Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-05-23
v-I.ir i.7o-To79To Vsp.

Ora Mr.. Pollard, Of Richmond, puhNsh'
I'd som months ago 4 book which he call
ed a History Of the War and the Rebellion.
This book has been re-published in New
York as q matter Of curiosity. 1t is fun
Of the peculiarities OF Southern papers
and speeches bitter invective and sweep
ing criticism, expressed in Language that
Is more forcible than eloquent. As the au-
thor says in his preface, he does not truckle
to the rebel Administration or to other high
officers, but attacks them sAvsgely when
ever he sees fit. he speaks Of its indecis-
ion, ineficiency, slowness and i~ncapaoity'
and charges it with sacrificing the inter
ests Of the Confederacy. Itspeaks Of the
loss Of Roanoke Island, and says that
awith one hand Davis sacrificed two brave
officers who had contributed TO the cOun-
trv's glory, and with the other elevated TO
the highest Office in his gift q man who, as
Attorney General, Secretary Of War, and
at last Secretary of State, seemed to an
10y the monopoly of the lucre and hOnOrs
Of state, and who had been charged, BY the
official report of ageneral in the field, ana
bv the deliberate and unanimous verdict OF
a committee of Congress, with the plain
and exclusive responsibility Of the disas-
ter Of Roanoke Island"
To those who, like the N. Y. World, think
that the "best men, mOrOlly and mental
lv.D are at the head Of the rebel Govern
ment, the following criticism upon Davis
and his Cabinet may be Of interest
president Davis has not a man 70 con-
suit. even in the smallest matter Of detail
the wisdom Of others, or to relax his pur-
purposes or personal preferences, at the
instance Of any consideration that might
compromise him in respect of conceit OF
punctillio. About nothing connected with
the new government had the popular VIII
bevn 80 clearly and emphsticslly express
ed. as the necessity Of a reorganization OF
of the Cabinet. Nobody expected those Of
foes to be permanently filed by the pro-
yisional appointees. They were not there
under an emergency in some instances
simply as compliments to certain states
and without the slightest expectation thai
thew would be imposed on the country toI
seven long yearz. Had the Union conttn-
ned. and Mr.. Davis been elected to the
Presidency, the selection Of such a Cabinet
of intellectual pigmies frem the nation 81
large would have astounded the public
The two great branches of the admins
trstion-the War and the Navy depart
ments-were in the hands Of men who hsc
neither the respect, nor the c%onhdenc'
Of the public. Mr.. Benjsmin, the Seere'
! tarv ofWar. had been seriously injured by
a number Of doubtful official acts, in thu
public estimation, which never held hin
higher thar a smart expeditions and alta
BILE official. Mr.. MalloGy, the Secretary o
the Navy, had, in the old government, II
which he was chairman Of the Senate Com
mittee on Naval Affairs, been the butt o
! of every naval officer in the country 10
his Ignorance, his sang trOid, his slow and
laundering manner and the engrossmen
, Of his mind by provisions to provide graft
fcations for his social habits.
. HPresident Davis refused to concedeany
= thing TO public sentiment with reference
to the reorganization of his Cabinet; al
though !. IS to be remarked that the de
: mand for change was mlde not By o pup
ular clamor, which g wise ruler Woul'
) have done right to disregard and to con
denim, but by that quiet, conservative ant
educated sentiment which no magistrst
, in a republican government had the RICH
l to disregard. Mr.. Mallory was retaine'
. at the head Of the navy; Mr.. Benjamin
was promoted to the s~ecretsryshiP Of tn
4 State, and the only material change in tn
Cabinet was the introduction as Secretar,
Of War Of General Randolph, Of Virginia
, q gentleman whose sterling personal wort
made him acceptable to all parties, an
q promised at least some change for the bet
ter in the administration of 3 government
? that had been eaten up by servility, an
r. nad illustrated nothing more than the In
e perious conceit Of q single man"