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[communicated]
The Raleigh Standard, of Wednesday, Dec. 25th, 1861, in an editional on ‘"Our Coast Defences,"’ has the following: ‘ "Gen Hill was removed without cause from the command of the Northern Department of our coast, and General Branch appointed to succeed him. We have conversed with no one and we have heard from no one who considers General Branch qualified for this command. We now say to Gen Davis that our people are not satisfied with Gen. Branch." It is time that the Standard should cease this sen seless crooking. In it the editor does not allow his usual good sense, for the writer of this freely appreciates him and is no enemy of Mr. Holden, but his friend, and a constant reader, since its existence, of the Standard It may be true, as the article states, that Mr. Holden ‘"has conversed with no one who considers General Branch qualified for this command;"’ for his associates are well understood to be of that class whose pleasure has been for years to misrepresent and underrate General Branch. But it is not true that the people are not satisfied with General Branch. They are willing to give him a fair and full trial. Doubless Gen Davis is under obligations to Mr. Holden for his unsolicited advice; but that distinguished functionary has had quite as ample an opportunity from years of service in Congress with Gen. Branch, to know him as well as Mr. Hodlen does, and his eyes are not jaundiced by jealousy or envy. The country, the people, and especially the people of Eastern North Carolina, know and appreciate one whom he so vainly assails. General Branch is a native of Eastern North Carolina His education has been of the most careful training. He graduated at that renowned seat of learning, Nassan Hall, where our Gaston, Iredell, Rufflo, and others were fitter for the duties of active life in a class distinguished for its talent. Mr. Branch graducated with the highest honors of the renowned institution. After studying law, he settled in Florida. Such was the estimate placed on him by even strangers, that he was, when hardly of age, elected Attorney General of that State. But his heart and love was with the land of his birth. He returned, married, and settled for life in North Carolina. The former condition of the Raleigh and Gasion Railroad is painfully remembered — then the only road to the Capital Its dilapidated condition — its utter bankruptcy, invoiving in ruin its innocent stockholders — were a subject of regret and shame to every citizen of North Carolina. In this hour of distress and darkness, Mr. Branch was called upon to be its President. It is well known the energy and judgment, the ceaseless vigilance he used; soon it arose to use. fulness and profit. His course in Congress, as representative of the Raleigh, Congressional District is written on the annals of the nation, not to be dimmed or slurred by envy or mistepresentation.-- Placed on the most important committees (among them the Committee of Foreign Affairs,) his influence and usefulness was inferior to no one's in Congress. So acceptable were his services, that he was re-elected, when, perhaps, the Standard then, as evidendly now, did all in its power to prevent his success. Such were his habits of labor and research, that he was on two occasions elected by the President as a member of the Cabinet, When it was some honor to be one of the Executive advisers — once as Postmaster General on the death of Aaron V. Brown, of Tennessee, and again as Secretary of the Treasury, on the retirement of Hon Howell Cobb, of Georgia. Yet so superior is the unprejudiced judgment of Mr. Holden, that he gravely would have us believe that this person, thus appreciated by the people and his compeers in Congress is ‘"not qualified for the command of a brigade"’ ‘"most lame and impotent conclusion."’ How much more amiable would the editor appear if he would cease these idle cavillings. They only evince a feeling that is unworthy of him. Why not, as of yore, be the Aaron, and hold up the hands of our political Moses in the tearful contest with worse than Amalekish fors.--The time for action has come. We know that Gen. Branch has been ceaseless in his vigilance in his new position. We know that he has pervaded every point and guard of the seacoast under his command. By his genial manners, and soldier-like bearing, he has gained the hearts of his men and officers; and none more than those of Roanoke Island., ’
The Daily Dispatch: January 23, 1862. Richmond Dispatch. 4 pages. by Cowardin & Hammersley. Richmond. January 23, 1862. microfilm. Ann Arbor, Mi : Proquest. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.
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