Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-08-12
From the Richmond Examiner.
"OHEl JAN Salts !"
"A Letter from the Mississippi

From the Richmond Examiner.
"OHEi JAN SATISl"
"A Letter from the Mississippi
In Burks's "Thoughts on the Cause of the
Present Discomfort occurs these admirable words
II is an undertaking of some degree OF delicacy
to examine into the cause of public disorders. If
man touch the true grievance, there is danger that
he may come near to persons of weight and conse-
ouence, who will rather be exasperated at the dis
covery of their errors than thankful for the occasion
of correcting them. If he censures those in power
he will be looked on as an instrument Of faction.
But in all exertions of duty, something is to be
hazardei When the affairs of the nstlon are dis.
tracted private people by the spirit of the law
justified in stepping little out of their ordinary
sphere. They may look into them narrowly; they
may reason upon them literally; and if they
should be so fortunate to discover the true
of the mischief and to suggest any probable method
of removing it, though they may displease the
rulers for the day, they certainly of service to
the cause of the Government"
The present crisis of affairs in the Confederacy
not only sanctions but imperstively demands the
closest, most searching inspection by the people,
and the prompt institution of rigid reforms by
their representatives 1t is useless and childish to
attempt to disguise the fact that gross official blum
ders and culpable negligence long continued, have
brought the country, within the last few months,
under very great misfortune Upon whose shoul-
dsrs should the weight Of . nation just indigna-
ton be laid +?
When the disastrous results of the battle Of Cor.
inth glaringly published tho ncapacty of Gen. Van
Dorm to properly handle the army Of Mississippi,
which the doating fondness of Mr.. Davis had en-
trusted to his mismanagement, the people insisted
upon an immediate change of officers, and all eyes
turned upon General Price, who was regarded as
the hope of the West, and who possessed not only
the love of the army, but the implicit confidence Of
the people. His brilliant antecedents in Missouri
had, beyond all cayil determined his competency
for the position; why was he not placed in COM
mand! Simply because the President entertained
q personal disnclina:ion to him. To the profound
chagrin of the country, lat least Of the West Gen.
PembertOn was created Lieut. General, and ordered
to the department of the Mississippi Omnous
forebodings accompanied him as he travelled hither
He took command amid the suppressed murmurs
Of people to whom he was singuarly unwelcome
Though disconnected, we hoped for the best, and
awaited theresul Very soon it became painfully ap-
parent, to even the must obtuse, that the General
whom South Carolina distrusted, because of his
course at Charleston, rapidly wrecking the for
tunes Of the West His incapacity and illluck
could not be concealed by his assness distrustful
nutterings filled the land. The State of Mssis
sippi protested, the people clamored for his re-
tnovA ere all was lost; the army grumbed Is loud.
ly a. fear of handkerchief, stout tree, and q
file of men," would permit, and the press teemed
with warnings. Upon every street corner was
heard the prediction sit Pemberton ia retained in
command. we shall lose Vicksburg" What did
accumulated warning, protestation and pleading
avail. Serene upon the frigid heights Of an nalli.
bic egotisa, sat Mr.. Davis wrapped in sublime self
eomplaceney, turning deaf ear to ALL and res lived
to maintain his protege, though the cause should
sustain irremediable injury. The result proved the
superior wisdom of the masses, and the culpabe
oostnacy of the President. 1t has been said of
him, by one who knew him we'll: "he prides him.
self on never changing his mind and popular
elamer against those who possess his favor only
knits him more stubborny to them" of the truth
OF which assertion the retention of Mallory Is
painful exempli6cation. There is an ole. Spanish
adsge which might with justice be quoted here
"A wise man sometimes changes his mind,
but-&c"
Vicksburg fell, through an lmprovidenee for which
there exists not the shadow of palliation Its COM
mander was urged to provision the city for twelve
months siege; the overlooking granaries Of the
State were at his disposal railroad transportation
WAS within his grasp; wealthy planters offered
large quantities of corn and bacon if he would on
ly remove it; and besides railroad facilities Mis-.
sssippi contained horses and mules enough to have
conveyed such an amount Of supplies that the
stores OF vicksburg might have riyalled those of
Odessa. The absolute necessity of accommodating
provisions was patent to plain common sense civil.
tana, who even never heard of West Point: vet an
able statement of facts has been published by zone
Of the garrison" asserting that when Grant invest.
I'd the place, it contained only fifteen days ration.
and has not been contradicted Either General
Pemherton is traitor, or SO completely ipcanab,e
that he wss unfit, not merely for the command Of
Picksburg, but for any command requiring FORE
thought Upon one or the other horn of the di.
isuns be must inevitably be gored. Yet even
now in the midst Of tho disasters necessarily liner.
dent to his conduct; the country is disposed to
credit the charge Of incompetence rather than &C.
cuse him Of treschery. We have able, energetic
aenerals-Kirby Smith, Hardee, Breckinrldee-
.aly one of whom would have held Vicksburp. had
they csmmanded the Department ccnfded to GEN
,pemb1rtoa. Who is responsible for the loss of
'Vicksburg and Port Hudson, the sacking of jack.
son and the devastation of Mississippii Mr. Davis
eIone-for retaining in command man who, the
whole country forsknew, months ago, would ruin
that Stats which protested agsnst him. The apol.
6giss ef the President have attempted to cast the
blame on General Johnston, and to hacksn the
hard won raputation Of the ablest sttsgist in the
gonfedsracy. gItis- worse than Csrthagenian ia.
iustics, has ltss6sathe indignation Of tho public.
Ths people cling 1eadly and proudly 70 their old
baans Scared svosasA .sud, pointing 70 Rehuopd,
sngrity prseIsim: 3 Hot GSs. JokastoA, 5but Xr.
Dapi u 10 6lossp Unfortunately, General John.
Bton is net abiqnitous; he was set to wstch two
4sn 10 different sections, neither Of whom could
5e trusted 10 matters involving military acumsn or
strategy. Hhe LEFT General Btags to himself blum