The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-29

eOhfeItcu w the Dchutic5 VI aDOlltlOnl5m VIII
give Mr.. Opdyke wide margin
The Potomac and the Southern Sea-
board-Our Military ind Political
Policy.
Our latest advces from Washington, and from
the public journals and Southern newspaper
correspondents at Richmond, fully warrant the
conclusion that our military occupation of Beau
fort, South Carolina, has thus far effected no
material reduction of the rebel Army of the
Potomac. On the contrary, anticipating an
attack, the leaders of that army have been
strengthening their lines, and appear to be
confident of another Bull run affair." close at
hand. and very anxious for battle with Gen.
Mcclellan.
Is General Mcclellan about to advance upon
the enemy? We think not His infallible line
of action with the removal of the rebel Con-
federate government from Richmond appears
50 very plain and simple that we cannot
imagine he will reject it, unless well
assured of success in an immediate i'd
vance. Since July last The defensive works of
the enemy around Manassas have been greatly
strengthened, and they have been extended
eastward so as to embrace all the water courses
which empty into Bull run, to the heights of
Centreville. The dislodgment Of Beauregard,
just now, would probably require, not the work
Of single battle, but the labors of siege; and
for the purposes of siege, being thrown back
from that system of water courses referred to,
the first necessity of our army would be an
artificial supply of water. Moreover, with the
repulse of the enemy from Manassas unless a
decisive repulse, the forces of that army, to
great extent, would Immediately be moved
down to the seacOast defenccs Of South Carroll
ma, Georgia. Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and
Louisiana. Thus. even in gaining the field of
Manassas, we might have winters work be-
fore us in repairing the road to Richmond, and
largely strengthened enemy to cope with in
all the cotton States
Clearly then, it is still the policy of General
Mcclellan to hold his place on the Potomac
and await events. If the enemy wish to fight
him, they will know where to find HIM If
they choose to wait for him at Manassas. let
them do so for thus the great valley of the
Mississippi, and the Southern seaboard. from
Charleston to Texas, will fall the more readily
operating upon the enemy's flank and rear Let
General Mcclellan stand, then, yet a little
longer Just where he is. He can thus spare
one hundred thousand men for offensive opera
tions i'll the Mississippi valley and in the cotton
States; and, with our occupation of Charleston
Savannah Mnhiln Naxu Dp1a
rebel army of Virginia will be finally dispersed
and that State will be reclaimed without another
battle Reinforce General Sherman promptly
with an addition of twenty-five thousand men,
and, with the naval cooperation of Dupont
Charleston and Savannah may both be taken
before Christmas, and Virginia and North Caro-
lima, too.
Now, too, is the time for u positive declara-
ton Of policy on the part of President Lincoln
touching the slaves OF rebel masters The law
Of Congress upon the subject admits large
margin Of executive discretion. To silence,
therefore, the clamors of our pestilent and dis
organizing abOlitionists the President should
proclaim consistent course Of action in refe-
renee to contraband negroes. We think no
better plan of dealing with them could be
adopted than that Of their employment in the
public service. We say in the public service,
but not as soldiers, for this expedient is sugges-
tive of the horrid anarchy Of st. Domingo. Nor
is war Of emancipation anything better than
an idea of disorganization and confusion.
Slavery in the border slave States may disap-
pear under the pressure of this war; and with
out disadvantage to those States; but if we
would restore the cotton States to the Union
without depopulating them. we must save their
institution Of slavery.
The rebel planters of Beaufort district have
scampered off, leaving their houses and estates
in the care Of their negroes and at the mercy Of
our army of occupation. Let General Sherman
put an army overseer with guard of soldiers
in charge Of each Of these deserted plantations.
and let said overseer take the negroes under
his care and make them pick the ungathered
cotton, gin it and bale il, and turn it over to
General Sherman as the property of the govern
ment, and let the surplus rice, corn &C., of said
plantations be disposed of in the same manner,
and we shall begin to turn the slaves of our
Southern rebels to good account. Should the
war last till the planting season Of next spring,
let the slaves of said plantations be still en-
ployed in putting in new crops for the govern
ment, and Southern slavery will thus continue
to help us in meeting the burdens of the war;
With the return Of peace the estates and
negroes Of intractable rebels could be turned
over in part to indemnify loyal Southern men
for the losses entailed upon them by the rebel
government and agents of JEFF. Davis, and in
part to the account Of our brave soldiers, killed
or crippled in the public service.
In conclusion. we are in no hurry for an ad-
vance upon the enemy by General Mcclellan.
Our military policy is to encourage Johnston,
Beauregard and their associate generals to hold
their army intact in Virginia while we attend 10
the Mississippi valley and the cotton States:
and our wisest political policy is to turn over
the estates and slaves Of Southern rebels to the
benefit Of the government, without disturbing
the constitutional landmarks of the institution