Int _.',\s 0040.
K. W. JONKS, Editor ..
MS. S. ENNINGS,i
"One Country, One Constitution, One
Destiny. g
IMIIIISURAISI
WIDEPAY, MARCH 30, 1864.
POE PRESIDENT IN 1804,
GEN. GEORGE B. McCLELLAN,
[Subject to the Decision of the Dcwweratir No-
tional Conveitji~;s.J
PP/Mk the arm,y as ftiatiseg. you as eit
*too pee that the wor is prosecuted for
thp .
preder,aitiota of the Uhifui aud the
Volatilitsitklas mid of your naEouality atal
your rights as eitisens.”
. GEO. It. IIIceILELLAId.
4 1191h“The popstjtotlop and the Untot
II place theta together. If they stand, they
wairt,, stated together; If they fall, they
gloat Yen together.”...Dakiez Wroslgr.
Gen. McClellan,
The calm and able review of the military
planis and foresight - of Gen. McClellan, which
we copy from the N. Y Round Table, will
arrest i the attention of the reader. The
The Round Table is not a ix)litical, but lite
rary paper of the highest order, and F,econt
br etarted, jt is refreshing and improving
sorted an impartial criticism on public men
and public measures in these times of vio
lent and extreme opll►ions, from one capable
of doing justice to the subject, and of di
vesting himself of partizan prejudices.
The dignified silence of the distinguished
Printery leader, in the midst of the partizan
Ouse of his defamers, is the best evidence
of his irmate greatness. It is now clear to
every candid observer, that ho was hunted
down by a vindictive War Committee, as an
excuse for driving him from the command of
the army, because he was s Democrat, arid a
successful result of his management of the
war might give him such prominence with
the American people as to make him a dan
gerous competitor for the Presidency. Vic
tory was taken from his grasp by the mis-
Rldevous interference of those in power, and
others thrust into his place whose acts
have been a aeries of hiumters, which afforded
*firing evidence of their incompetency to
xe, owe. rope, Burnside rind Ilooker
euireassiirely blundered and ':riled, a c rd
irk *swelled the 4dininisifation tp recall
.IfcGlenise to tire c i olliman,d i.c the army, who
with a facility an promptness aniaTing to
beheld, called together the scattered and dis
pirited, but brave boys, who only needed a
competent leader, and the insolent foe was
driven back, and victory again floated over
oar banners.
But again the evil genius of partizan Joel
ousiy interposed, and McClellan was again
driven from the public service. The result is
that we are further from Richmond, the goal
of our hopes, than was' McClellan nearly two
years ago. But it is useless to comment
upon the wrongs and outrages which a big
oted party hare compelled the Administra
tion at Washington to inflict on Gen. Mc-
Clellan. The people of this country see and
feel the injustice done this excellent citizen
and General, and if we mistake not, will
make hint the standard bearer of a great and
patriotic party, who will elevate him to the
Presidency as the next election. So mote it
be!
Gee, Grant.
If the Administration at Washington shall
pewit Gen. Grant to manage the war with
put Manterence, we shall look for success in
the approaching spring and summer cam
paigns. Gea. Grant has experience, capacity
and vigor, and withal is not troubled with
the mania for making political speeches and
Isar* partizan proclamations so common,
and apparently so acceptable to the Admin
istration. Gen. Grant is now (Atm/pander
imiCblef of the armies in the field, and an
educated military man competent to till,
deditably, his high office, and why should
he be interfered with by the nominal Goal,
mender-to-Okief who knows nothing of
military affairs, as a.science, or by the Score
tiny of war, who, like the President, was on,
)y recently the quiet occupant of a law office,
pester of whom ever "set a squadron," or
Mit* apything, practically, of the ditties of
Abe 'Voted field"?
We rare ? the President W ili consent
Iprmire the „ary from POLIT/CAL duties,
and land It liver to Gen. Grant, We shall
yaw. 'Right itimen pf 1y suegessful issue of our
PPII*I4OPWOOPS,
11111r1111* Republican more than hints that
its falloilfe tlbelitiott text-book, the N. Y.
litiOtaaeila Opposed to the abominable doc
t4 ofmjpegnativn, or in plain English,
aputkupation. Will our cotemporary have
the opikkiein to point to the number of the
fribume 3a which this beastly doctrine is con
(*used t - .
itifevailb sebilue mingling pt the races,"
Sr / 011 . 100 rbIINPN ' 1,5 God's (nu!' Plan"
1
ilt .At battier civilization. In otjaer
4erfiki t 1 4. 1 ,1 r Kim)? of umiseegnation"
AM -7
*6BlO Pr . afecilin this,
is t lib - Adonis* m 01,4404. JeSult.
The Abolition Policy--Negro Mania--
Its Inevitable Results.
