Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-02-24


CABTNET.-The war furry" at Rich.
mond, growing out Of the failure of the
peace movement, has not diverted popu.
lar attention from the alleged short
comings of the cabinet Of jeff Davis, and
the Richmond press is clamorous for a
change. They declare that Mr.. Davis
Secretaries have lost the confidence Of
the country. The Sentinel is severe up.
on Davis for refusing to heed the popular
will, and remarks:
"The country is going to run under
gross and palpable NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Reform, instant and thorough, is vitality
essential /; and the Executive that has
caused this urgent need rises up, refuses
to institute reform ITSELF and denies the
power anywhere to enforce it. The Con-
federate President is elected for six years,
and is forever ineligible afierward, SO
that the people can never reach him
Impeachment never reached any erring
functionary-so that he is absolutely with
out any responsibility at all. BY abol-
ishing the 4 years term and re-eligibility
the Confederacy lost control of its chief
executive. He being out of reach, there
was but one hope left of enforcing this
responsibility. The acting heads of the
great departments ought to be gentle.
men Of sensitive honor, too proud to hold
their stations against the wishes of their
country. The experiment was tried of
requiring them to decide whether they
were mere clerks of the President or SER
wants of the public, responsible to lis
plainly declared wishes. There was one
Virginian in the Cabinet who knew .hat
he would be disgraced in public opinion
here if he continued to bold his position.
Whether his example will be followed Is
only another form ofthe question whether
public confidence will be revived ia the
cause, and whether the Conlederacy shall
continue to exist"
The Secretary of State, Mr. Benjamin.
besides sharing in the general denuncia-
ton OF his colleagues, is arraigned upon
a special and novel charge of a religious
character, by the Enquirer. We quote
"One great cause of Mr.. Benamin's
unpopularity has been the fact that in no
proclamation signed by him as Secretary
OF State has ever the existence of a tri-
une God been admitted He has con-
fined his State papers to deistical belief,
and stamped upon the religious faith of
the country practical denial OF Trini-
tartan Jehovah. This was bis faith, but
not the faith of that widespread religious
sentiment that prevails throughout this
country. The people do not like to be
made to choose between Jesus Christ
ard Judah p. Benjamin, and to take the
latter in preference. Twice the Con-
sress has endeavored TO change this, and
has adopted resolutions designed to pre-.
clude the exclusion of our Saviour from
the prayers Of people asking the inter-
position Of God 10 our behalf, but each
time the express resolution has been dis
regarded This matter of religious faith
is no Insignificant affair. II Il the deep>
est sentiment in the souls of this people
1t is the distinguishing trait in the
character of this revolution-it has its
influence in the camp and at the hearth-
stone, IN temple and legislative hall, and
has its recognition in confessions Of thou
sands and thousands Of our army. When
it has shocked the whole
fabric of religious faith. Appealing to
God and not recognizing the Divinity of
His Son is mocking Jehovah with the
vain repetition of words which have no
The country ask no hypocrisy
from Mr. Benjsmin; his religious belief
is respected, but they desire some other
whose faith more accords
with the religious convictions of b
people,"