Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-06-18

secrecy" The following statement, made by the
chairman to Brig Gen. Morell, when he was be-
fore the committee on the 18th day Of December,
1881 will also show the rule of duty understood by
themselves to be prescribed to them in the conduct
Of these examinations. (See Evidenoe, p. 1893
tits suggested to me by one Of my colleagues
and do not know but what ought to state that you may
know exsctly our position We are depuled commit
tee OF CoDgress OF both branches and it 10 e0ned
us and made our duty to make all these inquiries And
voc are just as much bound to secrecy in relation these
ma tsrs a. are the army officers essves. suppose the
object OF Congress TO obtain this information for the
purpose of giving aid and efficiency TO the army far
we can say this that you may have hesitancy at all
n communicating freely with u.s. II the people through
it ls proper that you should give it to Us.
Gen Morell have but little information Command.
ing only brigade, not consulted at all about the
of the army only carry out the orders sent
to me-"
Such were the injunctions of secrecy under
which the committee originally understood their
inquiry to be placed. After large mass Of evil
dence had been accumulated, it appears, however,
that one Of their number, Mr. Chandler, was burn
ing" to tell what he knew in secret or open Senate
Accordingly, We read as follows in the journal of
the committee for June %, 1862:
Mr.. Chandler said that he desired permission of the
committee to use certain portions of the evidence taken
before 1t in Executive sesson Of the Senate and there
might be other occasions when the OF the testimony
would be beneficial to the best interests of the country
he would move that each member of this committee be
permitted to make such of the testimony of this
mittee IN Congress- ~ in his judgment may be right and
proper
" Mr. Gooch said that while he was willing to permit
such of the testimony, in Executive session of the
Senate the Senatorial members of this committee
might deem expedient he opposed any of it 10
public session of either House of Congress- until it should
be reported upon by this committee would be giving
the members Of this committee undue advantage
other members of Congress.
/" Mr. Chandler thereupon modified his motion as fol-
lows: N@
That this committee give permission to have read in
Executive session of the Senate the testimony RELAXING
the battle Of Winchester Virginia. Of March 23 1862
Upon motion of Mr.. Gooch, thS motion was iurtber
modified and agreed to follows:
Resolved That the members Of the Senate upon this
committee have permission to make such of the test
mony taken by this committee Executive session of the
Senate, as to them may expedlent.
Adjourned to 10 A. M. tomorrow"
It will be seen that the permission thus given
was expressly restricted to communications made
in Executive or secret session of the Senate. The
committee judged that it was not proper at that
time to publish testimony avowedly taken under
the promise and pledge of secrecy. But Mr..
Chandler was importunate, and on the 18th day Of
July he procured the adoption of resolution
authorizing any member Of the committee to
use such testimony taken before it in either House
of Congress as he may deem expedient." And,
on the following day, the 18th of July, 1852, Mr..
Chandler delivered in open Senate a speech in
reflection on the military operations of Gen. Nc.
Vail Il L.. IL - - Il
by the committee against that officer so far Gas he
deemed expedient"
AT this time, we need not say, Gen. Mcclellan
was still retained in command of the Army Of the
Potomac. But Mr.. Chandler was not restrained
by this consideration from publishing to the world
. sharp and bitter attack upon the military char
acter Of that officer. We do not reproach him
for this, assume that in so doing he supposed
himself to be performing duty to the country.
And while we hold that discretion should impose
its laws on all human conduct, we have never been
of the number of those who would deny to others
the right Of freely but always candidly animadvert
ing on the conduct Of Generals 10 the field as well
as of rulers in the Cabinet. That this should be
done with modesty and reserve by unmlitary civil
ians is too apparent to need enforcement. But it is
to be remarked that those who object on these
grounds to all criticism when applied to the condem-
nation of officers retained by the Administration
had no word of censure for Mr.. Chandler when he
arraigned the conduct and impeached the charac-
ter Of Gen. Mcclellan, while as yet in the field,
In speech more remarkable for its acerbity and
disparagement than for any other qualities This
speech, it is known, widely republished at the
South, as serving to show the low estimate in
which Gen. Mcclellan was held by an influential
member Of the present Administration. To this
extent it gave "aid and comfort to the enemy"
but nobody had then discovered that it was trea-
sonable" to question the capacity of an officer
merely because he was retained by the President
in command. It was this latter consideration
which was then rather held to justify men in being
more outspoken in proportion to their want Of con-
idence in the General who was, as they deemed
unworthily retained. If some men have changed
their theory Of duty this point it is not because
of any change in the principle that governs de-
cision Of the question, but simply because "cir-
cumstances alter cases."
THE ARMY OF THE PoToMAC-A REVIEW, Nc. 8.