East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-08-15
The Hepuisc nt Manassas---Mr.
Thrul0w Weed tell, who il Re
spOnsible for the Dis;lS tpr.
'rial correspon Ienee ofth' Albany Eve. Jour
WASHINGTON, July 26, 1861.

The public mind, painfully but reason.
ably excited, is entitled to be informed OF
what so deeply and vitality concerns the
general welfare. When rebellion broke
out into open war, upon Fort Sumpter,
the peoplc rose with an unanimity mex
ampled in the worlds history, Offering
themselves and their possessions to the
government, asking only, in return, that
war thus wantonly and wickedly pro-
Voked, should be vigorously prosecuted.
Passing over an intervae of three
months, we come to the disastrous battle
of Manassas. WHO is responsible for this
great national disaster? Officials cannot
ansyer--individuals may speax-ther an.
swers passing for what they are worth,
according to the estimate which the pub.
lie put upon their judgment and means of
information
Lieutenant General Scott, in the dis
charge Of bis duty as Commander-in-C Chief
of the army, conceived aud perfected
plan Of programme, by means of which he
confidently, as the results of summer
and fell campaign, anticipated the over
throw of the Confederate army, and thus
yHtually 10 emu the rcDeIIlon.
This plan, primarily, contemplated
camps of instruction, where raw leves
might, during the months Of June, July
aud August, be subjected to discipline and
Injured to service, sending the regiments,
as they became fit for duty, into the field,
making room, as they departed, for green
organizations.
With this disposablc force latter the
safety Of the capitol was assured) Gen.
Scott commenced operations at Fortress
Monroe, near Harper's Ferry; and in
Western Virginia, the latter point being
most favorable, proiiting, as no other Sec
tion did by the cooperation and sympa-
thles of loyal inhapitants. With Wash.
ington for his base of operations, the
western wings of his army were to feel
and fight their way southwark, until, at
the appointed time, having reached their
designated positions, all his columns were
to move simultaneously, Richmond fall
ing, as MEXICO fell, before an irresistible
army.
But this plan did not accord with the
popular idea. Prominent individuals,
whose councils and clamors precipitated
the outbreak, demanded precpitate &C.
tion. These demands were more and
more clamorous Exciting appeals to
popular feeling were soon followed by
open aspersions and denunciations of Gen.
Scott, And finally, with presumption
and insolence unheArd of, leading Jour
nal, assuming command of the army, is.
sued and reiterated the order-"On to
Rchmonlr'
While widespread newspapers were
thus weakening the administration by as.
saults upon the Commanding General
his embarraSsments were aggravated by
the persistent hostility and every day as.
pensions of the Postmaster General, whose
brother. prominent member of Con
gress, assailed him from the stump.
Meanwhile Congress assembled. SEN
ators and Representatives, with more zeal
than knowledge, caught up and reiterat-
ed the cry, "On to Richmond" The I'm.
patient congressman were leading and in
tuentiaL They waited upon the Presi-
dent to complain of the inactivity OF the
army and upon General Scott, urging
him "On, to Richmond" army bills pre-.
pared with deliberation by Senator Will
son, lin accordance with the views of tho
gorernmenD were emasculated by the
Home Military Committee, of which Mr.
Blair is chairman. The President and his
Cabinet had reason to apprehcnd-if not
the censures of Congress--the failure Of
measures essential to the prosecution Of
she war, unless the Tribune order of "On
to Richmond" was obeyed.
And now the sensation journals began
TO disparagc the strength and courage OF
the rebel army. "The rebels will not
hghtp "rhe towards will rum" etc., etc.
appeared ia flaming capitals over flash
paragraphs: The whole popular mind
was swayed by these frenzed appeals. A
movement upon Manassas was universally
and blindly demanded. Passion and an
imosities kindred to those which once de
luged France in blood were being excit
ed. The tyranny of the press, the denun
citations of cabinet minister, and tn,
impetuosty o. a dozen members of Con
grsss, exciting tho masses, moved" Gen
Scott "from his prophecies" For once
in his life, his purposes were thwarted-
for once "his mind became the mind o
other men." The result has shown thai
it was q fatal weakness. And yet, whC
knows what would have been the effect o
IN adherence to his plan? The New
York Tribune was educating millions t.
distrust the wisdom Of the administration
and the fidelity of the commanding gen
erals. Every day emboldened its audacit,
every rail and wire disseminated it
treason-and every hour augmented thu
popular discomfort. Congress, though it
session opened auspiciously, begin to fal
ter. The Dlairs--one in the Cabinet anC
the other in Copgress--were organizing
an "On, to Richmond" faction. 10 have
resisted these demands would hav,
overthrow the Observation-Disclosures
might have destroyed the government
madness ruled the hour" and battle q
Manassas, right or wrong, became, not
military, but political necessity"
1t is not true, however, as has been as
serted, that Gen. Scott was constralpe'
"a hazard this battle by the President