Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-03-11

The following extract we take from leading editorial
in late number Of Harpr's Weekly, on the military
policy and plans of Gen. Mcclellan in his conduct of the
present war l. is especially suggestive, in view OF the
events Of the last thirty days:
These operations afford the KEY to Gen. MeCleAo's
plan Il is 's,oW and sure" Il Is not swift enough 10
satisfy the idle gossps who engsgs in eatasle STRATEGY
But il is very sure and il takes step backward We
have no idea that the future will differ from the past
"a regard to the movements of the campaign. Events
will doubtless TO slcceed each other with painful
40 But every week will witness some substantial
progress and day will be marked by defeat or retreat
Whatever is done will be thoroughly done. Wherever
the rebels met thew will be met BY superior force
20 theirs, armed With superior weapons. Wherever
battle ;skes Phces the odds will be enormously in cur
Evor a. Mil Spring. As coon as the roads enable
cur armies 20 move, they will b. set in motion; out
they R rr-cDia.ely, and nothing will DO In
20 chance Careful ard thorough rsconno'ssances vii
vrScede every op. ration and youag soldiers will Dis
ca,tsd at the van. Of dash displayed by our comuiin
6Hs
Why eh-uld & be o,her.ise? Il is possibl, to render
the .riu-pA Of the governments ma,hematicaly csr.a
Shy risk snytbi-gi Why go and knock our hesds
against Columbus # few strategic movements can COM
pei the garrison 10 capulate without firing q thos -
WHY disturb the rebels a. Manassas, if Burnside and
Thomas can catch them there as in trap and to'9e
iem - scatter CT for terms OF surrender. II Ne
were yhtrg for glory il genessl like some chi Il
renouued in history had no higher ain than their owl
personal isme 90 soldiers then might oher TO meet
TIE rebels In flir I'D with equal or nearly equal
force and 6ght Il But glory Is the last thing hat
en- be won 10 civil war and 10 Gen. Mcclellan, be
too good a ci.Esu to wish 70 bloody and doubtful
blule 6.lis when bic purposes oAn be accomplished
without them.
This IA 10 the seteompacent Yong Keang strain, OF
which We have had mary samples. But it contaiss e
lssOu for oCr Authorities. It is the programme,
with which Oh Scott out last spring aud which hes
been diligently pushed since the rout at Manassas II
brings mathematics to bear upon us and If uumolssted,
mus. work on the inevitable result. Il for srae
lists TO couu,erac H. Oae figure missing, and tho ca
,uao1 - TO the ground; inE in the folds Of the
Auacorda saltipg, sad the monster is POEeress for
compression Ia judgement this fatal hiatT' Ia TO
be tscted by pocy OF concentration AND aggression.
Ire Plesidect in hi last msssag' admits that We had
s,m2;sd too much in trying TO defend every point OF
cur long and exposed ronler. Strike at the heart Ct
the enemy with cur whole force, and Il We hit that re
may well Jrd to disregard assaults upon eI,remi'
ties Toe character Of people, their eAgerness for
tie fay, aad their nplerce in camIs al concur With
serse Of safety 10 debating this line Of policy. We
hope 20 sec It naugaratod early day, and tire and
sword carried with resslsss fury into the land o. the
egemV