Tffp "Jasford Times!' concludes a well
written article on the subject of the future
fate and disposition of the Negroes. This
subjpct should afford food for thought to ttigse
crazy Abolitionists, but it is the misfortune
of blind fanatacism that it never thinks.—
The poor negroes have already suffered to
an almost unparallelled extent by their mis
guided and hurtful efforts. It is the Opinion
of the most observant of our real Philanthro
pists that not less than FIFTY THOUSASD of
this unfortunate race has fallen victims to
this war, as managed by their professed
friends—the Abolitionists. But to the ex
tract :
But suppose the negremarkifulo oateamplitib
their object and same 000.000 slaves are
soon set frees what then ? This question
lkwa Already received a variety of answers.—
Twsm years ago it was said in high places,
they must be colonized ; and Central Amer
ica' was selected as a suitable place for them,
and half a million of dollars appropriated by
Pmongress for their transportation, but a re
monstrance crime from the authorities of the
ccuntry against receiving them, and there
the 'natter dropped. Several other places
were named, but nothing was done. Sub
sequently it wps proclaimed that these peo
ple would all he needed where they are, and
should pot be sent away. This idea was
popular, and extensively prevailed. But
Senator Lane of Kansas memory, has re •
cently come before the Senate with a bill
and a speech in favor of making provision
tor them in Texas. These three considera
tions are presented by Mr. Lane for so do
iug. "We should remove from among us a
distairbing, element, demonstrate to time
world their capacity, tiar self-improvement,
and plant at the door of Mexico four mil
lions of good citizens who could step in at
any time when invited to strengthen the
bands of the Government !"
What shall be done with 4,000,000 "Freed
men ?" Many voices are ready to respond :
"Give thorn the rights of citizenship, and
they will take care of themselves."
Suppose this be true (which is neither
proved or admitted,) and what follows ? In
some of the States they would doubtless
constitute a majority of the population ; and
of course have the political control of the
State. Would the Anglo-Saxon race con
sent to live long in a community where the
laws were made and administered by ne
groes? Would Sumner, or Greeley, or
Chase, or Seward do it ? Would that swift
witness from England—Geo. Tliompson,
who 14 said obtained a seat in Parliament
by his Abolition mission to America thirty
years ago, and who is now here again, do
What will become of four millions of
emancipated glares ? There is but one ra
tional answer to this quesgott, viz : liv de
portation and by premature death, they
will eventually be exterminated. •
The work of extermination is now rapidly
going on. From exposure, hunger, disease'
and violence more than 50,000 of them have
already been swept away in the cruel process
of emancipations ; and have died, many of
them, calling for their masters and mistress
es to come and take care of them I
Such is the practical benevolence of negro
maniacs upon those whom they would make
free ! The language of the bondman to his
Abolition vlsit.or, whose teachings did not
please him, may he fittingly applied in this
case t—" May de Lord sand bettor friends to
do slaves than the like of you,"
Democratio Meeting.
According to announcement, a large and
respectable Democratic meeting was held at
the Court Rouse, on Tuesday" evening, the
22d inst.
On motion the following officers were
chosen :
W. D. MICKLE, President.
Vice Preshlents—Thos, Scott, Michael Mc-
Clelland, Minor eye, John Prior, Dr. D.
W. 'Gray, Jesse MI, Joseph EON and
Joseph Garrard.
Secretaries—J. F. Temple, J. L. McCon.
nell and Jae. S. Jennings.
Ou motion the following gentlemen were
elected as a Vigilance Committee for the
County during the ensuing year, viz;
A. A. Furman, Esq, ('h'or'n., Marion tp,
John T. llook, "
nit s. Moor©,
Stephenson Garrard. Greene "
Patrick Donley, Perry i
Lewis Dowlin, Dunkard "
Wm. Mestrezatt. Monongahela tp
Afrod Armstrong, Cumberland tp
J. F. Randolph, Jefferson.. tp.
Morgan Bell, Morgan "
Miler Ross, Washington tp.
Thos. lams, Morris tp.
D. T. Ulloin, Centre "
Win. McKenna, Richhill "
Jac. Lough,
Gustavus Miller
lioskinson, Springhill "
John Hagan, Gilmore "
Wm. Cosgray. Wayne "
Dr. John Laidley, Carmichaels bor.
()n uatipp, Tlesol It 04, that a Committee
of five pepons be appointed to take into
consideration, and repopt, the best niaeps $.4
organizing the party throughout the county ;
The following gentlemen were appointed
by the Chairman, viz:
J. G. Ritchie, R. A. McConnell, 0. Van
cleave, Morgan Bell and Wm. Gwyn.
During the abecence of the Committee,
able and eloquent speeches were made by
A. A. Burman and David Crawford, Esqrs.,
and did our time and space permit, we
s h o uld by glad to give a full report of them.
Suffice it to say, all were well pleased.
The Committee on the organization of the
Party through their Chairman reported ;
that owing to the shortness of the time, al
lowed to them, they wore unable to give to
thp subject that consideration and reflection,
which its importance demanded, they
therefore, recommended, that a commitee
be appointed, to act in conjunction with the
Chairman and other members of the
Committee, to adopt the best means
for the complete and thorough organization
pf the Party throughout every Towuship in
t cimpty,
On mption, the :Owing gentlemen were
striated o said Committee, viz : J. T.
Temple, J. S. Jennings, W. A. Porter, and
John Phelan.
On motion, Resolved, That the Demo
cratic Primary Election be held on the last
Saturday in May next.
