Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-06-25
SECRETARY STANTON.

indispensable to correct Judgment, have seel
ut to call for the removal of Mr.. Stanton anC
when one of those journals the Daily .4duer-
tiSer, has been for weeks Joining with tn,
New Y ork Herald and the Boston Courier, anc
with everything bitter, factious and treasona
Die, In Ignorant abuse of that eminent person
IL becomes matter of simple justice that he
should have the public benefit of some of the
great facts of record in his favor. We pro-
pose, by simple exhibition of authoritative
facts, and in no spirit of mere partisan attack
and defence. to show that it is to him, whom
the Daily Adrertiser charges with all which il
| regards as error, while it credits to others all
which it regards wisdom in the central con-
duct OF this war-to him whom so many ne VS.
| papers have attacked because. in the interest
OF his country aud with the thanks of all their
readers, he stopped their longer doing the
work OF spies in conveying information 10 our
enemies-to him, whose noble self-abnegation
and stern patriotism have closed his mouth
from answering a series OF falsehoods Begin
| ming. with the charge OF his divertlng troops
from General Mcclellan and ending with the
charge of his diverting them from General
Banks, to crafty personal jealousy and ambi-
tion-that it is to him, next certainly to the
President, that this country owes more to day
| than TO any other man in it.
| To do this must go back to the condi-
! ton OF affairs when he first took office. In
what We have to say of General Mcclellan we
|
acts as COMMANDMENTS Chief and his ability
as General at the head of an army in the
Heid. w believe him to be fully competent
| where he is, and We shall not cease to believe
| In his eminent fitness and hope for his trium-
| phant success in his present campaign, unless
| forced by events and by authoritative military
| criticism to another conclusion.
1t is clear that when the main direction of
this war was left to Commander in Chief,
that more than purely military calculation
must occupy his mind, that he must see the
value OF time in relation to national finances
to a democratic form of government, and to
foreign intervention in short that he must
have some of the qualities of a great states
men as well as all of the qualities of a great
General. When Mr. Stanton became Secreta-
ry OF War, what was the posture of affairs un
der General NJ M'Clellan's plan and direction?
The country was under lasting obligations 10
his demonstrated faculty for organization.
But 1t becomes necessary to state how little
else had been done, why so little had been
done, and to whom the country is indebted
for what was done in February and March, and
TO Its position before the world to day.
Mr.. Stanton came into power when foreign
intervention seemed imminent, with no one
great military advantage yet followed up and
with capital distrusting the the national iinan-
ces, on which all depended. With the
breadth and vision of a statesma an, and with
terrible earnestness and force of will of
Cromwellian he brought into the national
counsels, for the first time since the war be-
gan, prehensiveness, decisiveness and a
thorough realization of the value of time TO
this nation For the first time the national
will found expression. Some minor mistake
like his letter to the New York Tribune,
sprung naturally from his being thoroughly
IN earnest OF great mistakes he made none.
He found Gen Mcclellan virtually directing
the whole war and Responsible that no more
had been done, and had fixed in his deterini-
nation that no advance should be made until
April. In this determination Gen Mcclellan
still further fortified him self by vote of
eight Of his generals against four.
Mr. stanton saw At once that no advance
until April involved national desbondeney. a
taK levied upon people fot an ihim ehse debt
which had borne bo fruit IN victories. hot
weather aud fall campaign. disttust aud
great fall 10 national stoehs, and a possible. II
not bfebahlH, foreign intervention, Then !
Through him, was issued The pfesideBt'a or
def No over Gen, M'Ulellah's head, aud
against lis protest, pefehBt9fiiy command. |
lug al advance AZ sll points on the ga Of Fbbz |
fuaryi General NJ 'Glellah was placed At the |
head Of the Army Of The Potomac, aud ceased |
TO be commandments, MI stanton sim. |
ply became real Secretary of War taking |
into his capable hands the reips which Mr., |
Cameron had either necessarily given TO 9TH
efs or mlsnsed himself, The President had
ht last, great right arm To lean on, and each |
was strengthened and greater for the other
The movements in the West under Commo-
dore Foo'e, which sent Joy and hope through
The nation were made without regard 60 Gen,
efai M'Clellan's plans, and sprang directly
from COM Foote'S communications aud re-
quest To the Navy Department and its orders
TO him and without further enumeration it is
only necessary to say that the series of bril-
liant successes during February and March,
which threw new life into the nation, which
gave us a Fort Henry, Bowling Green, Oolum-
bus, Donelson, Island No, 10 and Nashville,
which brought national stocks TO par, and
which forced respect for us abroad, if il did
not prevent Intervention, and in direct contra
vention OF the plan of the Commander-in-
Jhiei, aud against his protest What that
plan was, were ID proper TO discuss il, becomes
Df ittle consequence when we know that no
ADVANCE was 10 be made under il until April
aud when 10 was found that the Commander in
Chlef had communicated none to the other
Major Generals.
While expressing as we have our faith in
Ien. Mcclellan as tho commander of an army
all the more because, as civilians, VIC ate
entirely Incompetent to form judgment OF
his military acts since he was placed at the
head of the army of the Potomac-we are
Tree to say, and we think all candid men will
agree with us, that, in the light OF the trust
worthy acts we have given, il the most
fortunate event in the history of the war
when Edwin M. Stanton became Secretary of
War, and General Mcclellan was placed where
nothing more than purely military ability was
wanting.
We have reason to believe that nobody re-
GREETED more than Mr.. Stanton that the New
ork Tribune attacked General Mcclellan.
Ii is almost the only newspaper on our whole
seaboard which has attack cd him, and since he
has left for Yorktown even the Tri6une's COM