The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-08-21
Gen. BANKS PLAN.

| Early in Nav last. the Hon. \. p. Banks.
| then residing in this city came into the Tribune
/ sanctum to see our nights dispatches. In the
cuur-e of conversation. which turned on the re-
I btIlon. Mr. Banks expressed himself subStan-
I tally as follows: This rebellion cannot be put
down by the force which the government has
now called out. Seventy-fve thousand militia
viii prove wholly Inadequate to restore peace
! 10 the country.
| The Government. and. he feared. the people
of the loyal States. immensely underrated the
strength and means which the Rebel chiefs can
! command. This Is a rebellion of the slave
power against a republican form Of government.
| That political element which has been strong
enough 10 rule this nation for fifty years. can
not be reduced 10 subJection to the Constitution
I by a few regiments OF militia. Before this gi-
gantic SHAREHOLDERS conspiracy can be crushed,
il will tax to the utmost the power and endu-
rance of the nation.
| The people will have to put forth an effort
which has no parallel in modern times. He re-
| garded this as the most formidable well as
atrocious rebellion which had occurred since
the Middle Ages The Sepoy insurrection was
no circumstance TO it. either in strength or
wickedness. The Sepoys did not revolt for the
purpose of strangling free governments and
setting up slave despots.n, a. the authors OF
the Secession rebellion have done. The SepOys
| were reduced to obedience in a few months by
| less than $4,000 British troops. Four times that
| many will not suffice 10 crush cut the slave
holders revolt agains; the Union. Ii he was
| at the head Of public affairs, he would call cut
| five hundred thousand men for the war. He
| would charter every merchant steamer and ship
fit for naval service.
As soon rs the army was equipped and pre-
| pared TO march, he would start ore column o!
L A -. IN
Simultaneously he would move another column
| of 100000 western men down the Mississippi to
reach Memphis by the time the eastern army
got to Richmond. He would send a division OF
10000 men from Louisville 10 Nashville, TO sup
port and protect the Union men of central and
eastern Tennessee and the mountain country OF
Georgia. Alabama and North Carolina. Before
these columns moved. he would tit out an eXpe-
dition by sea. and place $4,000 soldiers aboard
| the feet, to hover along the southern coas,
| from Charleston TO Galveston. This would
keep the Rebels at home in the coast States, as
| they would be in constant dread of visit a,
every port. not knowing where the fleet might
| lald the army. This force on shpboard. Mr.
Banks thought, would compel to remain in their
own States. four times the men in the expedi
tiOn. 1t would be a movable column which
by the aid of wind and steam, might be of
Charleston to-day, and land at Savannah to-
| morrow. Hence its power and efficiency.
The remaining 10000 he would distribute
in divisions at Washington, New York, ST
Louis. Baltimore and other points, to act as re-
serves and supports wherever the eXgencies Of
the campaign might most need them. He would
| keep recruiting Offices open wherever a regi
ment had been raised, to fill the vacancies in
the ranks caused by battle or sickness. HI
would call on the people to organize Nationa
Home Guard of half million men. take care o
traitors in their midst, and to put their shoul
ders to the wheel for final effort. if it wer,
found that the first half million were not able Il
crush out the foul rebellion.
| He calculated that Richmond, Nashville ano
Memphis could be occupied before the frosts o
Autumn, and that during the Winter campaigI
the two main armies would move southwark
one along the Atlantic slope. and the Othe
down the Mississippi. By next Spring. h
thought, the Stars and Stripes might be wavin
oTer the Crescent City, and even Montgomer,
the then capital o. the rebels.
When asked how De would procure tie none
necessary to equip and support SO vast an army
he promptly replied: Open National loan a
the Emperor Napoeon did. and appeal to tn
patriotism of the whole people; take all sum
offered from the widows mite up to Astor
D millions. The Treasury would be abandantl
e supplied by the subscriptions Of the masse
: Only let the people see that the Government
: in real earnest in its purpose to put down tn
;. rebellion. and il will not call on Hercules f.
:, help in vain.
: Such is a brief outline of the plan suggeste
/, in our hearing, by Major General n p. Banl
d for the suppression of the Shareholders rebe
e lion.-Chtcdgo Tribune.