The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-03-08
Tho Late War Meeting i'm tho Empire
City,


The Union meeting at the Cooper Institute
on Friday evening to sustain tho government in
putting down the rebellion was numerously at
tended and of very enthusiastic character.
1t did not consist of men of any particular fac
ten, but OF men Of various parties. who differed
4 on many points, while they agreed upon the
policy of q vigorous prosecution Of the war.
| There were democrats and republicans side by
side, and even q small sprinkling of abolition
ists. From the illusions made, and the manner
in which they were received by the audience, it
is evident that the conservative element largely
predominated. All united in res0lute deter
mination to continue the war till the insurrec-
ton is subdued. and to postpone the settlement
of their differences till after the achievement of
this consummation. Mr. Dudley Field, indeed,
went step further, and counselled the post
| p0nement even of criticism ON the conduct of
| the war. But it is manifest that this would not
answer; for it is on the conduct of the war that
success or failure depends
| This is now the fifth war meeting held in New
| York tending in the same direction, aud en-
| bracing all classes except few copperheads,
| who have no more power or influence than Jules
Favre and his four or Eve copperhead brethren
in the Corps Legislatif of France, who are con
tinually railing at the policy Of the Emperor
These meetings are in fact no longer necessary
The people have spoken enough. The Presi-
dent has obtained almost the powers of die
| tator and the successful prosecution Of the war
no longer depends on popular opinion, but
| upon able men in the Cabinet and able gene
rails in the field. Congress has conferred every
| thing upon Mr. Lincoln except brains. It is
| Mr.. Lincolns duty to see that he is surrounded
with this important article. That element OF
success it was not in the power Of Congress to
| bestow. Precious little Of il was to be found
| in either house of the national legislature; not
enough even to devise one financial measure
equal to the emergency Tho comforting Of
plenary power upon the President is tantamount
to an admission on the part of Congress
that it had no men competent to grasp the
measures necessary for the time. The best
thing il could do under the circumstances was
| to give large discretionary power to the Pres-
dent. But the wise exercise Of this power re-
quires intellect and capacity of no mean order
something far above the cunning or trickery of
shallow politicians. 1t is incumbent, therefore,
on Mr. Lincoln to see that he is surrounded by
men Of brains, and if he is not, then to get rid
Of them in the most summary fashion. and
summon to his councils men who are known to
possess the qualities of statesmen and great ad-
ministratve ability-coo, clear heads to plan,
and strong wills and indOmitable courage to
execute. And stern necessity demands the
same kind Of men at the head of our armies in
the field. The President has muscle and money
at will. All that he needs for success is brains
in the Cabinet and brains in the camp.
/ GENERAL. MCDowEIIe-THE DECISION or THE
Cougr or INoUIRY.-The court OF inquiry in the
decision, which, as we anticipated, exonerates
the General from all the gross charges
against him. and the only point as to which
they feel it their duty to express any disap-
| proval is that he went to Manassas in the after
| noon or evening of the 2Sth Of August to confer
personally with General Pope, whilst his own
command was on the march upon Centrevile
II appears that General Pope requested
| Mcdowell TO communicate his views to
Y nun a 10 SITUATION Oh ana
| Mcdowell proceeded in person to do so in
stead Of sending despatch. General Pope
stated to General Mcdowell that the enemy
was lin force on the Orange and Alexandria
Railroad on the east side Of Bull run. The
court say that the evidence shows that
the main portion of the enemy were
at C.ntreville and marching on Sudley
4 ~. a.
assigned the enemy by General Pope indicated
! their march TO the south and the east of him
beyond Manassas. Ii is proved, therefore,
that the main force Of the enemy was near
t;roveton, but not that General Mcdowell
knew or was informed of the fact. He is not
accountable for any consequences that may
have resulted from his ignorance Of the true po-
sition of the enemy with whom he had to deal,
in q country so thickly covered with woods and
so difficult for rapid military operations. Nc
Dowell acted on the best knowledge he possess
ed at the time, and j. so far blameless.
But the point in which he erred was
in leaving his command TO go to General
Pope, when he ought TO have communicated
with him in writing and 10y courier For
during his absence his corps was attacked, and,
being without its commander, il knew not what
to do The battle was in consequence lost.
But in this act Of Mcdowell there was nothing
wilful-it was q mere error Of Judgment. There
was danger in it, however, which he ought not
to have risked. There can be no stronger test-
mony in his favor, considering the immense field
Of inquiry that has been travelled over, than
the fact that the court have not been able TO
fix upon any other act in his conduct deserving
OF censure, and that it is their opinion that "the
interests Of the public service do not require
any further investie alton into the conduct of
Major General Mcdowell
i We are glad to find that so good an officer Is