Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-12-16
The President and hi, r.vor,to,.

nc TteS10eht and his E0v0rltos.
In To House Of Representatives, on W Wednesday
last, Mr. Foote, of Tennessee submitted the follow
ing remarks on that part of the Presidents
In which he aseribes our defeat at Chattanooga to
the want OF courage on the part of our troops The
PRESIDENT IN defiance of the wishes of the whole
country, retains favorite in command who has lost
tennessee, part of Georgia, and part of North.
carolina; and when inquiries are made as to the
cause Of the late great disaster at Lookout and when
every one is looking to the President for the truth
on the subject he tells the country that his favor
lite not to blame, but that the responsibility for
the loss Of that battle rests on portion Of our brave
troops But to the remarks of'Gen. Foote:-
:, Nj. Foote moved, by way Of amendment, that
the committee to whom was referred that portion
u Tue ffes'dentas message relating to military at.
lars Dc instructed to enquire into the cause of our
late disastrous defeat before Chattanooga. and as
certain whether it was owing as IL armaiiv stated
Tue PRESIDENT in his message to the want Of vaor
on the part OF our army, or to other causes.
MT foote read from the Presidents message that
portion which alludes to the late battle before Chat
nnoogA He said he took issue with the President
or win any one else who would charge our army
win . want Of valor. A more valiant body Of
men the world never saw. He charged the Presi
dent with the responsibility of that defeat and he
could prove it. When Bragg was in Kentucky be
se,d then he was incompetent and should be retired
ron ne army. 1t the battle of Peryviifs, when
ne p.eposed To divide his army, military council
Was he'd and alt his officers protested against tt
More than niue months ago be had with number
OF his colleagues, the whple delegation from bis
otate-3aited upon the President and respectfully
entreated him to remove General Bragg and place
zoe johnson in command of that army. What was
the ansWery 1t was not for him to saw but the
country knows. He had been through the army in
Tennessee-he had visited all the camps-he had
talked with all the offcers-and he found nothing
gut feeling of dstrust with Bragg. His army
mad no confidence in him. He had driven all his
omcers QUIT the army. He had made MARTYR Of
Polk-he bad illuminated the gallant Breckenridge.
de was sdconstituted that he could not agree with
ms officers. he was on bad terms even with Hardee
ms was well known. He had seen letter from
Bragg to member Of Congress- fact which could
not command that army efficiently unless he could
get rid Of twelve Brigader Generals and a regiment
of fed officers.
The President had persisted in keeping Bragg in
Office against the protest of both the army and peo
pie So he did with another favorite of his-Pem.
berton. Although the Mississippi Legislature re.
pudiated Pemberton, and charged the loss OF Vicks
burg to him, all the President did was to order
court martial, which never did any thing but meet
for two days. Pemberton was still dear to the
President He was his bosom friend. While be
was here the President had entertained him in bis
house. Nor was this all. What must he do, when
he goes South, but to take Pemberton along with
him. Wherever he went Pemberton was with him.
When he visited the army in Tennessee, and re-
| viewed it, he passed before our men with Pember
| ton on his side but he was glad to know that, on
passing portion of the army, murmur rang along
the lines and the men pointed at Pemberton saying
"There goes the traitor thas sold Vicksburg."
| Just before the battle before Chattanooga the
| President agreed to dividing and weakening the
army by detaching Longstreets command, although
the enemy in front were before Longstreet was sem
off, far superior in numbers to our army. Our army
had been left but forty thousand men, as he learned
officially at the War Department. while the enemy's
force was estimated at one hundred.to one hundred
and ten thousand. Had Longstreets command no
been sent away We should in all human probability
army bad never brought out any good. They bat
only been productive Of disaster. Had he neve
have gone up to the army after the first battle o
Manassas our troops would have taken Washington
The President ordered Bragg to fight the battle o
| Murfreesboro, and here again was the suit of hi
military counsels. Would to God he would neve
visit the army again.
The President had charged the army with wan
Of valor, but be charged the President with gros
misconduct in retaining his avorites in Office, an
with partiaities and preudices which, if persisted
in longer, will prove fatal to our cause.
Mr.. Fcote said that the President had charged hi
(Foote's) constituency with want of valor and h
wanted the facts IN the case. If he was the onl
man in the House who had the courage to cast
vote Of censure on the President for maligning GU
brave army he should at least, exercise that priv
lege.
Mr.. Miles, Of South. Carolina, suggesting that til
subject had best 60 to select committee, for en-
qury, Mr.. Foote withdrew bis resolution"