On motion, the proceedings of this meet
ing were directed to bo published in the
Waynesburg Messenger_
B. D . MICKLE, Pres't.
J. F, TIMIPLE,
J. L. pioCoNsgu..,
/writ S; JNICSINOS, Sec's.
tar fully one-third' of the mantles of
Peoneylvairia love Itimaity filled their quo
under the five •":4644. thousand call.
Loyiaiaea E. 100 1 1!.
The Election -recently held under Kesi
dent Lincoln's re-constpptipp scheme result
ed as follows :
Hahn (Administration)
Fellows (Conservative)
Flanders (Radical Bolter)
The aggregate of this vote is something
under 10,000, and when all of the votes
come, it is surmised, the vote may reach 11
or 12,000. This will hp sufficient under the
Ptesideht's famous one-tenth principle to re
admit the State into the Union in time fur
the next Presidential Election, and may se
cure for the President the Electoral vote of
Louisiana, and in ctse the election should.
go into the House of Representatives, would
give this small fraction of the State of Loui
siana a weight equal to that of New York
with her three millions of votes'
These votes were east principally in and
immediately around the city of Orleans, and
were made in considerable proportions of non
residents, soldiers and hangers on of the
army, who have resides.) in the State of Lou
isiana the requisite one year. The "one
year's residence" of many of these voters
was merely temporary, having families in
the different States from which they went to
this State with the army of Gen. Butler,
more than a year ago.
A world of light is thrown upon the prac
tical workieg of the President's renowned
re-construction scheme by the well informed
regular correspondent of the New York
World, who has long resided in the city of
Orleans, as the following extracts will show ;
The election has transpired, and tip result
has been what was determined upon before
hand. Mr. Hahn is elected, and so would
have, been any other man who suited Mr.
Lincoln and his lieutenant. Ile got all the
votes wl4cli military necessity could compel
to be cast ; and though Mr. Chte.o's candi
datelgot a few of them, and the constitution
al unionists a few others, yet this was neces
sarl to show that there was freedom of
c h o ic e . One thing was not free, and that
was the privilege of not voting and of not
tid:ing, the oath to support Mr. Lincoln's fu
ture Ili, well as past proclamations.
You may possibly feel some doubt about
this, and if so I will here transcribe fir you
an article which appeared, in all the glory of
large type well leaded, in the government
organ on Saturday, the day before the elec
tion
' THE Th'n OP Vorans.—We have frequent.
)y been asked whether it is required of eve.
rybody to vote, and what action will he taken
against those who neglect or refuse. In an
swer to the first, we would say that it is not
only the privilege but the duty of every
qualified voter to exercise his franchise, In
reply to the second query, we refer all
those la doubt to the following extracts from
General Orders No. 23 : ''Open hostility
cannot be permitted. Indifference will be
treated as crime, and faction as treason.—
Men who refuse to defend their country
with the ballot box or cartridge box have no
just claim to the benefits of liberty regulated
by law. * * * * Whoever
is indifferent or hostile, must choose between
the liberty which foreign lands afford, the
poverty of the rebel States, and the innume
rable and inappreciable blessings which our
government confers upon its people." The
safest way is to kr, up and vote,
While there is no doubt but that there
has been polled in this election a considera
ble vote of the citizens of the state, secured
by fear, profuse expenditure of money, and
all the appliances which, under militial law,
can so easily be applied to compel it, even
this will not account fur more than two
thousand of the votes polled. Do you ask
me upon what authority I make such an as
sertion? Louisiana sent into the Confeder
ate army about 35,000 men, nearly all voters
and the greater part of them taken from the
lower part of the State. The young athletic
firemen of this city are known to be seces
sionists and registered enemies, who were
not sent over the lines because they would
be of service to Davis and his generals.
The wealthier citizens have left largely for
the North, and some three thousand regis
tered enemies are reported to have been sent
over the lines in May last, is„great many
have run the blockade, and multitudes left
with Governor Moore, Of the permanent
residents remaining in the city, a large num
ber are tbreigners. And to them the staunch
Union men, like Rozelins and Rozier, who
refused to take the iron-clad, and the staid
and quiet men who arc yet secessionists iu
principle, who would not vote, and I do not
believe that there were_ as many as two
thousand voters under the Cnusatution whose
votes were cast on Monday last.
By whom, then, were the ten thousand and
upward of votes given ? Yon can obtain
your answer in part by the votes polled at
Fort Jackson, Fort Macomb, Fort Butler,
and Madisonville, Franklin and various other
points where troops are stationed, and where
all the original inhabitants have disappeared.
But the most glaring misuse of the elective
franchise was the casting of votes in this
election, openly and unhesitatingly, by gen
tlemen wearing the uniform and decorations
of field and staff officers of the army who
have as distinctly their residences and homes
in New England, liew York, and elsewhere
beyond the line of contention, as has Mr.
