Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-02
THE POSITION OF THE GENERAL-IN-cHIEF.

We are glad to perceive that we are not alone in
the opinions we have repeatedly advanced in favor
of committing to the Geueral-in Chief a larger
measure of actual direction over the operations Of
the armies of the Union than we are left to believe
from his own statement of particular instances,
has been uniformly awarded to him by the Presi-
dent. That the recent proposition of the New
York Evening Post, advocating the substitution
of military board of officers for the individual
direction nominally committed to Gen. Halleck,
should find none to second it was to be expected,
as that proposition, made in singular disregard Of
the considerations which argue against it, whether
as derived from the most primary elements of rea-
SON or the most familiar Lessons of history, was
doubtless inspired by some transient resentments
at the alleged opposition of Gen. Halleck to the
employment of particular Generals, in whom the
Post takes personal interest from community Of
past political feeling of present policy in the
theoretical conduct Of the war.
RemarkiDg on these points, that judicious sup
porter OF the Administration, the Boston Daily
Advertiser, holds the following language:
I'VE have already called at en'lon to what seemed to
US the TO tunatey anomalous Io-ti f Gen Halleck
Thr President, who is the nonnsl C. hi
as the dep say Of the Executive power of the Govern
ment is not expected by any body act such in fact
either In the lay the -xrcut of The cam aim
That duty, is supposed will b- conf I'D in ct e. the
beet military cnpcty and experience which the President
call to his assistance. With such view of the die
rlbuton of dutes the Whol- community r. iced IN the
selection Of Gen Haeck to fill The post Chief
which had been vacant Gen McCl Han was relieved
Of its duties 1t felt all hands that greater eff
cheney and more exact responsibility could be- secured by
the appointment of such bead for armies whether
the officer filling the place we're the nominal aud lrea
commander chief rot And 1iasnn
ment has been felt at the results Of Gen Hslecks military
administration Is due, beve 10 great measure to the
fact which has been disclosed ways that he has
not uniformly exercised the powers belonging to his oHce
that instead Of berg the had of military operations he
has often been mere instrument it has been hard
10 nx the responsibility for follue his position becoming
what we have teim it, malous, instead of continuing
to be the important well defined, and useful Office which
it bad been for years uncer his PREDECESSORS.
We led to recall this subject by hr proportion re-
Gently broached for having the duties with which was
supposed hat Gen Haeck would be charged devolye upon
board OF general officers forming sort Of staff nl-
tary council for the Commander Chief of which council
Gen. Hirck, sinking The title Of Generain Chief might
b. 90 member We say that il ia with some sus-
picion that plan proposed ch long experience
has cared t. be- Of all the hods Of military manage
ment the least efficient The adniustra ion OF armies by
board auc cnunri-a title which recalls most signal
instance of he failure of uch yseu-has for years been
stgnatzed as certain to produce weakness snd hesi
of design eeblen execution, and complete uncertain
ty OF responsibility Indeed, il AXE not, the his
tory Of this very would disclose instance Of this
proving the utter iocapacy of ccunc even of the
most eminent persons to such s and the abso
lutte necessity Of trusting the ns in military
to single hand if that haud not believed to be the
strongest.
" IL would seem, then, that the proper at this
uncture would be to str nghen the hands of the General
and confirm bis authority rather than give tho
fPopsibllty, suppos TO have cevoved upon him, to a
council even Of nbest officers 1t appears however,
that there other considerations besides the vgor Of
our military management which weigh ia this case Gen.
Haeck 10 s reported has stood in the way Of more than
o the Generals who have lately teen socitous for ac
tive employment his military judgments having successfully
resisted the compliance with their wishes which the Pre-
sdent might otherwise have accorded Our readers hard
y need to Dc apprzed that have not always found it
possible to accept Gen Hallecks judgment respecting of
hcers placed utder bis authority Generaln Chefj bat
this inability to perceive the uniform wisdom Of his
by means leads to the conclusion either that he Is
unfit te hold his place that the place itself should
abolished His judgment may may not be at fault but
1t 10 any event entitled weight and deerrnce; and
must frankly admit that failing to sccrpt bis concu-
sioDs uniformly, they nevertheless vaua-
able upon the whole than those to which any council what
ever is likely to arrive"