Lightfoot became Lien'. Colonel and
Capt. Webb became Major. In this office lie served
with distinction in the battle of Manassas, ard in
all the subsequent engagements of the Regiment
lncluding'the recent fight OF Seven Pines, on the
ChickahOminy, in which his conduct is highly com
mended. But immediately after this desperate bat
tie told, he was ordered to- tranfer the COM
mand of the Regiment which he held for the time
being to Capt J. Avery, third fourth Captain in
the grade below him, whom the Governor OF North
Carolina had appointed Lieut.. Colonel in place Of
Lieut. Col Lightfoot, elected Colonel Of another
Regiment We are informed. that the rule is we'll
established, whenever promotion is made by Exec
utlve appointment, that seniority of commission en-
titles officer matter of right, to succeed to the
place next above him, in case of vacancy, i'll all reg
mental offices. This is so well established that
had the President under the former government Of
the United States, TOmInaed a Junior officer to hill
a vacancy in such a case the Senate would have
promptly rejected the nomination. But indepen-
IDENTIFY of the rule Maj Webb was entitled by his
merits to receive this promotion, and TO be spared
the degradation implied by denying 1t to him. lie
had served creditably officer Of the Orange
company of the y. Regiment in the war with
Mexico, and when the Regiment to which he is at
tachcd in this was formed, knew far more Of
discipline and the duties of camp and garrison thar
any officer belonging to it with the exception, per-
haps, of Maj Lightfoot. In diligent attention to,
and intelligent performance OF duty, IN Sobrlety and
in honorable bearing, venture to say that he has
been eXceiled by no officer in the service. His res
lSnatOn uiltSr lne>e Ct culSlAnCeS tIlcIciOTe Was
indispensable to the maintenance Of his honor
Capt. William j. Freeland Of Orange, who was bad
" wounded in the battle last mentioned, is also
overSaughed by this proceeding. lie was next in
rank to Major Webb, end upon the proper promo
ton of the latter to the Lieutenant Colonelcy,
entitled to become Major. BIT the rights of both
are dSregarded to provide for a junior Captain
We are not in the habit Of harsh comment on the
conduct of public functonarIes but we have deemed
it duty to call attention to this violation Of the
rights of two gallant citizens of Orange who were
among the earliest to rally Tor the defence Of their
country in this war, who have now become veterans
in danger and suffering, and to protest against it
U;lLSjyrJ Researcher