Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-01-01
Rr;rsd;er Generals.


A long list of Major and Brigadier Generals is
published in the papers as having been recently APP
pointed by President Davis, and approved by the
Confederate Congress. Some of them are doubtless
good appointlnents-most of them may be, but it is
enough TO make an honest patriot who loves the
South and his native State, treinulous with fear,
sick and dsheartened, when he witnesses the mis-
erably ruinous partyism which manfestly con-
trolls the government in making these appointments.
1t is unpleasant to US to speak out in this way
Would to Heaven We could conscientously and
heartily give our sanction to every act and move
ment both of the State and Confederate govern
ments. But we are at war with powerful enemy.
At no period of the war has he made such gigantic
efforts as he is now making. He is bringing into
the field the largest the best equipped and the most
thoroughly appointed army the world has seen.
His commercial marine he is converting into war
vessels, which added to his large and efficient Navy,
will harrass and blockade the coast of this and every
Southern State Every imaginable engine of war
which genius can invent, is being brought into
requisition at any cost, to burn our cities ravage
our country, despoil and confiscate our property,
and subjugate our people, if possible. Added to
Northern people are daily growing more hostile to
us. Abolition fanaticism is spreading wildly over
the entire population and is tanning the fame Of
hate and revenge against to its highest PITCH
All this we are at war with and yet so binding
and bunting to the sensibilities is the partizan
spirit of men in authority or those who advise and
control them, they will put at immense hazard our
sea coast inhabitants towns and cities, and
Grave soldiers, by placing men in command as Brig
adler Generals of other important trusts, who by
nature and education are unqualified, and whose
sole recommendation so far as we can see is their
party or family affiliations. In this way divisions
and strfes among us are encouraged, and our hands
are weakened while the enemy grows stronger
When will this strange infatuation cease?
We worship no man. We disposed to over
estimate the claims of the old military and naval Of
fcerS of the country. A West Pointer, unless he
be a true and genuine officer, does not strike our
fancy, simply because he hac a military education.
Some of them, perhaps, not much better to COM
mand than other men. Few of them are equal, in
our estimation, to Sterling Price, of Missouri; but
We hold that where competent men of thorough mil
itary education be obtained for positions of dan
preferred before Others all things else being equal
The removal of Gen. Hill from our Eastern coast,
would have been borne kindly by our people, if his
place had been adequately supplied. Recently, Gen.
Pemberton has been removed from the brigade near
Smithfeld, Va. and it is said that Hon. Mr.. Pryor,
Of Va, political Colonel in the brigade, is talked
Of as his successor. Col Pryor is member of
Congress and Of ability and ought to be in
his proper place, but certainly he cannot be named
as an equal to command brigade, with Colonel
Daniel, a military man and splendid officer, of the
same brigade We do not 60 beyond the brigade
itself to find man worthy of the post and it does
seem TO be the part Of wisdom where there is Col
one in brigade as competent Col. Daniel is said
to be by all who know him, that the honor and the
responsibility should be conferred upon him.
| The crisis demands the most skillful and wise
management on the part of our authorities. Every
minor consideration should be sacrificed to unite
our people as man in this great contest We
must have the very best officers which can he OBJ
tanned in all departments, regardless utterly Of their
former political creed their present ability and
disposition to promote future party interests. The
! great concern of the South is the present Every
thing must be merged into the great present con-
test. We must defeat our powerful enemy, and
drive him back. Every slave State must be rid o.
the foot of the abolition INVADER and it must be
| done soon. Let then, bygones be by-gones, we
say, and let the future take of ITSELF the nou
concerns us most and let every man, woman and
child forget every thing else but the freedom of the
South, and justice, full justice to all our people
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