Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-08-06
Why the Bull Run Battle was
Fought.

An Interesting and somewhat remarkabl
letter appears in the Albany Journal writtel
by Mr.. WEED. We copy a portion of
which is an explanation of the advance OIL
Manassas, by one holding confidential rela
tions to the Administration, at least to SOM
of its members
Lieut.. Gen. Scott. in the discharge of BIZ
duty as COMMANDMENTS Chief of the Army
conceived and perfected Plan or Pro
| gramme, by means of which he confidently
as the results of a Summer and fall Campaign
anticipated the overthrow of the Confederate
army, and thus virtually to end the rebellion
The plan, primarily, contemplated Camps
of -stru ction, where raw leyies might dur
ing the months of June, July, and August, bt
subjected to discipline and Injured to service
sending the regiments, as they became fit for
duty, into the field, making room as they de
parted, for green organizations.
With his disposable force latter the safety
of the capital was assured) Gen. Scott com.
menced operations at Fortress Monroe near
| Harper's Ferry, and in Western Virginia the
| latter point being most favorable, pro6ting
as no other section did, by the cooperation
and sympathies of loyal Inhabitants. With
Washington for his base of operations, the
Western wings of his army were to feel and
fight their way Southwark, until, at the ap-
ted positions, all bis columns were to move
simultaneously, Richmond falling. as Mexi.
/ CO fell, before an irresistible army.
But this plan did not accord with the pop
/ ular idea. Prominent indi vidaais whose coQn-
ellis and clamors precipitated the outbreak,
| demanded precipitate action. These demands
were more and more clamorous. Exciting
| appeals to popular feeling were soon follow
| ed by open aspersions and denunciations of
| Gen. Scott. And, finally, with presump-
| ton and insOlence unheard OF, leading jour-
nal, assuming command OF the army, issued
| and reiterated the order-.'ON To RICHMOND"
While widely spread newspapers were thus
weakening the Administration by assaults
upon the commanding General, his embar-
easements were aggravated by the persistent
hostility and everyday aspersions of the
Postmaster-Ge whose brother, promi-
nent member of Congress, assaulted him from
the stump.
Meanwhile Congress assembled. Senators
and Representatives, with more zeal than
knowledge, caught up and reiterated the cry,
''ON TO RICHMOND The impatient Con-
gressmen we're leading and influential. They
waited upon the President to complain of the
inactivity OF the army; and upon Gen. Scott,
urging him "ON TO RICHMoND.n Army Bills,
prepared with elaboration by Senator Will
son, lin accordance with the views of the
Government,) were emasculated by the Home
Military Committee, of which Mr.. Blair Is
Chairman. The President and the Cabinet
had reason to apprehend-ifn not the censures
of Congress-the failure of measures essential
to the prosecution of the war; unless the
Tribune order of "ON To RICHMOND" was
obeyed.
And now the sensation journals began to
disparage the strength and courage of the
rebel army. "The rebels will not fight p
1.-The towards will run!' etc., appeared in
flaming capitals over flash paragraphs. The
whole popular mind was swayed by these
phrenZled appeals. A movement upon Ma
nassas was universally and blindly demanded
Passions and animosities, kindred to those
which once deluged France in blood were be-
lug excited. The tyranny of the press, the
denunciations of Cabinet minister, and the
impetuosity of dozen members of Congress,
exciting the masses, ''moved" General Scott
"from his proprieties." For once in his life
his purposes were thwarted-for once Ibis
mind became the mind of other men," The
result has shown that it was fatal weakness.
And yet who knows what would have been
the effect of an adherence to his plan?
The New York Tribune was educating
millions to distrust the wisdom of the Admin
istration and the fidelity of the Commanding
Generals. Every day emboldened its audac-
ty-eVery rail and wire disseminated its tres-
son, and every hour augmented the popular
discomfort Congress, though its session
opened auspiciodsly, began to falter. The
Blars-one in the Cabinet and the other in
Congress-were organizing an Son to Rich
mond" faction. To have resisted these de-
mands would have oyerthrown the Admins
tration-and might have destroyed the Gov
ernment. Madness ruled the hour" and
battle at Manassas, right or wrong, became
not a military, but a political necessity"
ha NJ la5anasrnioI A IN ergissr onunUootc
as follows on the above:
MIR. Weed versus MIR. Blair.
We yesterday gave an extract from letter
addressed by Mr.. Weed to the EUening Jour
nal, accusing Mr.. Postmaster General Blair
of hostility to General Scott and of forming
and heading faction against him under the
cry of "On to Richmond" We took occa-
sion to express our regret at the course pur-
sued by the veteran politician of Albany. A
further study of the whole letter deepens that
regret. Mr.. Weeds publication betrays q
CO ndition of things, a state of feeling,
on the part of members of the Cabinet
towards each other. that will be exceed
ingly distastefal to the country and serious
ly damage the Administration, aud still
more directly one member of it. ThS init
macy well known to exist between Mr.. Sec
rotary Seward and Mr.. Weed will naturally
point to Mr.. Seward as Mr.. Weeds informant
of the views expressed by Mr.. Blair aud the
course pursued by the Pos tmaster- General as
a member of the Cabinet. The Secretary of
State is thus placed before the country in the
unenviable character of betraying the Sc
crets of the Cabinet to private citizen, and
the motives of his conduct in that capacity
are not likely to be very favorably regarded.
1t can scarcely be doubted, either, that the
publication of Mr.. Weeds letter was by the
consent, if not at the instigation, of Mr., Sec
rotary Seward.
1t is in this view that we regret the publ
cation as well as on the ground that such
public assault upon member of the Cabinet
should be made at this juncture. 1t is an
act of imprudence and expediency that was
not to be expected from the astute and eau
tous conductor of the Albany Evening Jour
nal, and is to US uncountable. The effect of
it upon the country must be injurious, Great
ing tendency to mustnr Mr.. Blair's friends
to his support, aud possibly to make them
hostile to the other member of the Cabinet
who, right or wrong, they will consider the
instigator of Mr.. Weeds attack. We cannot
think that the assailants OF Mr.. Blair will
make much by this proceeding. That gentle
man may have been somewhat too eager for
the crushing out of the rebellion, but they
will be apt to retort by reviving rumors that
Mr.. Seward was for compromise, was in cor
respondence with deputies of the rebels, was
required by the President to cease such cor
respondence, de-, and the offence of Mr.. Blair
will be generally deemed the more venial of
the two, aud his conduct will be the more
leniently remembered in the coming years of
the political life of each.
The Fight OF Oregon Inlet.