The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1911-11-23

beginning Of 1862, and sets farth
some of the criticisms directed
against them in the State of Alaba-
ma.
Richmond, Va, March 18th, 1862.
'Hon w. M. Brooks,
Marion, Ala:
''My Dear Sir,-If under other cir
cumstances I might be unwilling to
hear criticism Of acts, the condition
of the country now too fully engross-
es all my thoughts and feelings to
permit such selfish Impotence, and [
have read yours of the 25th inst,
anxious to gather from it informa-
ton, and thankful for your friendly
remembrance and the confidence your
frankness evinces | acknowledge
the error of my attempt to defend all
the frontier, seaboard, and inland;
but will say in justification that if We
had received the arms and munitions
which we had good reason to expect,
that the attempt would have been
successful and the battle-felds would
have been on the enemy's soil. You
seem to have fallen into the not I'M
common mistake Of supposing that [
have chosen to carry on the war up
On a purely defensive system. The
advantage Of selecting the time and
place of attack was too apparent to
have been overlooked, but the means
might have been wanting. Without
military stores, without the work
shops to create them, without the
power TO import them, necessity, not
choice, has compelled US to occupy
strong positions and everywhere to
confront the enemy without reserves.
The country has supposed our ar
mics more numerous than they were
and our munitions of war more ex-
tensiye than they have been. [ have
borne reproach in silence because to
reply by an exact statement Of facts,
would have exposed our weakness to
the enemy History, when the case
is fully understood, will do justice
to the men who have most suffered
from hasty judgement and unjust
censure. Military critics will not say
to me as you do, Your experiment
is a failure but rather wonder at
the disproportion between the means
and the results. You inform me that
the highest and most reputable au-
thors' say that I have not had a cabi-
net council for more than four
months" | read your letter to
member and an ex-member
of my cabinet to-day, they were
surprised at the extravaganza of
the falsehood, and did not believe
that SO much as a week had at any
time occurred without cabinet
consultation. I would like to know
who the authors of such stories are.
Your own estimate Of me, l hope, as
sured you that would not as stated,
treat the Secretary of War as a
mere clerk; and if you know Mr..
Benjamin, you must realize the i'm
possibility of his submitting to deg
relation at the hands OF any one. The
opposition here complain that I cling
too closely to my cabinet. not, as in
your section, that they are disregard
ed; and the only contempt of the
sentiments Of Congress which is here
alleged against me ESQ far as | have
heard) is that their wish for the re-
mOVal Of two or more members Of
the cabinet has not been yielded to-
Perhaps there might be added dis
satisfaction on the part Of few at
the promotion or appointment Of mil
itary officers without consulting the
members of Congress in relation to
them. Against the unfounded story
that I keep the generals of the army
d. - i sI,1. s4u.s-, L. Ia