The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-07-31
The Responsibility.
n people

The New York Times makes the following
statement, which, to say the least, is remarkable:
"0n the Tuesday preceding the battle, Gen.
Scott, at his own table, in the presence of his
aids, and single guest, discussed the whole sub
ject Of this war, in all its parts and with the ut
most cloarness and accuracy. lie had distinct
and well defined opinion on every pointconnect-
cd with it; and stated what his plan would be
for bringing it to n close, if the management Of
il had been left in his hands. The main object
of the war, he said, was to bring the rebelious
States TO feel the pressure Of the government;
to compel them to return to their obedience and
loyalty. And this must be done with the least
possible expenditure of life, compatible with the
attainment of the object. No Christian nation
can be justified, he said, in waging war in such
a way as shall destroy sci lives, when the OBJ
ject OF the war can be attained at n cost of 500.
Every man killed beyond the number absolutely
required, is murder. Hence, he looked upon all
shooting of pickets, all scouting forays not re-
CURED in order to advance the general object of
the war, all destruction of life, on either side,
which did not contribute to The general result, as
so many acts Of unjustiliable homicide.
IF the matter had been left to him, he said
he would have commenced by perfect block
AIDED Of every Southern port on the Atlantic and
the Gulf. Then he would have collected a large
force at the Capital for defensive purposes and
another large one on the Mississippi for offensive
| operations. The summer months during which
| it is madness to take troops south of ST. Louis,
should have been devoted TO tactical instructions;
and with the first frosts Of autumn, he should
have taken column of eighty thousand we'll dis
| ciplincd troops down the Mississippi, and taken
every important point on that river, New Or
leans included. II could haze been done. he said,
Nth greater ease, Nth less loss Of life, and Nth
far more important results than pould attend the
marching Of an army to Richmond. At eight
points the river would probably have been do
Tended, and eight battles would have been nee
essary; but in every one of them success could
have been made certain for us, The Mississippi
and the Atlantic once ours, the Southern States
would have been compelled, by the natural and
inevitable pressure Of events, to seek, by re-
turn to the Union, escape from the ruin that wo' d
speedily overwhcm them out Of it. This, said
he, was my plan. But am only subordinate.
1t is my business to give advice when it is ask
cd, and obey orders when thy are given. / shall
do IL. There are gentlemen in the Cabinet who
know much moro about war than do, and have
c,r t,,u, bo, 1t
the plan of the campaign. There never was a
more just and upright man than the President
never one who desired more sincerely to promote
the best interests of tho country. But there
are men among his advisers, who consult their
own rescntments far moro than the dictates Of
wisdom and experience, and these men piU prob
ably decide the plan Of nc campaign. 1 shall do,
or attempt, whatever am ordered to do. But
they must not hold NO responsible. If am or
dered to 60 to Richmond, shall endeavor to do
il. But know perfectly well that they have
no conception of the difficulties we shall encoun-
en- know the country, how admirably adapt
ed il is to defense, and how resolutely'and obsti-
nateY it will be defended. would like moth
ing better than to take Richmond--now that it
has been disgraced by becoming tho Capital Of
the Southern ConfedGracy, fccla resentment
towards it, and should like nothing better than
to scatter its Congress to the winds. But have
lived long enough to know that human resent
mont is very bad foundation for public poll
cy; and these gentlemen will live long enough
10 81. 4 l. Ill 4. H.
/ shall fight when and where am commanded
But " am compelled to fight before Tam really,
they shall not hold me responsible. These gentle
men must take the responsibility Of their acts,
as L am willing to take that Of mine. But they
must not throw their responsibility upon my
shoulders" 80
EE- A rain storm Of unusual severity
,,.,tal 80 -. l..