The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-12-10
General Halleck.

Why do all the dogs of the opposition unite
in a canine chorus of bowling at General Hal
leck? Is he not an able general? Was he not
proved in department before he was called
to advise Secretary Stanton at Washington?
Has he any political sins to answer for? This
was not so formerly none were reader to do
him honor than the very men, who are now to
the extent of their ability seeking to deprive
the commander-in-chiefof every vestige of pop
ular respect and confidence. And pray what
makes the difference?
Undoubtedly the change is explained by the
course Gen. Halleck has taken respecting the
removal of the late Commander of the army
ofthe Potomac The friends ofMcClellan choose
to believe that they can no longer remain
friends of Halleck too. This may be so, though
we doubt it. There was difference ofopn-
ion between the two generals. That was to be
expected; the center and circumference are
very different points of view. Very well, the
Center asserted its supremacy, leaving a triple
choice open to the dissenting Circumference
obedience, resignation, or REMOVAL and if the
circumference chose to elect removal, who else
ural and doubtless honest difference of opn-
ion, leading by perfectly natural steps to
legitimate result. There is certainly no ground
here for passion. If Gen. Mcclellan had step
ped from balcony at Wizards into the
street, he would certainly have broken his
neck. If he was unable or unwilling to coop
crate with the authorities at Washington, he
l. w
respect Gen. Mcclellan; we regret the neces-
sity which has deprived the country of his
services; but we accept his removal as a nee
essity, as we did Fremont's, or Stones.
All honest prejudice against Gen. Halleck
may be thus explained; and for honest how
ever unreasonable hate which grows out of af-
lection and admiration for a rival, large allow
ance may be made. No such allowance
is due to the shameless tricks which coun-
terfeit this genuine feeling, and seek to play
upon the passions of a nation for petty personal
or partizan ends. Here is paper, which f1aunts
Gen. McClellan's name for the next presiden-
cy. There is another, which declaims on the
crime of seeking to withdraw public confidence
from the administration, so long as the admin
istration sustains Mcclellan, but makes haste
TO swallow its own doctrine, commencing
serial attack on the same administration,
straight on McClelan's removal. Yonder is
another absolutely sniveling, bring tears drop
ping from every one of its hundred eyes overs
despatch brought to light in the Porter Court
Martial, which shows that Gen. Mcclellan did
really support Gen. Pope cordially; that he
was not a sneaking villain, capable of sacri-
fcing an army to crafty his personal pioue!
Is this anything so very surprising? How
strange and impossible such romantic generos-
ity as McClellan's might appear to some pecu-
harly organized minds, we care not to cousid-
er; still less would we consent to analyze the
peculiarities Of such minds. There are sub
jects too loathsome for public dissection, and
this is certainly one. We believe that Gen.
Mcclellan is pure-minded patriot; but he is
cursed with the most unlovely set oflriends,by
which an honest man was ever disgraced.