Lincoln his in Illinois, or Mr. Chase his in
Ohio, Maid one of these gentlemen to a
stanch old Union man—who has, tem
porarily at least, lost his all by a uniform
adherence to principal, and who will not now
sacrifice this, his only remaining possession,
for the sake of the profits of confiscation and
cotton speculation—said one of these officers
to him : have just been to the polls and
voted." "Indeed,' was the reply, "I was
not aware that you had given up your home
in—." "Oh no: but you see I have rest= !
ded here a year, and that entitles me to
vote. Have you voted r' The reply was a
mournful, but a proud one. "No, sir. The
constitution of Louisiana requires that all
votes shall be cast in the parish of the resi
dence of the voter, from which I am de
barred. I for one will not cast a fraudulent
vote."
EMIZMiI
Jackson •'
Aleppo II
The effect of this election, conducted as
it has been, and with the settled purpose of
ocertnruing and remodeling the institutions
of the state will do more to prevent the pos
sibility of a willing return by the people of
Louisiana to the fold of the Union than any
thing which could be done by the leaders of
secession themselves.
It is for this reason more than any other
that such men as Roselins and Rozier, Fel
lows ii.nd Barker, an d the residue of those
irreproachable'Union men of the earliest
and most approved standing., have done all
they could to prevent these radical and al
together hurtful measures from being pushed
through at this moment. To-day we are
told that the final triumph of the Union cause
cannot be delay& Pup a few mo nths longer,
and yet these schemes apt put Into action
for the purpose of taking ri pap judgment
upon the great mw of the permanent and
abiding people of the state, Ow inhabitants
of interior parishes of the state.
gliirroatteen united • States vessels are
now waiting kw sesnien, being really in all
other respects ready to .p weed to their re
spective points of destination.
THE ELECTION
IHJW 01. I) CITIZENg VOTED,
State Cohventioa.
The S
Ante Convention was organized, on
the 24th inst., by the election of T. B. &A
mour, Esq., Temporary Chairman, and
Ron. Wu. R. Wrrruc, Permanent Chairman.
pn 1 i.4.1w111 4 , March 25.
The Convention remained in session till a
late hour kit evening.
Electors at Large—Robert L. Johnston,
Cambria, Richard Faux, Philadelphia. Del
egates at Large—George W. Cass, William.
Bigler, Asa Packer, Wm. V. McGrath.
18th District--Elector, Hugh Montgom
ery; Delegates,
John H. Orris Stephen
Pierce; State Conaiiittee, Miles Orris,
11.
llepburn, R R. Peale.
19th Districtr-Elacter, John M. Irvin,
Delegates, C. L Lamberton, Jas. K. Kerr ;
State Committee, S. 13. Brown, R. L. Coch
ran, J. D. Gill.
5,797
2,176
1,925
20th District—Elector, Joseph M. Thomp
son ; Delegates, Wm. A. Galbraith, Wm. A.
Wallace ; State Committee, B. Whitman, T.
J. Boyer, A. M. Benton.
2241 District—Elector, James P. Barr ;
Delegates, William D. Patterson, Samuel
p, Ross; State Committee, Francis It,
Sellers, Joseph R. Hunter, Andrew J. Bar
ker.
lid Distiict—Elector, Wm. J Kountz ;
Delegates, J. A. McCullough, F. M. Hutch
inson ; State Committee, E. S. Golden, Jas.
Braden, Wm. H. Magee.
24th District—Elector, W. Montgomery ;
Delegates, Robert W. Jones, S. B. Wilson;
State Committee, Wm. Swann, Chas. Carter,
D. S. Morris.
The following resolution, offered by Judge
McCahnont, was passed, amid prolonged
cheering:
RESOLVED, That this Convention cor
al:Illy unite with the conservative party of
Oka country in presenting the name of
General GEORGE B. AlleCtatt.t.AN as our first
choice for President of the United States.
Florida Affair.
It is now generally conceded that the late
irruption of our forces into Florida had in
view, mainly, political objects, and was not
guided by military judgment or military ob
jects, and hence its disastrous and disgrace
ful termination. More soldiers were sacri
ficed by this ill-judged project to secure
three electoral votes for Mr. Lincoln, than
the number of voters that would have beef
required to effect this notable pet scheme.—
Fourteen hundred votes would admit Florida
back to the 'Union under the President's plan
of re-construction, and more than that num
ber of Federal soldiers were sacrificed on that
occasion, It is quite time that the army
should be used in the suppression of the Re
bellion rather than in President making; and
we are confident that if Gen. Grant shall be
permitted to control it, it will be so used
while he is in the command of it.
Frank Blair to Resign.
Frank Blair will soon resign his seat
in Congress, with a view to a reappoint
ment as Major General, and assignment
to the command of Sherman's old corps.
Msssns Eomns :—Sirs: I had the pleas
ure ot attending a School Examination at
Sayers' School House, two miles east oI
Waynesburg, on Friday 25th ult., and it
provoil such a filleCeSS in every subject that
I deem it worthy of ',Articular notice, and
knowing you to be ardent advocates ot Ed
ucation, nod the Conmion School of the
present day, consequently, I ask your in
dulgence of this article in your valuable
journal.
