The New York herald., 1862-05-29

reminding him that ''some of the newspapers
publish letters from their correspondents
with the army. giving important information
concerning our movements, positions Of troops,
&C., in positive violation Of your ORDERS" and
suggesting that, as it is impossible to ascertain
with certainty who these anonymous writers
are" "another order be published, holding the
editors responsible for its infraction"
This hint Of General McClellan's is q very
| seasonable one, and it is much more consderate
and just than general order driving all news
| paper correspondents from his camps. He
should have stated, however, in what newspa-
pers the contraband information Of which he
| complains has appeared. 1t is true that the
correspondents of newspapers write anony-
mously, and that General Mcclellan would find
it difficult, perhaps, to identify them; but GER
tainly he must be aware Of the names of the
journals at fault, and he might have reported
them to Secretary Stanton. As his despatch
| now reads all newspapers are blamed alike
when obviously all are not to blame. The
HERALD for example, has been most careful in
its publication Of war news. Not only have we
strictly cautioned our correspondents not to
send contraband intelligence for publication,
| but we have always revised our war letters be-
fore printing them, and suppressed any news
| which might be of service to the enemy. We
were informed by our reporter with General
Banks division of the diminution of that corps
d'aamee and of its consequent peril but we
refrained from giving this important informa-
ton to the public until General Banks retreat
made further concealment unnecessary. AS in
| this instance, SO in all others, tho HERALD has
been cautious to publish nothing concerning
the strength, movements or positions of our
| forces, except in cases where it was evident
that the enemy had been let into the secret by
the cannon's mouth and could not be benefited
by the HERALDs disclosures.
But while this has been the practice of the
| HERALD since the commencement of hostilites
and before any order from the War Department.
upon the subject, we are aware that several
other journals of this city have not exercised
the same loyal and discreet caution in regard
to their war news. Recently, however-and
General McClel!ans order plainly refers to
recent publcatons-we have noticed but one
| New York Journal which has infracted the
order of Secretary Stanton, and revealed the
Union strength, movements and plans to the
enemy. This journal is the New York Times
to which paper, together with the babbling
sheets Of Cincinnati, Chicago and st. Louis
| this complaint of General Mcclellan proba-
| bly, refers. For some time past the Hon.
Henry jenkins Raymond, editor Of the Times,
| Speaker Of the last Assembly and general
/ an .kxl~ tc:~ c.1I
army, and we have frequently noticed
passages in his letters which were de-
cidedly contraband. But what could have
been expected of this little reprobate? All the
army knew very well that Raymond's tongue
was as swift as his legs, and that he could not
help prattling all he knew any more than he
could help scampering from phantom Austrian
! at Solferino or fleeing from the imaginary
Black Horse cavalry at Bull run. Once, having
dined with General Scott, Raymond published
| q report of the private, confidential converse
| tion at table, and showed that he knew nothing
of the usages of good society and less Of the po-
| tency Of good wine. Again. having been in
vited to Fortress Monroe by General Butler, he
revealed all the secrets of the fortress, to the
| and the corresponding delight OF the grateful
rebels. 1t will be seen, therefore, that it is as
| impossible for Raymond to keep secret as it
is for poor Greeley to keep his temper, in both
of which requisites Of successful journalism we
are, as Gay of the Tribune puts it, constantly
ahead" General Mcclellan ought never to
have allowed Raymond to accompany his army,
and then there would have been no such COM
plants. AS for 'holding the editors response
ble,. that is hardly necessary, since the editors
are responsible for their own papers already,
and since snch provision would not include
| Raymond, who is editor and correspondent by
| turns, and would thus escape the penalty in
some way; and who never could be held re-
| sponsibe for his revelations because he is de.
| cidedly non compos meatis and would be ac-
quilted by any court martial on the ground OF
moral insanity in regard to military news.
| THE TRADE Or FNoRroLK.-The measures taken
| by General Wool to bring back the rebel au-
| thorites of Norfolk to their allegiance are not
it seems to us, the best calculated to effect that
object. 1t is not by rendering the condition Of
| the people of that city as bad or worse than il
was under the Confederate regime that they
will be taught to appreciate the advantages of
| their being restored to the Union. Moreover
| it should not be forgotten that the interdction
| placed upon the importation of food and other
| necessarics from the North will infct con-
tinued distress and suffering upon many who
have been looking to the success Of our arms
for relief from the privations to which they
have been subjected by the blockade. Num-
bers of these are sincere Unionsts, although
they are afraid to give expression to their
real sentiments until they are convinced that
there is no danger of General Huger