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

raign them for what is regarded their
failures Or mlSdeeds, and do not re-
SpOnd to the popular Clamor by dis
placing commanders upon irrespOnsi--
bic statements. You cite the cases Of.
Generals Johnston and Beauregard;
but you have the story nomine muta-
to, and though General Johnston was
offended because of his relative rank,
he certainly never thought of resign
ing; and General Beauregard, in a
portion of his report, which I under
stand the Congress refused to pub
fish, made statement for which I
asked his authority. but it is surely
a SANDER on him to say that he ever
considered himself insulted by me.
The grossest ignorance of the law and
the facts can alone excuse the state
ment as to the ill-treatment of Gen.
eral Price by me. His letters do not
permit me to believe that he is a
party t. any such complaint. If, as
you inform me, it is 'credibly said
that 1 have scarcely friend and not
defender in Congress or in the
army yet for the sake of our coun-
try and it's cause I must hope it is
falsely so said, as otherwise our fate
must be confined to multitude of
hypocrites. 1t would be easy to JUS
tify the appointments which have
been made of brigadier-g generals by
stating the reasons in each case, but
suffice it to say that l have endeav-
ored to avoid bad selections by re-
lying on military rather than political
recommendations; and upon the evil
dence of serving where the case was
one Of promotion 1t is easy to say
that men are prescribed because of
their political party. Look for your
self and judge by the men filling the
Offices whether L have applied party
tests. When every hing is at stake
and the united power Of the South
alone can save us, it is sad to know
that men can deal in such paltry COM
plants and tax their ingenuity to
SANDER because they are offended in
not getting office.
II will not follow the example set
me and ascribe to them bad motives,
but deem it proper to say that the
effect Of such assaults, SO far as they
succeed in destroying the confidence
of the people in the administration
of their government, must be to di-
ululSu our CuduC0S OIL triumph over
the enemy, and practically do us
more harm than if twice the number
Of men | can suppose to engage in
such work were to desert to the
standard Of Lincoln. You, are no
doubt, correct in your view Of the
prOpriety of keeping volunteers in
the field, but you will not fail to per-
ceive, when small force is opposed to
large one, the alternative is to re-
treat or fortify some strong position,
and, as did Geneal Jackson at New
Orleans, thus compensate for the want
of numbers. But the strength of an
army is not merely dependent on
numbers; another element is discip-
line and instruction. The first duty
now is to increase our force by rails
ing troops for the war, and bringing
out all the private arms of the coun-
try for the public defense. If we can
achieve our independence, the Office
seekers are welcome to the one I
hold, and for which possession has
brought no additional value to me
than that set upon it when before 60
ing to Montgomery I announced my
preference for the commission of a
general in the army.
Accept my thanks for the kind
ness which you have manifested in
defending me when so closely sur
rounded by evil reports. Without
knowing what are the many things