The examination commenced at 9 a. m.,
and with recess of one hour for noon closed
at 4p. HI. It was conducted in a masterly
and ingenious manner by the teacher
throughout, and the several classes on each
elementary branch of Education in which
they were catechised, answered the (res_
tions promptly and accurately, eliciting a
proper and studious application of their
time and faculties, as well as demonstrating
the assiduity and scigntific qualifications of
the teacher. The classes in written and
mental arithmetic, were well skilled in the
use of rules and the tailution of problems,—
Masters Smith, Elisha Lippincott and John
Smith reflected great credit upon themselves
by answering the questions promptly and
solving the problems assigned to them cor
rectly-.
The classes in primary and advanced
Geography, Grammer, Reading and Spelling,
manifested a proper trjdning and a perfect
knowledge of the same, Rut to cap the
climax, the class in Ortbogt aptly carried off
the palm of praise—ft consisted of the nut
jot part of the school, and truly its mem
' bers were model adepts in .that peculiar
study—in exploding the sounds, spellilg and
pronouncing words phonetically, analizing
and running them through their various mod
ifications was indeed wonderful, and in fact
rendered it surpassingly strange how their
"ilttle noggins" could contain so much well
digested knowledge, But it is easily ac.
countedfor—their teacher Mr. Sylvanus S.
Johnson, who by the way is a young man of
very gentlemanly demeanor, possessing a .
high tnoral character, and being well versed
in the elementary and advanced branch of
eductition, and practical in the art and
theory of teaching, understood his work and
had installed Into the minds of his pupils
that great success in acquiring knowledge
the " thinking process." The exercises 1
were frequently enlivened, by the singing of
pretty and appropriate songs by the entire
school, which favorably impressed The an , ;
(Bence and added materially to the interest
of the examination.
Finally atter an addreaa by D. R. P. Huss
on the Expediency of a good Education,
and a farewell address to the pupils by the
teacher, the large and attentive audience
was dismissed, no doubt, well pleased with
that day's pntertainment.
BY AW OLD TEA.CBER
Waypiviburg, Pa., Vaph I, '64.
MlNimbi, Eorrons :—Tou will please an
nounce tbroogb the columns of your excel.
lent papas, that the Delegates of the Demo
cratic Union will - meet at the Court douse,
in Waynesburg, on tio:t first Saturday in
May swat, at 1 o'clock, p. mh Three Pale
gates are requested to he font in from 6016
Division in the County. Sly ortler of the
Grand Magi. G. F. C. 0 M.
1
1
For the MesBenger
.'There is ancther independent move
ment that has often been suggested,
and which has always recommended
itself to my judgment. I refer to a
movement from Kansas and Nebraska
through the Indian territory upon Red
river and 'Western Texas, for the par
pok of protecting and developing the
latent Union and free-state sentiment
well known to predominate in Western
Texast and which, like a similar senti
ment in Western Virginia, will if pro
tected, ultimately organize that section
into a ft ee state.
For the Messenger,
From the Round Table, March 12.]
Gen. McClellan's Report Reviewed.
Among the questions in dispute, up
on which this report ought to throw
some light, are the following : (1 )
pia General McClellan, upon assuming
command of the armies of the Union,
fully comprehend the military problem
to be solved in the suppression of the
rebellion? (l.) Were the plans he pro
posed such as subsequent events proved
would in all probability have accomplish
ed the objects he had in view (3.)
Was he or the administration more to
blame for the taihn•e of the Peninsular
campaign? (4.) Did he comprehend
the political situation, and were his
views and measures touching the sla
very question wise and timely ? (5.)
Were there no personal shortcomings to
account for his downfall ?
First of all, with regard to his com
prehension of the rebellion and his mili
tary plans for its suppression. He cer
tainly did not underrate it. He real
ized from the very start its magnitude,
and the ability, vigor, and determina
tion of the men who controlled the new
born confederey. In this report he
showed more statemanship and military I
foresight than any of the leaders of the
party in power in Washington. The
impression was all but universal that
the Southern States were pitiably wcak in
all the elements of military power, and
that the presence in the midst of large I
bodies of discontented slaves placed
them at the mercy of the North. Even
the disaster of Bull Run and the sur
prising vigor shown by the southerners
in the first six months of the war did not
cure the North of its delusions of this '
point; hence General McClellan was
not listened to with patience when lie
proposed the creation of large armies
and asked for time to put them in the
field. When he assumed command the
country was in an agony of shame and
rage at the defeat of Bull Run, and
there was an imperious demand from
all sides for some action that would re
deem the martial reputation of the
North. Our foreign relations looked
dubious, and the time spent in necessary
preparation was deemed lost for no wise
purpose by a very large and growing
party. As might have been anticipated,
the outbreak of the civil war suggested,
two very opposite policies, one of which
the government was compelled to pur
sue. The first was to avoid the com
plications likely to arise out of the
slavery question and make the issue
simply union or disunion ; while the
other boldly proposed to accept the
gauge thrown down by the rebels, and
make it a war for the abolition, as the
latter avowedly, did for the the perpet
uation and extension, of slavery. The
North was soo' divided into two hostile
camps on the respective merits of these
two policies. Very naturally, the mili
tary department of the government in
clined to the first—of making it simply
a war for the Union, leaving out of
view entirely the moral questions in
volved in countenancing slavery. Gen
eral McClellan from the start represented
this Ebeling. He argued very forcibly, j
why add to difficulties already very
serious? An abolition policy announ
ced now will in all probability alienate
Maryland, Deleware, Kentucky. mid
Missouri, and a restoration of the Union
will be impedid in all the Southern
States, if the whole framework of socie
ty is to be remodeled. The question
was viewed simply from a military point'
of view, and soley front that standpoint
it cannot be pronounced unwise. The
administration at any rate adopted it,
and the border states were saved ; but
whether in consequence of that policy
or in spite of it will be a question for
history to settle. But General McClel
lan failed to realize how powerfully the
conscience of the North had been stirred
on the subject of slavery. lie made no
sign which showed sympathy with the
growing anti-slavery sentiment of the
nation, and he consequently arrayed
against him the powerful party who
held these advanced views, mid who re
garded the war as their opportunity to
carry them out. It was this hostility,
which he did nothing to placate, added
to the impatience of the country for
some action, which led to his removal '
from supreme command before the time
arrived for his military plans to be put
in operation. 'lt it does not follow at
all from this that General McClellan I
cared anything for slavery per se. In
his very first memorandum of the Pres
ident, dated August 4, 1861, we find
him wommendmg the administration!
