The New York herald., 1862-11-14

has been his military career, Notwithstanding
the impedments and obstacles thrown in his
way by faction, all this is eclpsed by the
dignity and self-sacri6cing heroism of the
patriot as exhibited in the manner in which he
| retired from the command of the Army of the
| Potomac to the bosom of his family at Trenton.
1t is adversely which is the touchstone of great
minds. As long IS everything goes on pros
perously with public man we have no test of
| his highest moral and intellectual qualities.
| But when the blast of adversely assails him,
then his mettle is tried, and it is seen of what
he is made. Had Mcclellan been an inferior,
selfish man, he would have resigned his COM
mand, and, like Fremont, made infammatory
| appeals to excite public indignation against the
| government. So far from that, he has never yet
| complained Of the wrongs inflicted upon him.
and now, when he is removed q second time
| from the Army Of the Potomac, he gracefully
withdraws without one word of reproach to his
| superiors. On the contrary, he exhorts the
army to stand by Burnside as it has stood by
him, and does everything to inspire confidence
| in his successor
| he right than be President, Mcclellan prefers
10 be right than to be General -in-Chief even Of
the Army of the Potomac, which had ''grown
| up under his own care" Had he shown the
servile. sycophantic nature Of other men, and
violated the dictates of cOnsoience-hs obliga-
tions to God and his country-he would have
been retained in the chief command to-day.
ment his envious opponents admitted they
voted because they hated to hear all men praise
| him; or, like the Roman general Fabricius
| who declined to be party to the taking Of the
life Of the hostile general by treacherous
poison Fabricius, of whom it was said that he
was like the sun, who could not be turned
from his course Mcclellan was resolved, at all
hazards 70 support the constitution of our
country as well az "the nationality of its
people For this he became obnoxious to
dominant fanatical facticn in temporary power,
who would sacrifice not only General McClel-
Ian, but the army and the nation itself, in order
TO carry out their one idea There 10 no amount
Of blood and treasure which they are not pre-
pared to expend in the vain and impracticable
attempt 70 elevate the negro to an equality
with the white man, or rather to drag down
the white man TO level with the black
Rccause Mcclellan would not become their
plant, supple tool In this visionary scheme, in
volving hideous horrors and cruel barbarities
from which humanity revolss they compelled
him TO walk the plank" But his spirit is
marching on" at the head Of the great national
conservative movement which is destined to
redeem the country from the thra!dom of aboli-
ton misrule North as well as from the usurpa-
tion Of the Southern rebels. His persecution,
and the calm and lofty dignity with which he
endures IL, give him higher place in the ma
tional heart than be could ever reach by his
most successful deeds of arms.
What party persecution did for Martin Van
Buren, IL will do for Mcclellan. In 1881 Mr..
Van Buren, retired from the Office Of Secretary
Of State to General Jackson, and was imms-
dately appointed by the President Minister to
Great Britain. He WAS received ut the Court of
s. James with distinguished favor Soon sfter
the meeting Of Congress the President submit
ted the nomination 10 the Senate. He was re-
jected by that body on the ostensblc ground of
their disapproval Of the instructions which
hs issued while Secretary Of State to
Mr. McI.anc. then our Minister to Eng
land, In reference to the West India trade,
but really from the spirit Of faction; for jack
son bad assumed the entire responsibility, and
publicly declared that those instructions were
''the result OF his own deliberate investigation
and reflection, and still appeared to him to be
entirely proper and consonant 10 his public
duty" The result was that In May, 1882, Mr..
Van Burcn WAS nominated M candidate for Vice
President, with General jackson nominated az
candidate for President for another term, by .
Baltimore. Both we're victorious, and Mr.. Van
Buren returned from England to triumph over
his political opponents by his elevation to the
second Office In the gift OF the people. Nor was
this all. A greater triumph awaited him. At
the end Of Jscksons second term Van Buren,
received from the Democratic National Conven-
tion at Baltimore In 1885, q unanimous nomi-
nation for the succession, and he was elected
President In 1886 by handsome majority.
Now, Mr.. Van Burcn was not particularly
distinguished for his talents OF any great quail
ties Of s,atesnanship, or any services no had
rendered the country, nor did he in any high
degree possess the elements which make men
popular. But he was ruthlessly aud vndic-
lively prosecuted. That WAS enough for the
nation. With how much greater real will the
republic now hasten 10 make matters even by
elevsting TO political power another prosecuted
public man, who hss dono tho country SUCH