Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-05-12
op1raors OF TnE RI

OPINIONS or the PRESS.
We give list Of opinions from some
Of the principal papers Of the nation
conserving the happy event Of . week
AGO. at yorktown. 1t will be observed
that seine Of these papers unhesitatiog'y
make soas very broad charges agsinst
the official conduct of Secretary Stanton
urcounecsiour with the military opera
tom. e. Genera Mcclellan. These
charges come mainly from Republicans.
We most devouuy hope they are not
tro a. II would cause the blood Of every
true patriot to boil with indignation it
it were shown that the Secretary or any
other power had proved 80 reckless to
the dearest interests Of the country - to
attempt to clog, or in any way impede
tho great plans Of the young General, to
decapitate the hideous monster treason.
For the good name and fame Of our
country, it is to be hoped that the
charges thus fatty preferred, arc with
ont foundation 10 fact. Such q crime
would damn the author to eternal iofa.
nv and the undying execration OF the
whole civilized world. Treason would
ha . weak definition OF such crime.
How dare any man to do such an act !!
How dare any man to make an open
CHARGE of such baseness unless he has
the ,udubitable facts 10 his possession ?
Time will show how this If, and it it is
proven that Stanton is guilty let him not
make this country his home longer. 1t
would be unsafe. Let the future prove
the truth or falsity Of the assertion
From the Now York Commercial Advertiser, Com
sentative Republican.
Looking at it as coolly as we can, the
evacuation OF Yorktown is q virtual con-
fe.s,on that the insurgent cause is gone
by the board; that Richmond, and with
it all Eastern Virginia, must be gwen up
to the hated "Yankces." That General
who refused to stir during the tall and
winter, is kelly enough to startle the
country with succession Of movements
as rapid and as glorious as those execu-
ted by him 10 Western Virginia last
spring. The rebels are completely de.
morA,zed are losing all confidence in
theil leaders and their cause.
From the N. Y. wsrld, Conservative Republican.
The news which we publish this morn
ing will BE- read with breathless interest.
1t will be received with great exultation,
but not without some intermixture OF dis
appointment. The country had counted
on a terrible sauguinary spectacle. Our
troops we're thirsting tor an opportunity
to rival the valiant and brilliant fighting
OF their fellow soldiers in the West. We
miss the furious cannonadc and the tri-
umphant storming OF the enemy's works
under CALLING and murderous fire.
But we bold their ramparts We have
taken seventy-one heavy siege guns, to.
gelher with large amount Of ammuni.
ton and camp cquipage, and our caval.
~ is hanging on their heels in hot and
determined pursuit.
This is a great triumph, but still We
cannot help regretting that the rebels
slunk away without getting a sound
pummeling. Considering the grea,
strength of their formidable line Of in
t'cnchments they had their most mum.
erous, best appointed and most ally
commanded army, placed there to de
fend their capital; considering, too, the
further fact that the eyes of tho Who'll.
Socthern Ccnfederacy were fixed on
this army at that place, 10 the hope
that 1t would retrieve the fail ng fortunes
Of the rebellion, and cause .ebouud
from the depression of an uninterrupted
course OF defeats and disasters con.
sidering how much was staked on its
success, this army has paid Gen. Nc
Clellan an unexpected compliment il
making this practical acknowledgment
OF his iuviuc,bilty.
WHY THE REBELS ESCAPED FROM YORK
But why were the rebels permitte,
to escape from Yorktown at ali D.? TIL
answer is at hand, add the time ha
come when it should be name public
Tue rebel army has escaped only be
cause Gen. McC.lIan's plan was inter
ferred with, and IN an essential particu
lar upset by the Secretary OF War. Gen
Mcclellan proceeded down the Potoma,
with the understanding that Gen. Nc
Dowell was to follow HIM with his corn
d'armee. 1t was intended that the on
erations sgainst yorktown should b.
preceded by taking Of Gloucester Poin
by Mcdowell. Had his plan been i'm
possible. If the Secretary Of War VII,
Is suswerable Tor the escape Of John
sons army-a blunder which has de
irauded our brave soldiers of the glor,
OF that valiant and vigorous fighting 70
which Mr.. Stanton Processes so mucl
admiration.
10 giving the last paragraph quote,
above the Commercial Advert;ser saws
So says the World, and sooner or Ia
ter o1icial statements and revelation
will prove that it speaks only the truth
In fact, the Tribune, once so bold 40,
marked in its laudations of Sccretar,
Stanton, at length admits that the Sec
Rotary Of War "once opposed request
OF Gen. McClellan's, ''but the Presiden
granted it on the ground that he ha.
promised to do So" The truth is grad
navy coming out, aud the charges Of
interference by the Secretary, first omen
~ charged and condemned bv tie Com