, 1862-07-28
THE PRESIDENT DEFENDED.

OF Inc new 10rk ltH2CS, lnat Lne fIealQent
has thus far conducted the war, in opposi-
ton to the advice of his Generals, and that
the disasters Of the Virginia campaign
were due to his intermeddling is so wholly
false that We wonder how the editor Of
that journal, who ought to have been bet
ter informed, could have permitted the
charge to have place in its columns. The
truth is. and We should say so to Mr. Lin
coin if he were here, the crowniug fault Of
his Administration, has been his Difference
to the opinions Of his military advisers.
He found himself at the head Of the Coy
ernment-the Commander-in-C Chief of the
Army and Navy-when this war broke
out. He naturally looked to the officers
subordinate to himself for instruction and
advice in matters purely military These
men, most Of whom were graduates Of
West Point, had no sympathy with him or
his views They were mainly partizansot
the South Forming distinct class in our
nationality, separated from the body Of the
people By their dependence on the Govern
ment, the lifelong tenure Of their Offices,
and the nature Of their employment, they
were an A1istocracy in the heart Of
Democracy, and as such we're the silent
admirers if not the quiet supporters Of the
cause of the South. The President
was thrown into their hands. With
his characteristic modesty and his unwill-
dngncss to indulge in seEassertion, he per-
mitted them to manage affairs in their own
way, generously attributing, when he DIFF
fercd with them, the disagreement to his
ignorance and their superior learning. His
language has always been this: II do not
"prctend to know much about military
matters; the country knows that am
mot soldier, that I am only 3 lawyer. II
q should set up my will in opposition to
"Hhat they recommend, and misfortune
ssshou]d follow, I should not have forgiv-
" ness for my assurance. So they must be
@termitted to go ahead. There can be
s'no two plans adopted. And as they
"are or ought to be, experts in military mat
f'tcrs, must not interfere with their plans II
This, we say, has been the language that
he has always held; and as much as We
nlay deprecate its effect in turning over the
army and the country to the tender mer.
cics Of the men who are too fayorably
affected to our enemies, we can but ad
mire the modesty and patriotism, which
in this crisis, suhordinates self to consider.
ations affecting the public veal We have
IN instance to show how this disposition
Of the President has worked: When The
Peninsular campaign was proposed, hIr
Lincoln was opposed to it. His plan Wa:
for our army to so ahead in unbroker
force On the line Of the enemy's retreat
and to hasten to Richmond with such speei
Us it might be able to command Thi
wss the Obvious dictate Of good policy ant
common sense. But the famous strategy
Of which We have heard so much
was shaken in his face; the deci
sion Of a Council-ofWar was hell
up before him, and though lie all tn
while protested that the movement dit
not command the appreciation Of Ills judg
ment, he finally consented that it might b
made. The result the country knows
Once more: When his patience was es
hausted by the long delay Of Gen h[e
Clellan before Manassas, he ordered q fol
ward movement, not only once but thre
several times. That WIS Lincoln, and tn
expression of his military notions. Blu
strategy came once more into play; ono
excuse after another was alleged, and {
last the command, Forward March! Ws
recalled, and Richmond is not taken ye
We state these things not to assail other
but to vindicate the President, who is nom
nally responsible for the mishaps that haz
occurred Hc, We believe, is in favor {
action, Of earncstness, Of ce1erity. Wei
he to trust to l1s OWL sound judgmer
ard cease to be governed by the advice
men who have thus guided only to betra,
victory would perch on OUT banner
And we trust that the day is not far off i
which lie will vindicste himself and b
come IN reality what he is officially, Il
Chief Of our forces on Lar
and at sea. But as long as he yields |
s'stretegy" which proves to be only foil
as long as he waits preparation that has 7
results, and as long as he trusts men vi
do not know whether they want to fig
or not, just SO 1Sng mny We look for rep
tl'ions of what has already occurred.