in effect to 00;11'04 Western Virgina
and Western Texas into free states. He ;
says: •
lle certainly shows no anxiety here
to save slavery in these localities. On
the contrary, he seems to regard the
formation of free states out of slave ter
ritory as desirable. Nor do we find
that he had any special tenderness for
slave over other property. In his letter
to the President, dated February 3,
1862, in which he attempts to give that
functionary an idea of his grand plans,
he says, speaking of a probable capture
of Richmond by the Army of the Poto
mac under h 6 command :
• , Arter a successful battle our position
would bc—Burnside forming our left ;
Norfolk held securely ; our center con
necting Burnside with Buell both by
Raleigh and Lynchburg ; Buell in Best
tern Tennessee and Northern Alabama ;
Hallo& at Nashville and Memphis.—
The next movement would be to eon
nect with Sherman on the left, by re
ducing Wilmington and Charleston ;
to advance our center into South Caro
lina and Georgia; to push Buell either
toward IlUnVon:;tewy, or to unite wlth
the mein army Georgia, to throw
Halle& southward to meet • the navel
expedition from New Orleans. We
..g.
shenpi then he in a :condition to reduce
at our leisure all southern seaports,
t 9 occupy all the avenues of communi
cation ; to use the crreat oultlet of the
. ~ ..1::
misiissippi ; to iv-establish our govern
ment and army it} Arkansas, Louisiana,
and Texas; to force the slaves to labor
for our subsistenee'instead of that of the
rebels ! and to bid defiance to all for
eign interference. Such is the object
I have ever had in view—this is the
general plan whi‘h I hope to accom
plish. For many long months I have
labored to prepare the Army of the Po
tomac to play its part in the programe ;
from the day when I was placed in com-
Imand of all our armies I have exerted
m yself to place an the other armies in
such a condition that they, too, could
, perform their allotted duties."
This grand scheme was, as we now know, 1
spoiled by the untimely opening of the cani
paign in the West, the removal of General
McClellan from the supreme command, and
the ill judged interferenee of civilians ; but
the particular point we wish to make in the
above is the light hi whieh General McClel
lan regarded slavi) property He looked
forward to the time, as a matter of course,
when the labor of the Slave would be lost
1 to his rebel master a c i d transferred to the
i support of the Union :Toles. True he does
not say the word emancipation, but he clear
ly regarded the contingency of a general
freeing of the slaves quite as a matter of
course. We think he erred seriously in not
Itaking more advanced ground on the slavery
question, but in justice to him it should be
I remembered that he is nut on record as an
!apologist for or indorser in any way of that
institution. An intelligent and unprejudiced
reader of this report will be struck with the
really amazing military sagacity of General
McClellan. Upon the very opening of the
war he seemed intuitively to have compro
!tended just what was to be done, and how
it was to be accomplished. The war has now
so educated us all that we know tolerably
I well the military movements which ought to
have been undertaken to end the rebellion.
But when the conflict commenced the ut
most confusion prevailed as to the plans to
be pursued. Every man had his theory, but
1 it is not on record that ally one military
head in the country comprhended the whole
field save alone General McClellan. When
assigned to command in the West he at once
i pro j ected a campaign or rather two cam
paigns, which, had they been carried out
with success, would have changed the whole
character of the war. Ilis scheme was, af
ter pacifying Kentucky, to seize Nashville
and East Tennessee—a not very difficult feat
lat that time. Ile also proposed to move an
army up the Kanawha valley so as to re
lieve Washington by threatening the rebel
capital. His communications to General
Scott on the subject were not heeded.or even
answered. Upon being called to Washing
ton after the defeat of Bull Hun, he at once
sketched the situation in a memorandum to
the President, dated August 4, 1861, which
showed that he fully understood it in all its
bearings. In this document, and the subse
quent communications and orders he wrote
to subordinate generals, will be found his
grand plan, which, it will be seen, anticipa
ted all the successful movements of the war.
