Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-11-29
(From the Sacramento Union of Nov. 18th. i
Forbearance Of the Government.

Forbearance Of tho Government.
A General who repeatedly disobeys the
peremptory orders of his superior should not
only be removed from command, but Court.
martialed and upon conviction, dismissed from
the service. This decisive action, so essential
to the maintenance of discipline and the tri.
umph Of the Union cause, has hitherto been
avoided by the Government, and the interests
of the nation have greatly suffered in conse-
quence. General Halleck deserves credit for
having inaugurated sterner policy, more in
harmony with military usages and the cxiscn-
cies of the service. There are few instances
on record Of an officer being more leniently
treated by his Government than General Nc
Clellan has been. For offenses of less mag
nitude ana failures far less disastrous and
costly, other Generals have been sent into re-
tirement; Mcclellan has been steadily up
held by generous President, through good
and evil report, and though many opportuni-
ties for striking vigorous blows at the enemy
were suffered to pass unimproved, fresh
chances were offered. in the hope that he
might at last vindicate his claim to be consid-
cred great General and render substantial
service to the nation. Fremont, Shields, Te-
cumseh Sherman, Thomas w. Sherman and
other officers were promptly removed when
neglect or disobedience Of orders seemed to
demand such action, but Little Mac" ap.
peared to be consecrated fixture at the head
of the main army of the Union, notwithstand-
ing the glaring evidence Of a want of either
energy or capacity. Other Generals were
measured by results; Mcclellan was meas
ured by the length and the variety Of his OK
cusos for inaction or failure. This may have
been magnanimous and generous ON the part
of the Government. But to nurse and fon-
die and forgive an unlucky pet while ma
tion lies broken and bleeding, may become
criminal indulgence. General Hallcck has
broken that pleasant but ruinous spell. Aud
the action Of the General-in-C Chief is sustained
by record of failure and downright disre-
gard of peremptory orders which ought to
convince even those who have been the
warmest friends of the discarded General that
he could not be retained in command without
a continuance Of wastcful and fruitless sacri-
flee of life and treasure, rs we'll as discord
between the army and the Government. Al
most from the dato of IIalleck's appointment
to the chief command of tho armies
of the United States, it now appears,
Mcclellan has persistently disobeyed orders.
A second, peremptory order was necessary to
get Little Mac" to cvacuate the position Oil
the James, and in consequence ofthis delay
the National Capital was imperilled and the
battle of Manassas lost. Restored to COM
nand after Burnside declined to accept the
position and afforded such an opportunity to
defeat and destroy the enemy as is seldom Of
fered in any campaign, Mcclellan occupied a
whole week in marching from Washington to
Frederick City, distance Of fifty miles. wac
held in check at South Mountain, while Jack
son completed the conquest of Harper's Fer
nv, fought the bloody battle of Antietam, in
which twelve thousand Federal soldiers were
killed or wounded, and next day stood still,
while the enemy whom lie claimed to have
bcaten, perfected their arrangements for cros'
sing tho Potomac, which they effected with
all their artillery and stores. On the first OF
October, after ample time had been allowed
for tho recruiting and reinforcement Of the
army, General Hallcck urged Mcclellan to
cross the river at once and give tho enemy
battle, pointing out to him tho disadvantages
of delaying until the Autumn rains had swol-
Ion the Potomac aud impaired tho roads" ;"
Mcclellan stood still. On tho 9Th Of October,
tho Gcneral.in- Chief sent a "peremptory or
der 10 cross the Potomac and give battle to
the enemy or drive them South" McClel.
Ian mot only did not obey, but he allowed
Stuart's cavalry to make complete circuit Of
his lines and escape with the plunder Of Penn.
sylyania homes. On the 2Sth Of October,
General Hallcck felt called upon to write the
letter Of complaint to the Secretary Of War, a
norton of which has been published. Such
aagrant disregard of orders from superior
officer has never been tolerated in any army
or under any government. We believe that
tho supersedure Of Mcclellan was then deter
mined. Burnside was assigned to the COM
mand of more than half Of the army and or
dered to advance, which movement actually
drapocd Little Mac" into the field, where
he delayed the march along tho eastern base
Of the Blue Ridge just long enough to allow
Lee to effect safe RETREAT from the Shenan-
doah valley. 1t was said that the order for a
change of command was entirely unoxpect-
adj" II II was, Little Mac" must have as
sumed that the reins Of government were in
the hands of timid or bssotted men, too stu
mid to see the drift Of his conduct or too weak
70 interfere. He has learned his error. His
f.ll ;s severe, but meritcd. The Democrats"
NAV endeavor to make a martyr OF "Little
Mac" but If victory crowns the efforts Of our
now General, they will seek a more available
candidate for the Presidency. The Govern
msnt has done its duty in this case, and we
believe the time is approaching when all loyal
men will applaud tho act.