The New York herald., 1862-11-28
The GOvernment Journals axd the Army
ON che RAppahannock.


The Now York journals in the interest OF the
Cabinet. following the presses Of Forney al
Washington and Philadelphia, yesterday made
the most astounding disclosures OF the plans
and secrets of the campaign, as If their object
was to defeat IL by giving information 70 the
enemy and by throwing wet blanket on the
enthusiasm of the people Of the loyal States.
Forney. who manages two journals, has the con-
Gdencc of the administration, and the Tribune
and Times of this city possess it more or
less Now these papers draw most dismal pic
lures of the position and prospects Of the army
ON the Rappahannock, under the command of
General Barnsde. They have already brought
their batteries to bear upon him, while at the
same time they reveal the plan Of his campaign.
Having, as they think, disposed of Mcclellan,
they open fire upon his successor--a man Of tho
same conservative stamp. But General Burn
SIDE did not seek the position. On the contrary,
he protested against its acceptance. They
have, therefore, made him the scapegoat Of on
ciai blulders, and they will sacrifice him a. last
to the man after their own hearts-"the coming
man, Is this generous OIL just.
If the cause of'the Union il so desperate as it
is represented by the organs Of the government,
what is the reason! We have plenty Of men.
plenty Of money and good generals. Why
should there be any failure! The loyal States
of the North have sent forth nearly million
and a quarter of men to battle for the prcserva-
ton Of the government established hy George
Washington and his conpatriots. First $4,000
were called out, then 100000. and lastly
600, ,00o-in all, l,175,000. Then look at tho
tremendous naval power developed. amounting
to upwards Of fifty iron-c!Ad vessels in
addition to the wooden walls already
aHost astonishing and startling all Europe
To support this army and this navy tho
people have raised nine hundred millions of dol
lars in eighteen months--siX hundred millions
year. What is there to show for all this ex-
penditure of men and money? According to
the organs Of the government. we are now in
more perilous condition than when the war
commenced.
Twice has tie capital been saved by the
talents of single man. Immediately after the FIRST
disastrous battle of Bull run General Mcclellan
was called to Washington, organized military
mob into m army, built impregnable fortifica-
tions and restored public confidence. again.
from his retirement at Alexandria when the
capital was second time in danger greater now
than before, he was summoned by the President
to retrieve the campaign. lcst partly by Pope
and partly by the mismanagement Of the
Cabinet, and to rescue Washington from its
apparently inevitable doom. He was placed
in command of the Notifications around the
capital when there was scarcely hope for its,
safety. AT the critical moment Of action
nobody could be found to issue orders with
out counsel from the President the War De-
partnent or the General-in-Chief Mcclellan
had to assume the whole responsibility of
managing the brief and desperate cam
paign. The result 1s known to all men. ~
was completely successful. He undertook
to save the capital and to drive the enemy out of
the loyal State of Maryland. By the battles of
South Mountain and Antietam he was tri-
umphant in this double object. 1t was the only
time in which he was permitted to carry out
bis own military ideas; and it is worthy Of re-
mark that il Il the only instance in which q
campaign has been successful, with the excep-
tisn of the victories in the Southwest.
1t has been only whore the generals have had
free scope-either from the Cabinet being 50
panicstricken, as after the second Bull run de-
feat, that they feared to issue any orders, and,
shutting themselves up, were neditatiAg their
safety by fight; or where the generals were so
isolated from co,ruunic af;on with tho W,r Da
partmsnt as in the vicinity Of the Ohio, the
Tennessee, the Cumberland and the Mississippi,
that they had to act on their own responsibility
that any great advantages have been obtained
over the enemy. Wherever theWar Department
has had control failure has been the rule, and
success the rare and unimportant exception. Ut
terly ignorant Of the art of war, incompetent
to plan or direct campaigns, the Cabinet have
yet refused to permit the ablsst generals of the
army to conduct in their own way the gigantic
struggle to triumphant issue. This is the
cause Of the failure of our arms in Virginia, and
the reason that the war now flags and fails on the
banks OF the Rappahannock. Not only is there
failure, but the most gloomy and despairing
views Of the future are presented by the radical
journals, which are doing their utmost to fulfil
their own representations.
What is the country to think when the organs
Of the government are compelled to make such
bumiliating confessions. And what are those
European Powers to think who are looking for
our halting as their opportunity for interven-
ton? Who does not see that, If the republic is
finally dismembered and the cause Of the Union
irretrevaby lost, it is not from lack Of abundant
resources in men or money, or skilful generals
in the field, or from want Of ships-of-war on the
seas and navigable rivers, or brave and able
captains to command them? There can be but
one conclusion, and that is that the Cabinet is
utterly incompetent, and that it is the duty of
the President, as the fduciary OF the people, to
remove the whole concern from Office. He is
the depositary Of sacred trust which he has