Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-09-13
GeneraI McLlellan,S silence.

Gen. Mcclellan has won respect for his
character from all thinking men by speech
which has been silver, but more BY silence
which has beon golden. Almost from son
to Richmond" days till now he has been
the target of unscrupulou, assault Politi.
cal hostility and personal malevolence have
discharged all their weapons. His mill
tary abilities havh been belittled by his
enemies more than they have been over
rated by bis friends. The good use which
he has made Of the spade to counterbalance
the enemys odds in muskets only earned
for him from them the epithet Of "Ditch.
er." Because he did not use as hospital
the White House, which was put to other
and better service, he was accused with
co'lusion with traitors. He long received
and put to work all tho negroes which
came to his lines, yet was always accused
of excluding them. His plans we're thwar-
ted by the iutrgues Of his enemies at
Washington, yet he was made responsible
for the failures thus caused He never
underrated the power Of the enemy, yet IT
has required the bitter lessons Of twclve-
month to convince the radicals that he was
right, and during all that time the delay
Of preparation or of caution has been de-
nounced as the delay of eowardice or i'm
becility. His army was divided, get he
did not complain. His request for per.
mission to attack Richmond just before he
was ordered to leave the peninsula was re-
fused, and apparently his last opportunity
of vindication denied him, yet he yielded
without an open murmur. His army was
withdrawn from under his command and
given to another who has more than deci-
mated it, and left all things worse than
they were twelve month ago, yet he did
not resign. Indeed it is said that the 9th
er day, when his command was but a
mere handful Of men, he told the President
that he would do his duty faithfully with
that handfol, and if those we're Withdrawn,
or his resignation desired, he would give it
gladly, but would then shoulder musket
and enlist in the ranks, since he had en-
tered for the war and would not leave it till
it WAS ended. Though virtually deprived
Of command, ho did not ask to be re.
lieved, but accepted the inferior service as
signed by him, went about his business,
and with the instinct of a soldier and the
self respect of strong and noble charae-
ter, at all times and under all provocations
still kept perfect silence. Not one word Of
or explanation, or sclf-cxculpa
ton, or denial, or defense has ever passed
his lips or his pen. Nor has any ono been
authorized to speak such words for him. -
His apparent silence which would have
been shrewd has been real silence which
was wise.
Political campaigns, by the bitterness
and misrepresentation which accompany
our heated discussions, rarely fail to call
out the candidates for office in self defense
Bitterness and misrepresentation have been
exhausted upon Gen. Mcclellan, but he
has gone about bis business and wasted
no time in anticipating the justice of his.
tory. This is the more remarkable, for
though politicians and public men, accus.
toned to abuse, in time learn to cover
their sensibilities with an epiderms as
thick as the hide of a rhuoceros, Gen.
Mcclellan, always in private life, never
can have acquired by such means such in
difference. His silence is rather to be at.
to the eoel dacision and frmness
of well.balaneed character. 1t speaks
for him, however, as no tongue could do.
If with his guns he will now silence the
thunder of the rebels, as by his reticence
he ha. silencsd detraction at home, the
tongues of the people and pens of histori.
ans will leave nothing unsaid of him that