The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-10-25
PARLOR GEN ERALS.

An exchange remarks that stranger WOuio IA
turaly conclude that our entire population had
been educated in the art of war, from their inces-
SAINT criticisms on the conduct and movements of
our military leaders. This is emphatically too
true. Editors especially given to such criti-
cisms. They not only criticise what our generals
have done, but advise them what they ought to do.
And even then, should the Generals do what they
advise, they complain that it was not done at the
right time or in the right way. We have an in
stance before us in which this system is applied to
the War Department also The Richmond Exam
liner says: "The revocation of details, like many
other measures of the War Department, ought to
have been earlier. If the Order had been pub
lished three weeks ago." &c. &c. We will sup
pose that the Examiner advised the measure three
weeks ago, (though We consider that doubtful
Perhaps the Secretary not able to jump at con-
illusions, like the Examiner, and required the
three weeks to examine into the matter. Three
weeks deliberation upon so serious step would
not seem to be unreasonable-the time is but
moment in the life Of a ration-and we think the
Examiner should have RETAINED from carpng
when its wish was accomplished. But perhaps the
Examiner has an eye to the future. If things turn
out well, nobody will remember the Examiners
complaints. If i'll, the Examiner will be able to
say, otis all owing to your doing it three weeks
earlier, We advised" It was a we'll known prn-
ciple of action of old Mr.. Macon, during his Con-
gressiona career, to vote against measures because
as he said, if they passed and were of public uti
ty, 10 one would remember that he voted against
them. If they should prove of evil tendency, he
could say, II told you sol voted against them"
We have heard an officer Of some experience saw
that the soldiers 10 the field look with unquestion
ing reliance at the orders and movements of their
leaders. They do not critcise, but rely upon the
skill and devotion of those whose duty it is to plan
and to order, and who have opportunities to secure
the information necessary to the formation of wise
plans and orders 1t mis- hit cure some Of our par
or Generals of their propensity to criticism if they
would take the field in the ranks, learn to obey
and thus qualify themselves to command
We are looking to sec some of the grumblers rail
| out against Gen Hoods movement to Sherman's
rear 1t affords fine opportunity for criticism,
upon Mr.. Macons principle. o.
SerUer.
THE NORTHWESTERN CoNspIRAcY-Astound-
| ing Developments "A commission is in session at
indianapolis, Indiana, to investigate the case of H.
Is. Dodd and others, charged with being connected
with reasonable organization for the overthrow
of the United States. The cross-exaalination of
Felix 5. Stiger, the Government witness, brought
cat the fact that the revolutionary programme of
the Order Of the Sons Of Liberty" of which Dr.
6owles is military chief included rebellion in the
West in cooperation with an invasion by the Con-
federates. According to this programme, Illinois
was to furnish fifty thousand men, who we're to con-
| centrate at st. Louis and to cooperate with Mis-
souri,, which was to furnish thirty thousand and
these combined forces, to cooperate With Price,
were to invade Missouri with twenty thousand, or
what force President Davis could furnish; and that
the one hundred thousand in all were to hold Mis-
souri, against any Federal force brought against
them. Indiana to furnish forty thousand or
sixty thousand men to cooperate with whatever
force Ohio might send; and all these to be
thrown on Louisville, aud were to cooperate with
whatever force President Davis could send to East
ern Kentucky, under Buckner and Breckenridge,
or whoever he mi ht deem best to conduct the o.
erations. This was the programme DR.. Bowles
gave the witness in the early part of May, 1864.
Early IN June, OF the present year, DR.. Bowles
told the witness that the uprising would take place
if they could obtain the cooperation of Colonies
Jesse, Siphert and Walker, in Kentucky.
There is good zeal Of Luubuggery in the
above
A GIANT OAK.-A friend informs US that in
the yard of the late Gen. Alexander Gray, of Ran
dolph county, there stands a white oak tree whose
diameter is 8 feet. 1t stands on a rich pa. of
land, without any competitor or companion, as
there is no tree near it. 1t shades a mansion
the late residence OF the deceased proprietor who
died in July last, at the great age of SO. Often
has informant seen him, with book in hand,
sitting in the shade of this noble tree whose limbs
themselves as large as ordinary trees, tower away
up to the heayens-tree and alike venerable
This estate of Gen. Gray, situated at the head
of South Uwharie, has on it an abundance of large
timber, of various kinds, not including pine, how
ever, which does not flourish on that Kind of SOIL
Our informant remembers the tree in question for
60 years past, when it comparatively small 1t
has grown very fast for the last 80 or 40 years
Fayetteville Observer