The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1862-02-19

W." ~" -
stituents.
WASHINGTON, Jan. ~, 1862,
MY DEAR SiR-I am IN receipt Of yours Of
the 10Th will make Il very short reply
First, US u why our army does not strike at
some other point than the stronghold OF the
enemy here. We cant withdraw any cunsi
cradle force from the army Of the Potomac
without weakening our line, and We have q
ygilant Toe ready 10 take advantage OF any
movement Of the kind, They can ah'rd 70
| have their wings turned, If they can force our
centre. Trust, my dear sir 10 the sKll ~
/ men quite MS anxious for victory ~ you "I !
can be, with moro knowledge IT the means Wy
/ which il can be attained, \ Joint committee
/ has been in session for the last lew weeks III
/ was created by those opposed u Tue manner
! in which the war ha. been conducted, OPP.
! no.rd il but tina. WI, among my mlStakes.--
II tina, done good the plans Of the army have
hoe, disclosed Ia hi, committee. They must
keen the secret thus communicated, bat /
know they are now satisfied with the plans I;
Met icllan has been before them. The pres
ldcnt stated the other day IN my presence
that there was probably but one man IN the
country more anxious Tor "A battle than HIM
self aud than man was Mcclellan, He re-
puIiatcd, in word, OF whitening rcbukc To
those who make the charge, that he or Mr.
Seward. or Gen, Mcclellan were tam2ering
or delaying out Of any consideration for rebels
urrcbcl institutions, or that they indulge any
hope Of ending the war otherwise than by
conquest on the battle field, wish every
man ia our land could have heard HIM
hi, brings me to the second subject oi
your letter That this rebellion must be put
down by force Of arms. That is exactly where
YOU aud l. while we appear TO agree dIiier.
/, more than you, believe that the sword
must stay this rebellion, That i not only the
best way, but it is the only way to DO 1t aud
the constitution gives the government tins
method IN all IT. rlgor. You would seek To
do il, If understand you right, by passing
, laws, aud hy decree, and order, Of, at least
doubtful! constitutional authority. YOU can
/ but know that law cor decree cpniiscatimg
/ property is imperative while that property II
/ in the hands OF an armed enemy. You wouI'
conii-catc aud then capture, would cap
turr and then cDnti,catc. But that l. not tn
main difference between Us. let u, DEE iraui
aud state II in the plaIno-t language, wou''
prosecute this war for the restoration OF ih
union You would prosecute 1t Tor the aba
iition Of slavery when the war Is over
would leave the people ludl ~huuil bt IeIt u
any aud all the states IN possession Of all th
political rights they possessed before the re-
belliun-prescrying all the states, and to al
OF them equal political rights.
Nuu would reduce a portion of the state
. to Dependencies, aud deprive them "' III
constitutional right Of regulating their u.
y nestle institutions. ! am iur restoring IA
l. union You for imparing IT. ! don't now al
que which theory is the best. uniy want
- make clear the point ut difference. Oh ma
say OF mine that have too much respect +.
slavery ! deny that have any respect +
slavery. Wy respect tor the constitute
however, J, supreme. Nhcnc'"r aud wh"
=, ever slavery stand, iu 10" way ni conquest ;
b our 4am.r- ] would not spare II, and ! CT
not how soreIy II may be impaired by II
conflict, or whether anything "l u br IL
when the war h. over. bat the rght ol car
Il state t. 10 with It Just Il. heretofore "h'
t the war % over must be preserved. or -
Re- see, it !, no r'siol't'o". Those VINO "It
me, are Tor complete restoration o. the oI
union can take no uthrr GROUND 10" VI"
ar" TOR chang" may DC more WISE 'lah W"
aud. once breaking through CONSTITUTIONAL Re
strlints, you may make all ne improvement
You tihuk best, bat your ACTON Is rrN'iuupi
any, not constitutional.
pu say the rebels nave broken the consul
tuition; certainly they nave ana Wou'd pun
i-h them a. the constitution provides 1t
. provisions are ample Tor crushing 'Irh v
arms aud hanging them by law. Lr"-hrrat
= crs are punished by the laws thry break, m
those who execute the laws AMI inlet III
punishment should not themselves b"coII
k lax breakers bet ne close w'th an 'A'f"'