True Democrat., 1863-02-18

sAotmeS, Wnlen, III tnlS cIISIS oA oNA - struggle, is of such an extraordinary character that we do not feel at liberty to pass 1t by in silence. rtre~ fs F. I~s Without expressing any opinion, or desiring to enter into the merits of any difficulty between Gen. Holmes and Gen. Pike, we must be per mittcd to place upon record our disapprobation yaof Gen Pike's publication. So strong is that disapprobation, and so high has been ouropln ion of Gen. Pikes services to the country, 1t IS almost impossible for us to believe tha. he either wrote, or caused to be published, the letter in.question. It is So unlike our idea. o' him-so unlike the patriot who would suffer and bear in silence any wrong, rather than utter a murlner that would in the least initiate against the cause of his country. Even if every com | plaint Gen. Pike makes were true, or every charge he prefers could be proved, the pubcn ton of his letter would have been unfortunate The public was not the tribunal at this time to which he should have appealed. From it, he could expect no relief except in downright rev oluton. It has no other power just now of af> forling relief. The only effect of his letter, an effect we cannot believe he desired, was to in- ! flame the discontent already instigated by dis loyal persons, and to excite opposition to our government now in struggle for independence. We sincerely wish, not only for the sake of the cause. but for Gen. Pike s- own sake, that we could blot out the record he has made by this publication.
 The public was not q .fair tribunal either, to which to appeal. Gen. Pike ought to have known that he was arraigning Gen. Holmes at a bar, where, in his present position, he would have no hearing, and that any judgment obtain ed would be mere CT parte, one sided affair. It is impossible for Gen. Holmes, at this time, to descend into newspaper, or pamphlet con troyersy, with Gen. Pike or any one, else. He would prefer to suffer every degree of misrepre- sentaton and miscoastructioa, rather than vindicale Limselfin an angry controversy which woul, certainly result in detriment to the cause.
 The proper course for Gen. Pike to have pur- sued, had he been wronged as deeply as he thinks, was either to have preferred charges and demand ed a.court martial or to have addressed himself directly to the President. Failing to obtain justice by either of those methods, he should not only have suffered in silence until peace was conquer ed, bat he should have continued unabated- his efforts forihe cause. With how much more grace, and how much more effect could lie not then have nshe his appeal to thcpuhlic7
 /Gen Pike complains of the estab lishment of mar tial law last summer in this State. At the time it was proclaimed sthough known to be illegal, it was not only cheerrally obeyed, but heartily,ap proved by nearly all of our best and purest citizens -Ev cn here inthis city, where it's rgors were most severely felt. where citizens vero not permitted to leave their houses after nght-fal, and where their property was ,indiscriniinately impressed for the patdc service, not single protest was nase,. or objection urged. s'~-
 All bore it as a necessity upon us, brought about by the invasons of the enemy, and the terror and ~hight of the State authorities, which left with out government, or any. protection from anarchy whatever, save that alfyrdel blythe martial law then proclaimed and so cheerfuy conformed to by our people. Gen. Pike, though now bitterest in his sdenunciations against it,was not here either to feel it's importance, or to suffer its rigors. And more at the very time he complained of martial tuW III hfkdn-iS HH was NuScu anu enforcing it in the Indian country.
 The only just complaint that can be urged against the martial law enforced in this State last summer, though illegal and only to be justified by the perils of the times, not against its first toblishment, but it's continuance after all danger had disappeared, and the State authorities had re- turned to the capital.
 And this ground of complaint was quietly re- inovedf,y Gen. II lines soon after his arrival, aud so quietly that few can fix the date when it was done. Gen. Holmes came here in sngleness of heart to serve the country, and not to make public favor by publishing his acts. What he dil was done unostentateusly, though none the less efec- lively. Gen'l Fixes letter is dated in December last, and he evidently then thought for he declares it, that martiallaw .ll in force, when the fact was it had been long in disuse In fact, it had not been practically enforced at all by Gen'l Holmes, though he retainel the Provost Martials to arrest r descrters and organize conscripts. Many traitors, with arms in their hands, it is true, have been rested by him, but we believe, in every instance, they were handed over to the civil authorities. )
 Gen. Pike, to throw the greater odium upon Gen- Holmes, says the Indian country is lost-that it is "f not fuct accomplished, is facf insstabIe" In this assertion. 50 caI.mitons to the cause. Gen Pike was hasty and premature. Gen. $ :ce, now in com narl in the Iniapterritory, is at Ft. Smith with a brigade of inflntry and one of cavalry, be sides several regjnents of Iadi m troops; an the only fcderals4known to be in that region. are from 50O to 7o0, left at Fayetteville when Gen. Blunt retireIfnto Missouri If there is any danger in the Inaian country, it arises alone from the fear oi starvation, and to relieve this every thing is being done that is. possble-by hauling supplies from Texas, and by boating corn up the Arkansas rivaT to Ft. Smith. The Indian country is not iost.- The assertion was entirely premature.
 ' Gen. Pike, suffering under a sense of supposed wrong inflicted by others, and laborng to make out strong case for himself, has done Gcn. Home- injustice in several particulars which we know of, that he will one day learn and with magnanimity endeavor to repair. One of them is his taunting al fusion to what Gen Holmes has pro6tcd by joining the South, his mention of the fact that G en Holmes was only major in the old army, but is now lieutenant general.
 Gen Holmes aspouscd tho southern canse, be cause as native of the South, it was his own. He bud no where else to go. One of tde first to re-