, 1862-05-13

II Nsl u WA ~ NSto; e-'N 0ESAE ceA !"
NlGian Howard Russell, the late cores
pondcnt Of the London Times, contributes to !.
t':2t paper detailed statement Of the CAUSES
Of Ills failure to accompany Gen. McClellap's
army. He Ind obtained Gen. McClcllan's per
mission, and also Secretary stanton's, to ac-
company the army and take several friends
with him. Having made the necessary prepa-
rations, the party proceeded On board the
steamer Commodore, lying At the Navy Yard,
when Gen. Van Vlict Informed Mr.. Russell
that Mr. Stanton had given him {Gen. Van
Vuct) the most positive orders not to permit
him to stay on board the transport. F: The
written order of the Secretary Of war vas pro-
duced, and Of course MI. Russell had to WITH
draw from the transport. He therenpnn
wrote to the President, layiHg the facts of the
case before him. Inreply he received the fol-
loving note:
tEucurrVE MAE=1o.,, Apr1l1 IA, 1861.
"MI DEAR SIR-I have referred to your
Communication to the President, who has
given it due consideration
''Hc Directs me to say that, with every dis
position to obGEe you, he is dlsinclincd to
overru1e Z decision Of the Secretary OF War,
founded on what appear to the Secretary CON
eiderations Of high public importance. To do
so in your case alone Wou1d seem to all others
an inVidious distinction.
t'Thc President regrets that he cannot
crafty you in this matter.
II have the honor to be, very truly, your
obedient servant,
'sJoH HAx.''
To Gen. Marcy, the chief Of McClelan's
staff, Mr.. Russell writes note concluding Is
follows: ,
"You know, sir, how scrupulous was to
obtain the leaye If the General before I made
any arrangement, and how utterly unexpected
was such an interference with me. have onlF
details fthe transaction to the President Of
the United States, and that have also made
d direct appeal to the Secretary Of War against
| his treatment, which was aggravated by its
concomltant incidents. To the General beg
yoU will tender the expression Of my sincere
| thanks for his intended kindness towards me,
| aud say how much regret shall not have an
opportunity Of showing In Europe that he can
| lead the army he has trained SO long in great
| and glorious combats. To you, dear sir, T ten
der my best thanks for your unfailing cour-
tesY.'
Commenting on the action Of Mr.. Stanton,
| Mr. Russell iudu1ges in the following specuIa-
| tions upon his motives: = -:
II am led to believe that Mr.. Stanton WAS
actuated by desire to show his power In q
manner which might at once gaia him the ap-
| probation Of certain Journals in the North,
| and at the same time make Gen. Mcclellan
teel his subordinate position; and, it the
same authorities do not err, he is influenced
by the jealousy which has been openly attrib.
uted to him Of that officer on political and
personal grounds
(The truth is, lie Was excluded because he
Was chronic slanderer OF this country, anG
/ pereistently misrcpresented the army and it,
doiugs. He should have been expelled month:
before he was, md Secretary Stanton is tt
blame for not giving him his walking paper
long ago.)
The Times indu1ges in some characteristic,
comments on the action Of Secretary Stanton
1tsqya; aTa aon,+ tb.,,, ,,o ;nanonco. ns,r;n,
upon the civil officers Of the government q
Washington which induced them to take
probably coerce Mr. Lincoln and Mr.. Stanton
which might be. disregarded in less unquie
times; and the power Of moulding all th
news Of military events in an official patterl
may be more valuable in America than it ha
eyer been found IN Europe, The Cabinet .
, victories and annihilate defeats upon paper
The right has been often used before, al
, though with small success, but there is n
reason why the experiment should not b.
tried again -......-.
sit Is, however, but fair to add that Til
fear Of independent criticism is the weak
}. ness Of the Federal Government, and not c
\ the: Federal Army. Tue General and th
: | troops who are now about to f1gh
t their way towards Richmond, SO far fQt
, dreading the prsaenee 6ff that keen eye whic
| scanned the movements Of the greatest Eure
pean armies that have met In conflict in on
, day, and Of that practiced pen which has glge
; to history the great battles Of the Alma, like
! mann and Sebastopol, md the stirring inc
: dents Of the 1udian muttny, were most anxiou
t 10 have with them an historiographcr whoi
: the world would believe, and from who:
, alone they could obtain 11,iaaisputed. renown
[The country will try and survive the los
!. Of the ssrenown'' that would lave accrue
:, from Russelrs lying letters.-ED,