The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-07-07
Congress and the La<e Reyerses Def0rs
Richmond


The proceedings in the House OF kepresen'
tatives on Saturday last throw much light on
the share that the radical members OF Con-
gress have had in causing the late disaster to
our arms in front of Richmond, as well as the
disasters in the valley of the Shenandoah Mr..
Stevens, of Pennsylvania, confesscs that hs has
been using all his influence over the Secretary
Of War to force him into the adoption of the
atrocious policy of Hunter. He says he found
Mr.. Stanton entirely opposed to it; but it is to
be feared that in other points the Secretary OF
War has been borne away by the overwhelming
pressure of such radicals as Stevens; aud the
very pertinent question was asked by Mr..
Richardson. OF Illinois, whether the Secretary
of War, to be consistent, ought not to dismiss
Hunter If he is not dismissed then the
best thing Mr.. Stanton can do 10 to
dismiss himself. Let there be 10 political Jug
glery, but let the people fully understand
whore the responsibility lies, and let every
man who wishes to be clear Of it when an in
dignant nation demands Investigation now
wipe clean his skirts from participation in the
guilt
1t is very evident from this debate in the
House Of Representatives, as indeed from va
rious other Indications that The chief response.
bility for the late reverses to our arms, which
may involve the most serious consequences to
the nation, rests with the radical wing of Con-
gress, As well from their revolutionary speeches
and proceedings, exasperating the rebellion to
madness and desperation, as from their in
trigues with the War Department and the Pre-
sdent by which they have, IN the first place,
prevented a sufficient army from being raised,
then stopped enlstments, and finally cut up
McClellan's force and dsspated Is over wide
area, while the rebel chieftains were concen-
trating their whole force at Richmond to
pounce upon him--ths very game they played
at Big Bethel, Bull Run, Balls Bluff, Pittsburg
Landing and in the valley OF the Shenandoah.
This was done designedly and with malice
prepense, in order to disgrace Mcclellan and
drive him from his command, SO as to make
room for some other general who would be
more subservient to the designs of the radicals,
and at the same time get rid of q popularity
which might prove very troublesome 10 them
hereafter battling all their calculations and
wirspulling for the next Presidency. Then
this policy prolongs the war and gives the oon-
troll Of tho contracts and the plumber to the
meH now in power.
Mr.. Stevens says tho South can never be
conquered as long as the negroes in the interior
of the country are permitted to raise provisions
for them. From this Mr.. Steve ems deduces tho
conclusion that universal emancipation ought
to DO proclaimed, as the only measure
that can render the war successful.
Like all the logic Of the abolitionists, this b
extremely failacious. In order to stop their
fanatical cry and to demonstrate their oily and
their wickedness, it would be almost a wise
course for the President to yield to them and
issue proclamation. It would be soon seen
what effect Ii would have. If the President
were to issue thousand smanci patton pro-
CARNATIONS, they would have no practica! effect
whatever on the war, except in uniting tho
Southern population more closely against ~
and exasperating them to deeds Of desperate.
valor. The proclamation OF Mr.. Lincoln won.d
not make any slave free who is now in Rich
mond or Montgomery. We must first get pos
session of those cities before we can dispose Of
the property they contain. Every slave that
wishes to run away, and can succeed in enter
lng our lines. ID now AZ free as any proclamation
can make him. He is not returned by the
army to bis owners, and proc lamations cannot
reach any others or have any influence upon
them. 1t ia evident that The slaves will not cut
tie throats Of their mas sers, or OF their wives
and children, at the ding Of the aboiitionists;
for they arc well aware that If the whole popu-
lation Of tue South were EXTERN nated-as the
amable stevens suggests--they would only bs-
come the slaves OF rev Northern masters who
would soon become as Southern in their ideas
"as ii they were native and 20 the manor
BORN aud the negroes, moreover, know that,
in spite OF any proclamation that may be Issued,
they will have to work for their own bread,
and raise provisions for the white race vt the
South, as long as that race has armies IN the
field and holds posses sion Of the country.
Mr.. Stevens, therefore, puts the wagon be-
fore the horse. First defeat in the field the
armies Of the South, and then the disposal Of
the negroes is in order. But wien the rebel
lion is put down the slave question
can only be disposed Of by the State lave; and
the institution, ii the people desire it, is 70
vivod no matter what the President or Con-
gross msy do in the premises, unless, indeed,
they succeeded in abolishing State rights and
the constitution, breaking up our whole fcde-s-
tive system by bloody revolution, and form
ing . conso idated government like that Of
France or Great Britain. The course, there
fore, pursued by the radicals in Congress 10
revolutionary and anti-constitutonal. Iwoald
establish anarchy upon the ruins Of law and
order; it Is defeating our armies in the llel6,
and IL is opposing an effeotual and eternal bar
to the restoration Of the Union.
The Farewell OF che Rev. DR.. Chaplin
.xn.xlaa anaiiorx azrsnhlsd In tia Law LIZ