Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-08-11
From the Richmond Examiner
"OHE! JAM salts
"a Letter from the Il


"a Letter from the Mississippi !
In Burke's Thoughts on the Cause of the
Present Discomfort occurs these admirable words
"It is undertaking of some degree of delicacyl
to examine into the cause of public disorders. III
touch the true grievance, there is danger that
he may come near to persons of weight and consc-
quence, who will rather be exasperated at the dis
coveTy Of their errors than thankful for the occasion
Of correcting them. If he censureS those in power
he will be looked on an instrument Of faction
But in all exertions of duty, something is to be
hazIrded. When the affairs of the nation 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 fortunate to discover the source
of the mischief and to suggest any probable method
of removing it, though they may dSpleaSe 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 imperatively 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 shout.
ders should the weight of nations just indgna.
ton be laid !?
When the disastrous results of the battle of Cor.
NTH, garingly published the incapaclty 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 cavil, determined his competency
for the position; why was he not placed in com
mand Simply because the President entertained
a personal disnclinaton 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 OminOus
foreOodings accompanied him as he travelled hither.
He took command amid the suppressed murmurs
of people to whom he was siugularly unwelcome.
Though Disconnected we hoped for the best, and
awaited Their result 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 i'll luck
could not be concealed by his fussneSS; diStrustful
inutterings filled the land. The State Of Mssis.
sippi protested, the people clamored for his re-
mOVal ere all was lost the army grumbled as loud
" as fear of a handkerchief, stout tree, and
lille of men," would permit and the press teemed
with warnings. Upon every street corner was
heard the prediction: "it Pemberton is retained in
command, we shall lose VickSburg." What did
accumulated warning, prOtestation and pleading
avail Serene upon the frgd heights of an inialli-
BILE egotism, sat Mr. Davis wrapped in sublime self
complacency turning deaf ear to all, and res lived
to maintain his protege though the cause should
sustain rremediable injury. The result proved the
superior wisdom of the Masses and the cupable
obstnacy of the President 1t has been said of
him, BY one who knew him well he prides him.
self on never changing bis mind; and popular
clamor against those who possess his favor only
knits him more stubbornly to them" of the truth
of which assertion, the retention of Mallory IS a
painful exemplifcation. There is an old Spanish
adage, which might with justice be quoted here {:
"A wise man sometimes changes his mind
but-&c"
Vicksburg fell, through an Improvidence for which
there exists not the shadow of palliation Its
mander urged to provision the city for twelve
months siege; the overhowing 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-
sissippi contained horses and mules enough to have
conveyed such amount of supplies that the
stores of Vicksburg night have riValled those Of
Odessa. The absolute necessity of ACCOMPLISHING
provisions patent to plain common sense civil
ians, who even never heard of West Point; yet an
able statement of facts has been published by lone
of the garrison" asserting that when Grant invest
ed the place, it contained only fifteen days rationS
and has not been contradicted Either General
Pemberton is traitor, or so completely incapable
that he was unfit, not merely for the command of
VickSburg but for any command requiring fore
thought Upon one or the other horn of the d.
lemma he must inevitably be gored. Yet even
now in the midst of the disasters necessarily incl
dent to his conduct, the country is disposed to
credit the charge of incompetence, rather than &C.
cuse him of treachery. We have able, energetic
Generals Smith, Hardee, Breckenridge
any one of whom would have held Vicksburg had
they commanded the Department confded to Gen.
Pemberton Who is responsible for the loss OF
0VickSburg and Port Hudson, the sackng of Jack.
son and the devastation Of Mississippi? Mr. Davis,
elone=-for retaining in command man who the
whole country foreknew, months ago, would ruin
that State which protested against him. The apol,
ogsts OF the President have attempted to cast the
blame on General Johnston, and to blaeken the
aard won reputation Of the abest strategist In the
Contcderacy. This worse than Carthagenian in.
Justice has aroused the indignation of the public
The people cling fondly and proudly to their old
battle Scared favOrite, aud, pointing to Richmond,
angrlIy proclaim: Not Gen. Johnston, but M
DGots Is to blame" Unfortunately, General John
ston IS not ubiquitous; he was set to watch tw,
men IN different sections, neither of whom coulC
be trusted in matters involving military acumen O
strategy. If he left General Bragg to himself blum