Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1863-12-04
GIVE A CORDIfL SUPPORT.


GIVE A CORDIfL SUPPORT.
When that model OF unfitness, Abe
Lincoln, beheads a General, becanseo Of
failure to.maintain his position, in tn
trenchlnents with superior numbers
even, as did Mcclellan around Rich
mond, our people rejoice at the bad
policy Of Lincoln in retiring the I'M
successful commander and placing
some other in his stead to inspire his
soldiery with sufficient confidence for
another trial. 1t was sheer nonsense
to remove an officer of the acknowledge
ed ability of Mcclellan for failing to
accomplish an impossibility, and since
this is so it seems strange that we
should hurl invective at our chief mag
istrate for declining to do what they
find SO reprehensible in Lincoln. This
is actually more unreasonable when we
contrast the men in power. The one
an unrefned, untutored, illiterate fan
attic, the other who, possessing rare
naturaEgifts, with a cultivated intellect;
and military training, has filled other
high political positions, besides his
present, self-saclifcin one, with mark
ed ability, and when tried in the field
has proven himself equal to any emer-
gency, and in an especial manner. as
witnesseth his far famed V. at Beuna
Vista, where with his gallant Missis-
sippi Regiment he withstood the shock
Of Is, 900 Mexican Lancers and with
the terrible cross fire from the arms
of his v tore huge gaps in their serried
ranks and finally hurting them back
in confusion, won the day. He iiwat
proclaimed the originator Of this sue
cessful formation by men Of military
knowledge and experience, all othel
formations Of like shape being inten-
ded to operate from the outside of the
v. (The great value of his formation
may be more readily appreciated by
the statement of the fact that his reg
iment was armed with Mississippi
rifles without bayonets and the out
side of the V could not have offered
very serious obstacle to attack without
the latter, from the inside the cross
fire utterly prevented approach to any
thing like bayonet distance) His
preference was to occupy position in
the field in this struggle in which he
would have exhibited marked ability
and for whichiwe believe him aswel1fi
ted as for the one he now holds, altho'
iv is conceded by friend and foe that
no other could take his place. From
these facts it occurs to us thatitis the
extreme of folly to find fault with the
only man who can, satisfactorily to the
majority, I'll the position to which he
has been chosen, whose endeavors can
only be for the best interest of his
country, according to his judgement,
which his exceedingly good opportuni-
ties and well conceded qualifications
prompt us in saying is generally cor
rect. We do not refer to his retention
Of General Bragg and Pemberton par
ticularly, for which he has been cen
sured greatly, not caring whether they
be retained or hurled from their posi-
tions in a twinkling, prefering to leave
that matter where it properly belongs,
in the hands of President Davis, who
in spite of the clamors of the people
retained Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston
in command and received the highest
commendations therefor after that pa
triot chieftain had so unluckily lost
his invaluable Life in defending those
who abused him. We feel that be
knows best and will decide promptly
and unhesitatingly in all matters from
the facts before him, but will not be
Induced to take false step knowingly
tho the whole Confederacy should de-
mand it. Let us then confde in The
patriotism Of our President and ceas-
ing to complain or censllre, strive te
assist him in his extremely laborious
duties by giving him that cordial sup
port which is SO essential to his sue
cessful accomplishment Of good re-
suits.