Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-12-27
Attackon Gen. Mcclellan.

certain quarters, to attack Gen. Mcclellan.
Because he cannot achieve impossibilities,
and because he will not imperil all by
precipitate advance, and because he is
suspected of entertaining certain heretical
opinions on the subject Of the negro-he
pronounced unfit for his place Pamphlets
proving that he is a humbug and p1etender
are written the Hon. Mr.. Lovejoy modes
tly suggests that his epauletes shall be
stripped from his shoulders the Hon.
Thaddeus Stevens makes him the subject
of PHILIPPE in a Republican Caucus
One or two journals of character and posi-
ton in our own State, on the strength CT
piece Of preposterous Congressional
gossip, launch against him all the thunder
bolts of rhetoric.
Do these gentlen en- consider what they
are doing? Are they aware Of the injury
their assaults upon the young Commander
in-Chief are likely to inHict upon the cause :?
Arc they aware that loss ef confidence in
him inevitably carries with it loss of con-
fdence i'll the Union that every shaft that
is aimed at him is Indirectly aimed at tue
heart Of the Republic? Are they aware
that unless the country confdes in him
gives him its faith and its support-he
cannot succeed against the enemy? Is it
the part Of wisdom-is it the part OF true
patriotism-to attempt to degrade the
Commander-in-Chief in the eyes of the
people-to attempt to convince the country
that he is unfit for the place be holds-to
ins;ill into the army the notion that they
are Led by a charlatan or a coward ? Wisely
or not, be has bean placed in supreme
command. He is there by the sanction
and al proved of by Gen, Scott. He is
there by order of the President. H. is
there by the almost unanimous voice of
the people. And set membsrs of Congress
and pamrrhhieteers and newspaper editors
W uld nave US believe that the idol of
! yesterday is made of "base metal ;" that
the congueror of Western Virginia, the
young Chief, who has thus far borne him
self so modestly, yet SO gallantly-who has
evoked out of the chaos of Bull Run, order
and discipline-who has converted mob
Of raw recruits into the best army the
world ever saw-don't know his business
They would have US believe that because
he has not seen fit to inaugurato certain
movements--to adopt the programme Of
quill-driving generals; because he has seen
fit TO accept for his motto the old Roman
maxim of make haste SLOWLY" -because
the instant he assumed command he die
not by some mysterious means or orthel
scatter the hosts of they enemy like chat
before the wind, and bring the war to Q
close with short turn he is no great
general but a shallow martinez. They
would have Us believe that because be
does not choose to place himself upon ar
emancipation platform be is virtually g
traitor to the cause and mere shalIoa.
niger catcher.
1t is not difficult TO see what will be the
effect of such attacks if continued The
people will lose heart. Thousands of good
patriots will-mak up their minds that the
struggle is useless, because we have no men
to lead us to victory. Confidence in oul
chief arm lest-the conviction that all the
work of preparation has been in vain
that we are without any comprehensive
Plan, but striking blindly and blunderingly
against fully organized foe-will be dis.
astrous beyond measure. These assaults
may moreover, drive Gen. Mcclellan in.
to rash movements-and darker reverse
than that of Bull Run be added to the
swiftly shifting scenes that crowd the
/ stage.
Would it not be the part of wisdom to
wait until we are sure that Gen. McClel-
Ian is not the fright man for the right
place." before we let loose the dogs OF
war upon him.