Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-07-28
NEWS FROM THE SOUTH.
The Removal OF Johnston and the
Appointment OF Hood.
Prom the Richmond Sentinel July a.


The Removal OF Johnston and the
Appointments OF Hood.
Prom the Richmond Sentinel, July q.
The very few instances in which the
President has exercised the power of re-
moval, and the known notorious incompe-
tsncy of the officers heretofore removed by
him, should go far to satisfy every one
that nothing but the most urgent necessity
has compelled him to relieve General John.
ston of his command. The fewness of re-
movals, considered in connection with the
success of our arms, shows that the Pres
ident is good judge of military ability,
makes good appointments, and has seldom
reason to repent his selection. We believe
that where he has acted solely on the die
tates of his own judgment he has made no
mistakes; but much Difference is due to the
opinions and wishes Of large bodies of the
people, not because they are the best
judges of military worth and efficiency,
but because it is sometimes better to do
wrong, and satisfy the people, than to do
right and disoblige them. The President
has had ample opportunity to test the
military worth of Johnston; those who
condemn the removal have had compare
lively none; and no matter what had been
their opportunities, they know nothing
of military men.
We all voted for the President as our
ruler because we thought him best fitted
to command, and I'VE to obey. We who
selected him to drive the car of State
should not now perpleX and embarrass him
by seiziDg hold of the reins ourselves
Nothing is more dangerous than for uer-
vous, scAry rider to seize hold Of the rGins
when the horse threatens to kick or run
off.
Republican government is a monstrons
and absurd failure If the people have no
faith in the men they select for Office, and
find 1t necessary to dictate to and rule their
rulers. All attempts to dictate measures
aud make appointments for the President
proceeds from anignorant, reckless and cor
rupt spirit of demagogueism. In the be-
ginning of the war it was exhibited in o
perfect tornado Of anger with the Presi-
dent because be preferred making appoint
ments of men as officers who had military
knowledge and qualifications, rather than
of those who knew nothing about military
affairs-Rnd who were too old to learn
anything about them-for the fsvorites
with the ignorant demagogues, who abused
West Point and the President were stump
orators over fifty. Time has since amply
proved that West Pointers-men who
have learned the science of war at school
and its practice in camp-are best fitted
ted to command large armies. Old stump
orators may stumble into victories, bat
they will generally fail, and it is almost
reasonable to place them in command
when their failures may do serious harm.
The people have seen enough of John
ston's retreats to satisfy them that, if let
alone by the government, he had no idea
of making a stand this side the gulf of
Mexico. If he could not hold the strong
position of Kenesaw Mountain, much less
would he have held the weak one about
Atlanta. The people do not generally know
that all the while that Johnston has been
retreating before Sherman, he has had an
army approaching nearer in numbers to
that of his adversary than Lee ever had
when he has won his great victories. In.
deed, at Dalton, and ever since he left
there, his army has been large enough to
justify and render it his duty to deliver
battle.
The Whig makes q new issue. The
ground of its complaint is not the reno
val of Johnston, but the preference which,
it syppoSes. was given to Hood over HRrdse.
Does the Rhig know whether Hardee would
have accepted the appointment In fact,
Hardee had been rendered, and had refused
the command of the army Of the Tennessee.
Be this as it may, the President, after
anxious consultation with the best military
authorities, concluded to appoint Hood
No man in the confederacy was so much
interested in retaining Johnston in COM
msud, ifhe were likely to win victory, as
the President. No man had SO good an
opportunity to form correct opinion of
his merits. he came, under these circum-
stances, TO the deliberate conclusion that
Johnston was unfit to command, and re-
moved him. II there be any error in the
case it is that the removal was not made
long ago. Lincoln delights in taking off
heads as much as the king of Dahomey or
the emperor of Hayti. President Davis
has nice seuse of honor, sets high value
on reputation, and removes none but the
notoriously incompetent.
Il is because he is so reluctant to remove
officers that he is so cautious and fastidi-
GUS in selecting aud appointing them. We
believe the appointment of General Hood
a good one, not only from what we know
of his past history, but because he has
been selected by the President, who seems
to be an admirable judge of the relative
merits of men, and finds no occasion 10
repent to day for the appointments made
yesterday. Hl r--r