A perusal of his instructions to Generals
Burnside ' Buell, Butler, Sherman and Hal
leek, while he was in supreme command, is
like reading history in advance. He antici
pated all the military contingencies of the
war, snd provided for them. Titus, months
before it was attempted, he ordered the
' taking of Fort Pulaski, but at the same
time placed upon record his reasons for not
wishing the occupation of Savanah. In
General Butlers instructions he minutely de
scribed in advance the impediments to be
overcome in capturing New Orleans. On no
one point was he mistaken, as the event
subsequently proved. His anxiety to rap-
ture Jackson, Miss., immediately after _New
Orleans was secured, is a marked instance of,.
his military prescience. Had General But
; ler obeyed his orders Texas would have been
cut off from the confedercy in the spring of
1862, and no blood need have been shod at
either Vicksburg or Port Itudson. But the
most remarkable instance of General McClel- ,
lan's military provision, and which has so
far been strangely overlooked, were the pre-
cautions lie took to prevent an attack upon
Washington from the direction of the She
nandoah valley. When the President de
tached General McDowell's corps front Gen
eral McClellan's army, it was upon the
ground thap it was required for the defense
of the capital, yet the corps was posted at
Fredericksburg, from which point Washing
ton was never menaced, while the Shenan
doah valley, the true back door to the capi
tal, as Stonewall Jackson proved, was en
tirely overlooked. At Fredericksburg Gen
eral 'McDowell's corps was of no more use
than if it had been located in New-York
city. The reader will notice the date of the
following order ; it was before General
McClellan entered upon the peninsular
campaign, and when ho supposed ha still
had charge of General Banks army :
"HEADQUARTERS' ARMY OF TUE POToMAc, 1
March 16, 1862. , J r
"Sat ; You will post your command in the
vicinity of Manassas, intrenelt yourself
strongly. and throw cavalry pickets well out
to the front.
"Your first care will be the rebuilding of
the railway from Washington to Manassas
and to Strasburg, in order to Open your
communications with the valley of the Shen
andoah. As soon as the Manassas Gap rail
way is in running order, intrench a brigade
of infantry, say four regiments, with two
batteries, at or near the point where the rail
way crosses the Shenandoah. Something
like two regiments of cavalry should be left
in that vicinity to occupy Winchester, and
thoroughly scour the country south of the
railway and up the Shenandoah valley, as
well as through Chester gap, which might
perhaps ho advantageously occupied by a
detachment of infantry well intrenched.—
Blockhouses should be built at all the rail
way bridges. Occupy by grand guards
Warrenton junction and Warrenton itself,
and also some little more advanced point on
tha Orange and Alexani'e: Railroad, as soon
as the railway bridge is repaired. Great ac
tivity should be observed by the cavalry.—
Resides the two regiments at Manassas, an
other regiment of cavalry will be at your dis
posal, to scout toward the Oceoquan. and
probably a tOurth toward Leesburg. To re
capitulate, the most important points which
should engage your attintion are as follows :
F `l. A. strong force, well intrenched, in
the vicinity of Manassas, perhaps even Cen
treville, and another force (a brigade), also
well intrenched, near Strasburg.
r '2. Block-houses at the railway bridges.
"3, Constant employment of the cavalry
well to the front.
''4. Grand guards at Warrenton junction
and in advance as fat as the Rappahannock,
if possible.
"5. Great care to be exercised to obtaiti
full and early information as to the enemy.
"8. The general object is to cover the
line of the Potomac and Washington.
"The above is comnmunie►ted by com
mand of Major-General McClellan.
WILLIAMS, Assistant
"Ittijor General N. I'. Banks."
To this singular oversight of Mr. Lincoln
and his military advisers in not guarding the
side gate to Washington, as had been recom
mended by General Mceleßan* imp - 14814 y
before being deptived of the supreme'
mend, is to be credited the defeat of Banta
by
JaeltFon during the following May, a
large part of the (Masters which occurred tt ,
Pope, and the two invasions of Maryland by
Ike. Yet, notwithstanding, all these warn
ings the gaps in the Blue ridge are to this
unintrenched and undefended; and should
General Meade ever be driven back, it will
be through flanking movements of the enemy
upon his rear through these open gaps in tho
mountains.
[here occur General McClellan's dispatch
es to Generals Buell, Sherman, Ira Heck, and
Butler, indicating a plan whose scope corn
prehended the operations of all the armies
of the Union—the Army of the Potomac as
well.]
But the "excessive anxiety of the adminis
tratior for a movement," and the premature
opening of the campaign in the West, spoiled
the whole plan, and the scattering, aimless
fighting which commenced then has continu
ed to this day.
But to sum up, we conclude that, had.
Gen. McClellan been retained in the supreme
command, there is every reason for believing
that the summer of 1362 would have seen
the war as far advanced as it is now in the
spring of 1864. Had there been no figlitimg,
until April, 1862, as he desired, all the arm
ies of the Union could have marched at once
and pressed back the rebellion, which Jeff..
