The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-25

President Lincoln ut West Point-SOme-
thing I'm the wind.
Our readers will remember the sensation
created last February year ago by the news
of President Lincoln's mysterious journey, by
the light of the moon, in his Scotch cap and
long military cloak" from Harrisburg, Pa,
via Baltimore, to Washington. Yesterday,
however, the unlocked for intelligence that the
President, in the best time ever made, had pass
ed from Washington, through New York in
the night, to West Point, gave rise to as many
conjectures and speculations as his successful
and wisely executed strategical journey to our
national capital.
But what means this Northern journey at
this crisis? What can 1t be that has brought
the President, travelling all night, on this post
haste visit to West Point, We have no official
or semi-oficial information on the subject; but
by putting this and that together we think
plausible and somewhat satisfactory conclusion
may be reached.
First, then, General Scott 10 at West Point.
Secondly. General Pope has arrived at Wash
ington-that splendid young officer, whose
great achievements in Northern Missouri and
at New Madrid, at Island No. 10 and at
Corinth, have made his name among our
loyal people as familiar in their mouths
as household words" He has been called
from the West; and what for? After
the return Of the President to Washing
ton we expect to learn. Meantime, we con-
lecture that this visit of President Lincoln
to West Point is for the purpose Of military
consultation with General Scott, and that the
special object in view is the appointment OF
General Pope to some important command in
Virginia.
Since the arrangement in that quarter of
the original plans of General Scott and Gene
raj Mcclellan, our Coward to Richmond"
movement has been embarrassed in every pos
siblc way. We have suffered the costly hui
initiation of the expulsion of General Banks
from the Shenandoah valley, and the War
Office in repairing this disaster, has not sue
ceeded as well as could be desired. The rebel
General Jackson has slipped through the snares
that were contrived to catch him, and among
our numerous generals now in the Shenandoah
valley service some unpleasant disagreements
have taken place. Thus we hear that General
Blenker is to- be superseded by General Carl
Schurz, and that General Shields has fallen
from grace, while General Mcdowell, from
an unfortunate accident, is on the list of the
sick or disabled. At the same time 1t is
given out that the rebel General Jackson has
been heavily reinforced, and that, to be on the
l. sof o11 hoo Il Ioxr
the valley for junction with General Banks
and General Sigel.
All these things, and many more that we
have not touched upon, indicate some confusion
in our military operations and among our many
generals of the Shenandoah valley. We all
know, too, that the repulse of General Banks
has operated very much to delay the decisive
conflict with the main rebel army at Richmond,
in delaying the reinforcements which were
required by General Mcclellan. In q word,
we apprehend that the present posture Of the
campaign in Virginia has carried the President
to West Point, and that with his return to
Washington, or shortly thereafter, we shall hear
of some comprehensive notifications on the
military chessboard in Virginia, including an
important command to General Pope.
In this connection we understand that IL ID
not alone by his late brilliant achievements
in the West that General Pope has attracted
the attention Of the President. The Presi-
dent and the General are from tho same
State, and it, appears that the personal
friendship which had previously been cult
waited between them was strengthened by GER
tain rebuffs and rebukes administered to Gene
raj Pope by the late administration, in conse-
quence Of some friendly act or acts Of his toward
Mr. Lincoln as our President elect However
this may be, our readers may rest assured that it
is no holiday amusement that has carried Presi-
dent Lincoln between o late dinner and very
early breakfast from Washington to West Point.
This mission, we believe, can only relate to the
campaign in Virginia; and while, in regard there
to, General Scott is sought for counsel, General
Pope has been summoned for active service.
We hear some whispers of possible breeze
in the Cabinet; but, independently Of anything
of that sort, the subject is sufficiently interest
ing for the present Strange and extraordinary
as this West Point journey may be regarded,
we only see, in view of the exigencies of this
crisis, that 1t brings out into full and bold re.
lief the careful, vigilant, active and decisive
business habits Of President Lincoln. He has
gone upon this mission himself, because he
alone is equal to its delicate requirements. He
goes rapidly, because his time is precious; and
we are sure that this journey will soon become
as remarkable for its decisive results as it is
now for the wonder and the mystery in which
1t is envelopsd.
THE TAX BnL-THE MACHINERY FOR COL
LEcrNo THE TAxEs.-We yesterday published
the rates OF duty imposed by the Tax bill as 1t
finally passed Congress. This morning we
give the sections Of the bill relating to the