Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-12-09
Washington Correspondence Chicago Times
THE PRESIDENT 4 his BODY GUARD.
% ---..
Maximillian to be Rocognized-Quarroll among
the Generals-A Solution Of the Controversy.

Maximillian to be Recognized-Q -QuarroIl among
the GeneraIs-A Solution Of the Controversy
Your readers will not have failed to OBJ
serve the exceeding bad taste which char
acteri2ed the remarks Of the President
and Secretary Of State at the dedication of
! the soldiers cemetry ot Gettysburg. The
cheek of every American must tingle with
shame as he reads the silly, fiat, and dish
watery utterances of the man who has TO
be pointed out to intelligent foreigners az
the President of the United States. And
neither he nor Seward could refrain, even
on that solemn occasion, from spouting
their odious abolition doctrines. The
readers Of The Times ought 10 know. too.
that the valorous President did not dare TO
make this little journey to Gettysburg
without beirg escorted by body-guard OF
soldiers. For the first time in the history
OF the country, the President of the Unit
ed States, in travelling through a part of
ms dominions, on peaceful, even on q
religious mission, had to be escorted by a
body-guard Of soldiers. When it is added
that his route was through Baltimore and
and part OF Mary land, the recent scene
OF such tlagrant outrages on the rights of
the citizens of that State, you will readily
comprehend that it was fear for his own
personal safety which led the President to
so escorted as any other military despot
might so.
And this is the man wko, not con,ented
with trampling or the Constitution of his
country, taking away the liberty Of his
teIIow-citizens, and abrogating the Monroe
doctrine, is now ready to strike hands
with tho Emperor Napoleon for the estab-
llshment of n monarchy in Mexico for il
Is said that oyertures have been made TO
the Administration to the effect that. if
oar Government will recognize Maximill-
ian as Emperor ofMeXico, then the French
armies will withdraw from Mexico. The
Administration, it is said, has entertained
the proposal avoraby, and will no doubt
agree to the infamous proposition. What
else could be expected from an Adm!nis-
tration with such antecedents ?
telegraphed you few days ago the
outlines of a quarrel that has arisen among
the Major generals of this army. 1t is a
funny quarrel, illustrative of the blunder-
ing that is permitted in the War Office at
Washington. Immediately after the bat
tie of Charlottesville, Brig Gen. Brney
who bore conspicuous part in that mem
orable engagement, was promoted for his
galIantry to the rank Of Major Geaeral his
commission dating May 90. few DAYS
atterward Gen Pleasanton received n com
miss on of the same rank, dated June |,
which was likewise issued for meritorious
services at Charlottesville, at the battle
Of Gettysburg Brig. Gen, Warren was act
-. ~
OF Chief Of Typographical Engineers. lie
did most excellent service on that occa-
sion, was wounded in the discharge of his
duties, and was subsequently, recommend
ed 70? promotion. He was not at the bat
tie of Charlottesville at all, hut some how
or other his commission was made out and
ante-dated May Sd, Immediately after
Charlottesville, as if it had been won in
that battle, thereby giving him rank over
both Brney and Pleasonton, who not only
did win distinction at tChancellorsville, but
have also received honorable mention in
every engagement and movement since,
including the battle of Gettysburg, in
which action Birney commanded the Sd
Corps after Sickles was wounded on the
first day of the battle, and Pleasanton
commanded the cavalry corps throughout,
while Warren was only acting as a staff Of
licer. With this light, has the President
been Just in appointing the latter to rank
the former? ! understand that the Pres
ldent disclaims the act. as does also Stan
ton, both OF whom profess to admit its in
justice, but neither OF whom take any
steps to correct it. Doubtless it was a blum
der committed by the clerk who was in
Structed to fill up the commission but its
being blunder does not relieve the off
GERS who suffer by it, They have forward
ed formal protest against it. but even
that does not relieve them. Warren still
ranks them both
Some of the elements of the traditiona-
ry Jealousy between regulars and volun-
teers enter into this affair. Warren is a
regular. Meade, who recommended him.
is regular. Halleck, through whose
hands tho applications for promotions
must pass, is a regular. The Adiutaut
Generals Office is controlled by and filled
with regulars. Bigney is volunteer has
never seen the inside Of West Point has
worked his own way up from a Colonecy
to MAJOR Generals 5 rank. IL would net
do TO permit him to rank q regular so,
forgetting in their haste PlOasanton, a ho-
cus-pocus was played, and, without any
body knowing when or how or anything
about it, Warren is made the ranking Of
fcer.
But now the question arises how 10
settle the row Birpey and Pleasanton have
kicked up. They promise faithfully to
60 into the Senate at the approaching ses-
sion and defeat Warrens confirmation, un-
less the affair is settled before. They aSl
that their commissions shall be lated
back to the I'd of May, when, Birney al
ready ranking Pleasantcn, the three will
haze their appropriate positions. French
MMor-General, who has reasons for not
+ liking Warren, takes sides with Birney
I and Pleasanton, as does also Sedgwick
actuated by honorable motives Meade,
with the unflinching regular influence at
Washington, stands by Warren.
The regulars have hit upon solution
Of the controversy that they fancy will
not lower their dignity They are work
2. H.. n