Davis subsequently acknowledged attempted)
at first to cover too many points. The vic
tory of Donelson in Febrnary, however,
compelled the South to put forth all its tre
mendous energies. A conscription law was
passed, and before the blow could be follow
ed up by the main armies the•whole available
male population of the South was in the
rebel ranks. Previous to Donelson the rebel
armies were composed of volunteers, and in
numbers were entirely inadequate to defend
the various stragetic points. Nothing but
the pressure of so terrible a defeat would
have reconciled the South to a stringent con-.
scription act. As it was, Donelson lost the
South thirteen thousand volunteers ; but it
was the means of adding at least 150,000 .
conscripts to its armies. This spoiled the
whole campaign for the North, as our armies
attacked various points of the South one af
ter the other, instead of simultaneously, and
thus at ever point we were outnumbered.—
As the defeat-of Bull Run was the means of
developing the vast- military strength of the
North, so the defeat ot Donelson compelled
the South to put forth all its energies. It is
hardly just, however, to judge the Adminis
tration too severely. Mr. Lincoln honestly
wished to do what was best, but partly on
account of his circumstances and partly be
cause of his education he could not act very
differently from what he did. The training
ofa lawyer is not very well fitted for making
a good general. A planner of great cam
paigns needs breadth of view, comprehen
siveness, directness, a knowledge of how to
make time his ally ; but the legal mind while
active loses in breadth what it gains in sharp
ness and intensity. Mr. Lincoln could not
understand why, it a rebel army could not
be whipped at the West, it was not done at
-once, overlooking all the remote consequen
ces. To "move on the enemy's works" was
all that was required to gain victories. It is
somewhat remarkable that, of the large num
ber ot lawyers who have entered the armies,
North and South, so few have achieved real
distinction, though several, like Sickles,
have acquired a factitious importance by
their knowledge of the arts of securing news
paper notoriety.
Then, again, Mr. Lincoln was fairly com
pelled to act as he did toward Gen. McClel
lan by his cabinet and the party which sup
ported him. The public temper was impa
tient and imperious, and besides there was a
very natural dread in administrative circles
lest one man should acquire all the glory of
putsing down the rebellion.
The Washington Shooting Affray.
The jury sworn to investigate the
causes which led to the killing of David
WoIt; in the late murderous affray in
Washington, concluded their labors last
week. Their verdict was that the de
ceased "came to his death dining a pis
tol light in the borough of Washington,
on Tuesday, the Ist inst., from a mortal
wound inflicted by a a bullet fired from a
pistol to the Jurors unknown ; and that
at the time he, the said David Wolf, was
so as aforesaid mortally wounded, he
was in no wise participating in said pis
tol tight, but was simply an innocent
bystander." The Jury also prepared a
paper, which accompanied their verdict,
in which the practice of carrying dead
ly weapons is denounced as contrary to
the letter and the spirit of the law, and .
having an evitable tendency to riot and,
bloodshed.
The Recognition Report. •
(From the Morning Post.)
We learn that Mr. Mason, who some
time since .carne to London. to represent
the Confederate States America, and
who since his departure from this country
has been residing in Paris, has just re
turned to Loudon. Mr. Mason's present
informal mission has, it is said, taken
place at the desire of the Southern gov
ernment, and it is supposed not to be•
unconnected with some important nego
tiations which are being carried on be
tween the French and English Govern
ments on the subject of the Southern
Confederacy.
The Roll of Honor.
The following is a list of the twelve per;
sons yet remaining on the Pension rolls
of the Government, and who actually
participated in the war of the Revolu
tion :
Names Birthplaces
A inagiali Goodw in • • • • Sonieniworth, N. Ii- - -
John G,,0 !now Sudsbury, Mass
Adam Ling Washington co-, l'a.• •
Hey. Daniel Waldo• -Windham, Conn.,• • •
Win. Hutchinson Vork, Maine• • • • .....
James Durham Southampton co— Va•
Reoj. Miller Springfield. Mass• • •
John Pettingill Windham Conn
Alex. Maroney Lake Geoge, N. 'V • • -
isa ut u e l Downing, 2.1 N H. Kent. no age given
[aurae I cook, No birinplace or age given.
JdlUell Gates No birthplace or age gives.
Morgan's Escape.
In the report of the committee of Ohio
Legislature, appointed to investigate
matters connected with the escape of
Jonx MonGIN and several of his isffieers
from the Ohio Penitentiary, the Com
mittee exhonerate the officers of the
Penitentiary ; and the responsibility upon
the military authorities. They find
Lieut. Junsox, of Gen. MasoN's staff, es
pecially culpable, and recommend his dis
missal from the service.
Narrow Escape.
Gen. Sigel, who has just resumed command
of the Department of West Virginia, had a
narrow escape from capture by the rebels a
few days since. 'While at Martinsburgh he
rode outside his picket lines for some 'reason,
and just at that momedt a force of 200 rebel
rode between the General and his lines. Had
they known of Ins presence, they could live
captured him with ease,
Exuou.ium-r OP SfAvEs..--A circular
has been issned by the War Depait
went providing for the..tgLiOrtmen4, of
'slaves pursuant to Seem of the.new
"enrollment law.
Age.
...10e
102
•••102
—lOl
•••100