Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-10-13
Special correspondence of the Chicago Times.
PROM Washington.

Rssah Of ne Loss Of Harper's Fsrry-The War
Department is Alone 10 Blame for The Capture
81 Hsrper's Ferry-Imporfaat- Changes in the
Cabinet and Army.
WAsHSeToS. Oct s.
The proclamation abolishing the State Gov
eminent and the State sovereignty Of Florida,
declaring Florida to be no longer a State but
Territory, and appointing host of Territorial
officers. has not yet been issued. IL is said that
the reason OF the delay arises from the unsparing
ridicule which has been visited upon other crude
and hasty prOclamations OF the President, and
desire 10 avoid il in this instance by more atten-
ton TO the elaboration of details. IL - said also
that. as this action in the case Of Florida is 20 be
followed in the case of all the other Southern
States. all Of which are to be reduced to Tern
tories $50 far procamations can reduce them,
the Administration is DESTROYS of framing such
proclamation will suit any State as well as
Florida
is not this monstrous, though, this assumption
OF power on the part of an Administration TO
sweep away with one stroke OF the pen every
yestige OF the existence OF an independent ana
pOpulOus Staiel-tO blot out of existence that
very form of republican State Government so
sOlemnly guaranteed in the Constitution The
leaiers of the radicals here. the advocates OF the
atrocious measure do not pretend to justify it on
/
that the Constitution il no more than piece of
sheep skin; that Dir. Lincoln is the Government;
and that ii is treason 10 say may" when he says
yea" They boast. indeed. that he IS virtually
a military dictator, but that he Is the instrument
of their will So that, If what thew say is true
we have not even the poor consolation OF living
under vigorous despot, but are at the mercy Of
a gang of fanatical radicals
Ii they carry out their designs with regard to
1 IL. =. 70
stop with the Southern States. If their boast
that they control the President be true, there is
nothing 20 prevent them from uniting and get
ting Mr.. Lincoln 10 sign proclamation with the
word "lllinois" wherever the word "Florida" oc-
ours The State of Illinois has been so contu-
macious MS to pass laws forbidding negroes from
coming into the State This is fat treason, nc
cording 10 the radical Interpretation, and accord
inc to Charles Sumner. State which has com
mitted treason not only ought TO die, but actually
has died, and is defuuct This is all very All. urd :
but il is what the radicals here actually believe
and it forms the basis of all their action. Be
not surprised, therefore, TO see at any time an
edict converting Illinois from a State into a Ter
rtory.
1t is incredible how free American citizens can
be quiet and endure the mere existence of such
state OF things. But, indeed there is reason 10
believe that the people are at last aroused to the
immnence of the peril that threatens them. If
the coming elections carried by the Republi
cans, our liberties gone, and we will be at the
mercy Of pack Of irresponsible fanatics, with
Charles Sumner az the head and Owen Lovejov
at the tail. But If they are defeated, there is "a
good prospect that our liberties will be preserved.
There is reason to believe that the people all
over the North comprehend this fact at last and
will not be wanting to their duty. Unless this is
really the case, the words American liberty
will heneeforth be the bitterest mockery.
The events which have taken place on the Up
per Potomac since the battle of Antetam have
proved that the capture of Harper's Ferry has
been of the two chief causes which has pre-
vented the Union army from following the Con
federate army across the Potomac, and giving
them battle on the Virginia side The most
strenuous exertions are being made. therefore, to
divert the blame OF the loss of Harper's Ferry
from those who caused that loss, and to iasten il
upon innocent parties. As | am in possession of
the facts OF the case yoR shall have them.
Tom Ford is undoubtedly to blame for leaving
the Mary land Iii shts when he did But he would
have been compelled to leave them some hours
later Julius White is to blame for not assuming
the command at Harpers Ferry, account of
his superiority OF rank But ne showed real good
sense in not doing so. he knew very well that,
Ia all things relating military operations. Col.
Miles was UNNECESSARILY his superior, and that he
could not do one tenth what Col Miles could do
in making successful defense The rules of
the service. however were imperative and he is
to blame for not obeying them and assuming the
command
At Bull Run in 1861, Col Miles showed him.
self the equal of ali those Colonies. Heintzelman,
keyes, Franklin. Porter. Sykes, Burnside and the
rest who have since been made Generals. His
services on that day were equal to theirs. That
he Was not drunk On that day know
Col Miles is not'in the slightest degree to blame
for the surrender of Harpers Ferry His orders
TO Col Ford were TO hold the Maryland flights to
the last extremity Ii these orders had been obey
ed, the surrender would have been delayed. But
il could not have been prevented.
The entire blame of the disaster rests on the
Administration, and especially OIL the War De
partment One Of Gen Wool's first official acts
in taking charge of that military department, was
TO visit Harper's Ferry lie Immediately per-
ceved the necessity OF terrifying the Maryland
Nights, and represented that necessity to the War
Department. But not the slightest notice was
taken of his representations. and the matter was
entirely neglected Mr.. Stanton is said 10 nave
remarked at the time, ooh. General Pope will
take care that the rebels never get north of the
Rappahannock again. There Is no more use in
terrifying Harpers Ferry than in terrifying Phil
pha-"
Again, when Gen. Mcclellan was apponted to
his present command on the I'd oil September, he
urged upon the administration the absolute ne
cessity of Immediately terrifying the Maryland
Heights. and stated that. unless that was done
instantly, the post would be untenable. and would
have 20 be abandoned; and that. it the War De
partmtnt did not intend 70 fortify and reinforce
the place il were better To evacuate il then Ton
the 9Th September and 80 save at least the men,
the guns, and the ammunition. HIS representa-
tons likewise were disregarded and behold the
result.
Rumors are rife here regarding important
changes in the army, in the Cabinet, and in the
diplomatic service IL j. said that Mr.. Everett is
10 be made Secretary OF State: that Mr Seward
is TO be sent as Minister TO England that Mr.
DAYTON is To be recalled from France, and a man
who can speak French sent to Paris that the
Spanish mission i TO be filed by eminent
scholar who has haG some experience IN dipOm,-
cy. and who. from his elegant manners and brill
liant accomplishments, will reject honor upon
our country az the Court of Madrid that Cen
b INKS j. 10 be made Secretary of War that
Gen Mcclellan i 10 lie made General in Chief of
the army that either Cen heintzelman. Gen
Sumner or Gen Hooker Is to have command Of
the Army OF the Potomac and that Gen Hal
leck is 10 be assigned TO the command of ali the
national forces ia the est including the Nissis
sippi Valley Kentucky. and Tennessee. The
( Presidents visit 10 Gen Mcclellan had reference
TO these changes. y.
Judge Douglas and the Republican