Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-01-26
Fran, Rebsl Papers,

lriVh Wto SnhTlstoH MERCURY, Jun III 4
The grand crying deficiency IN our aTairs,a
political and military, is, and hasevor bcep,.
the want OF nerve--demagoguism in politics
and deinagoguism in the armies-fear ofthe
popslace aud fear Of the soldiery.
What we most want now, and have ever
needed, Is nerve--nerve, not to break law,
but to enforce law; nerve not TO run into
excess and ilegality, but to- maintain an
intlexible obedience to law and duty nerve
to be steady and unaltorable, not the
presumptuous arrogance to outstep law and
assume power; nerve to face the enemy,not
nerve to bully and oppress friends We
want nerve IN Congress, we want nerve in
our Generals. tbs nerve that has carried
Sherman to Savannah il is that which is
now carrying him to cut the Confederacy in
halt Hisis an army of discipline--an army
of soldiers not mob OF ragafnutfius. Hs
has no Generals with rolls of twenty or
thirty thousand men, and twentylor thirty in
the field. His men stand to their guus,not to
peoples chicken-cocps ands barn-yards.--
His men are full in hand nj their posts.-
He holds them there. He is q General.
The condition:Of the Confederate sodiery in
this department land others are little betterl
is a disgrace to the cause, to the country,
and to the whole science of war.
The want of discipline is one of the lead
ing causes which is fast defeating the Con-
federate States. Our Executive covers Be-
fore the responsibility OF enforcing order;
our Gcnerais lack the nerve to do it. Off
GERS and men alike run wild in disorder and
lawlessness. Wnat General has been cashier
ed tor ncompetency--what Lieutenant
General for inefhciency- Major Gen
eral for incompctency-wha Breadier for
worthiessness--wha Colonel or CAPTAIN
shot for lawlessness in their commands
What then can be expected of the men,
Are We playing at jack straws with womeB2
Or are we on the hazard of life, liberty and
all that Is dear or valuable to brave men
against fierce aud ilnpcable foe2 Is this
tlme7-ls this condition of affairs for
mouthlng demagogues, or political hacks,
to hold command of armies or soldicrs2 Is
this a time, and is the country in condition
to afford to make of its roll of officers an
asylum for public imbeciles, or a Lursery
for private tools? ~
We want men--eornest, fearless, desper-
ate meu@-men who stand in awe of no results
--men who see no lions in their path '-.men
who go right ahead--wiling what shall be-
doing what ought to done-fghting where
the enemy are-dying when their time come.
Everywhere, in all things Confederate, we
lament the lack of nerve.
We have tho men who have the nerve.
Why are they not in position2 Is the Ad-
minlstratlon determined to emasculate the
entire Comfederacy?
LINCOLN AND DAVIS CoNTRAsTED.
[From the Charleston Mercury, Jan. .I0l
When Abraham Lincoln took the chair Of
the Presidency of the United States, he.
promised in his fiat boat lingo to run the
machine as he found it. Whether he has
strictly kept his promise, those may doubt
who choose to consider the subject, Ii is
enough for us to know, that whether run.
ming his machine" in the pathway of his
predecessors, or not, he has run it with a
stern, inhexible purpose, a bold steady hard,
vigilant, active eye, sleepless energ,, u
fanatic spirit, and an eye single to his end
nquest--emancipation. He has called
around him in counsel, the ablest and most
earnest men of his country. Where he has
lacked in individual ability, learning, ex-
perience or craftsmanship, he has sought it,
and has found il in the able men about him,
whose assistance he unhesitatingly accepts,
whose powers he applies to the advance
ment of the cause lie has undertaken Iu
tho Cabinet and in the field he has censis-
tently and fearlessly pressed on the search
for men who could advance his cause, and
has as unhesitatingly cut off all those who
cogged it with weakness, timidity, imbo-
cility or failure. Force, energy. brains,
earnestness, be has collected around him in
every department. Blackguard and buffoon
as he is, he has pursued his end with an
energy as untring as an Indian, and
singleness of purpose that might almost be
called patriotic. Ii he were not an unseru-
pulous knaye in his end, and a fanatic in
his political views, he would undoubtedly
command our respect as ruler, so far as
we are concerned. Abroad and at home,
he has exercised alike the same ceaseIess
energy and circumspection,
We turn our eyes to Richmond, and the
contrast is appalling, sickeniug to the
heart. NV