The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-22

of the President could not wal longer; and fina
about the middle Of March he started in his va!
pursuit of the rebel army. During all this time
was fashionable and popular to denounce ever!
one who urged more vigorous measures as : rad
ica!,' while those who were satisfied with the Me
Clellan policy Of mastery inactivity, were ire
qucnt in their prai.es of his eminent conserva
tism. We do not need to recount bis achieve
ments. He never gained victory except when h
m omeat.rily adopted the radical policy of MOVING
at once on the ensmy's works He did this
WiI!iamsburgh, and at Antistem, aud if he cou!t
have been radical enough to take advantage o
either victory, instead of being now engaged ii
defending his campaigns by his own testimony II
Court o. Inquiry, he might have been as popu
lar as his friends could desire.
Ihi, radical policy accomplished somethin:
west. Fort Henry, Fort Doncloon, Island No
10, Pittsburgh Landing, are vita Sses OF IT.
met the rebels and varqushcd them there in ths
chosen positions, until Buell., distinguished econ
secvatve' pat stop TO all such rash measures
AID returned to tn. grand how not ,o-do-!! policy
Of Gen. Mcclellan.
In Virginia this same inactivity Of Mcclellan
seemed likely, two months ago, to compel on
army to 80 into winter quarters Again or the Pc
tomac. The radicals opposed this Gen. Hal
leck opposed it. President Lincoln at last OF
posed it, and removed Mcclellan, nat il obedience
to radical es,-for if ho had consulted
them he NO uld have removed him long time
before,-but in obedencs to his own conviction
that The army which was to conquer treason nust
have Asme other leader. The President did no.,
however, put q chsf;ain Of the radic. choice in
McCellan's place, but gave the command 10 one
Of McC'e!lsn's admirers and most trusted friends,
and one who condoed with that General and
with the army on his removal. Thus matters
stood little more than one month ago. We DO
not know upon whose shoulders the blame for
the disaster a. Fredericksburg should rest, but
we do know tina: it was the delay On the north
side Of the river that gave the rebels time to
make their dsfenssa iapresnable. We do ri
know of any radical" WHO advised that delay, and
until such an one can be found, we submit that
the defeat cannot be fairly laid to the door Of
hose who believe 10 going ahead withoa. waiting
or the s.bsls to pot obstacles in our way.
From first to last We believe the radicals have
,sen in favor of fighting rebels, and subduing
hem by force, and Of doing th. in the shortest
possible time. Others have had faith in the San
conda strategy, in " dirt digging, and in slow
approaches resulting, Usually like, NcClellan's
low approach to Richmond, in some grand STRAIT
gic change OF base with the loss Of $4,000 or
10 900 men, and final retreat. And although
re do not approve Of Burasides strategy at Fred
rick.burgh, we deem it infinitely better than
icCelAn's on the Peninsula, costing not one
bird as many lives, not ons.eighth as much trea-
ure, and accomplishing jus, as much at last, in
Farming that he had not force enough to carry
he rebel rosition. Those who wish to return to
be Mcclellan dynasty, and fraternize wish Cox
nd Woo3 in SLOW war that will so exhaust the
alton as 10. co mpsl disgraeeful peace, can cul,
ate a "cooserval i've frame of mind but for
urselves, even al the risk Of being called that
srriblc thing" a radical" VIZ freely acknowledge
hat we think the c'untry has had eaouSh of
y cCean.
MIR. Chas. Sweetser of Danyile, net with a |