The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-14

OoiuHiu VI ABUSE Oi TIE ADMINISTRATION, III the
shape of a letter from Washington, under the
caption of 1.-THE Appeals for Action" and pur-
porting to be from the special correspondent of
Greeley n Co. 1t is renewal of the ciamor
which last July resulted in the disastrous rout
Of Ball run. Now, as then, the World, the 1ri-
6ane and Times are assuming command of the
army, and directing its movements The letter
In the Tribune we do not believe to be from the
pen OF any regular newspaper correspondent
az Washington; for such men would he better
informed as to what was going on around them.
IL was probably written in the Tribune Office, by
though he takes special pains, by an editorial
paragraph tackled at the end, to disclaim the
authorship Of the letter, or being ''party TO
any Of the appeals so impressively described"
He adds that he ''chronicles the events of the
war, but does not presume to direct them"
This is too modest by half. There is not a day
the Tribune is published that Greeley does not
presume to direct the events Of the war, and
this letter is nothing else than m son
TO Richmond" cry, though in sneak
ing way, through correspondent, who is
himself or one Of the Jacobin club Of
which he is a member. "Willing to wound
but afraid to strike,' he resorts to this method
of damaging the administration and General
Mcclellan. Perhaps he is beginning to have the
fear of Fort Lafayette before his eyes. But his
oowardly mode Of fighting behind masked
battery will not save him. He is responsible
Tor the correspondence, and the more so because
he has read it and endorsed it 50 far as to
call its statements facts.
! But is it schronicling The events Of the war"
to denounce ''the policy which has guided the
army since the establishment of the new mill
tary administration, four months ago?'' We are
told by this writer that very strong influences,
including officers Of the army Of high rank aud
! reputation and members of Congress. are at
work Ito stimulate the authorities into an inn
mediate demonstration OF some sort. but have
failed to elicit anything beyond assurances that
the military head cannot be dictated to-" The
| Tribune then goes on TO describe 1.-The public
| impatience' as having reached climax
beyond which it will endure no longer
that "skeptic civilians are taking views
not whollys favorable to the theory Of
military infalibilty,' and ''if further action is
to be deferred until spring discussion would
terminate in serious discomfort" The govern
ment and General Mcclellan are admonished
that common sense is an attribute which
buttons and bullion do not confcr;' and COM
mon sense says that since an army cannot be
made perfect but by the practice of long years.
therefore drilling is no use. 1T is not drilling
and reviewing that can make our volunteers
stand fire." sour soldiers are not mere me-
chanical engines 1.-The more the exubcrancc
and animation of our men are chilled the less
valuable will they he when brought in masses
before the enemy
Such is the balderdash by which is sought TO
the proper time. Experience proves that mere
numbers, with arms in their hands. avail no
thing against disciplined troops. and that
twenty thousand we'll trained men can easily
whip 4 military mob of two hundred thousand.
Quite in keeping with this ignorance is the fol-
lowing scntcnce:-"Common sense, in defiance
of military profrndity is firmly convinced that
our men are no more now ready for action than
they were two months ago, and that they will
he no more ready three months hence than they
are now" This is a foul libel on General Me-
Clelan, and the grossest inglatitudc for his
great services in making an army out Of Il dis
orderly multitude. The necessary delay is de-
nounced as "a painfully pusillaninous policy.
and ''the feline process Of mouse Watching and
starving out is entirely too undieniied for the
philosophers of the Tribaae. II they know
anything they are well aware that General Nc
Clelan could not give public explanations Of
the military reasons for his delay to advance
without making the enemy as wise as himself
The object OF the conspira!ors appears to be to
provoke him into al explanation. and then ac-
cuse him of betraying the plan Of ihe campaign
Not only are the people Of the United States
represented by the Tribune as Disguised and
dishcartened, but France and England we are
told, arc "tred Of waiting for the rebellion 10
be crushed" that in hose countries confidence
in our success is rapidly expiring and the be-
lief is fast gaining ground that "the rebellion
has successfully asserted itself
Such is the onslaught of the Yril,ae upon
the President and General Mcclellan. The OBJ
iect is well known to be TO force Mcclellan to
resign or fight before he is ready. in order to
have him defeated, so that in either case his
position may be wrcsted from him by the abo
litonsts, and conferred upon general who is
u man after their own hearts This view is
corroborated by our Baltimore correspon-
dcncc in yesterdays HERALD The well in
formed writer states that 1.-THE aboltion'st wing
of the republican party is completely organized
as party in opposition to the President and 10
the policy cnunciated in the Presidents Nes-
sage He cnumcratcs the following measures
as their programme
The passage Of Thad. stevens resolutions declar
ng free and offering freedom all slaves who will leave
their masters
D The passage Of Lyman Trumbus bill, cenhscslins
ali the property Of the rebels including their siSyes
g. The passage Oh bill sbolishing slavery IN the bis