Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-03-26
THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR.

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Of the President, of the Generalin-C Chief, and of
the country at large, we have sought to ascertain
and exhibit the demarcations Of military control
which should be respectively prescribed to them
selves by Mr.. Lincoln and Gen. Halleck in direct
lug the operations of our armies. Because the
President is, by the terms of the Constitution the
commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the
United States, it does not necessarily follow that
In time OF actual war he must, in addition to his
civil duties, direct or supervise the operations of
all our armies on land and of all our fleets on the sea-
ln all that pertains to the civil administration of
the war he is, as every body comedies, necessarily
and properly supreme; but when, in the exercise
of bis preros alive, he has called to his aid Gene
Chief and directed him to assume control of
the whole land forces Of the United States" it is
proper that this latter officer should have, within
his military Jurisdiction actual power equal to
his official dignity and commensurate with the re-
sponsibiity to which he is held in the eyes of the
nation Ifthe General-inC Chief Notwithstanding his
nominal quality is really no more than the Presi-
dents aidede-camp, it would be well that the name
OF his Office should correspond with the nature Of
his functions, and thus relieve the appearance of
irregularity which every one imagines himself to
perceive in the position of General in Chief,
charged with the control Of the whole land forces
of the United States" but left in ignorance, for
time, as to the plans of the General commanding
the Army of the Potomac.
In commenting on the way in which the Presi-
dent now performs his functions as commander-in-
chief of the army and navy, the New York Even
ing Post leading Administration paper, holds the
following language in its number of the 23d in
slant:
The President left to his sagacity, to the
sonal nterposon of his Cabinet, not one member Of
which pretends the slightest military knowledge aud
the advice OF anomalous officer, wholly unknown
Constitution aud the military regulations he il to the
best prscce OF European Governments, and called the
General Commanding. He is not General in the field
conducting an sctual campaign ia he the commander
nchef who deyises plans and the final orders but
be is sort Of gbeween without definite duties and yet
with very considerable responsibilities.
"A upgrateul post, indeed can scarcely be i'm
agined than that which is now held BY Gen. Haleck 1t
involves the heaviest labors accouutab.s, without
corresponding ccmpensat0ns, while all the grievances and
dscontents OF the subordinate officers laid at his door
If they neglected if they do the commands they
WISH they ordered to repusve sphere Of duy they
make their complaints to the President the Secretary
OF War who courteousy in what they say perhaps
but profess to be able do nothing until they consult Gen
Haleck Like Moses the School for Scandal they are
all goodness and willingness themselves, but they have
friend who is dampt unc0nscionabe dog aud very
orbtant in his demands Again, the Commanding General
is made the scapegoat of all the failures OF his subord
Mates who invariably ascribe their mscarrags either
his interference to his want of vgor If had been
let alone they apt to say had supported
promptly, should have had grand
port. At the time, while he is made answer able
to public sentiment for disaster that may occur he
never gets the sight st credit for victory which be-
longs 10 the men nmed atry engaged Regarded every
aspect the position mu.t be exceedingly unpleasant
one, OF which any would like to get rid pos
sble."
We beg to repeat, in answer to these complaints
Of the Post, that they can all be removed by con-
ferring on the General in-Chef power, within his
sphere, equal to his responsibility. Gen. Halleck
being soldier by education and profession, is pre-
sumed to possess qualifications for the active con-
troll of military operations superior to those which
can possibly fall to the lot of any civilian, who
far as he acts according to the advice of others,
whether of one or Of many, will only impart what
he has received, and will only receive as much as
his mind hold. The first necessity Of all mill
tary operations, extending over wide field of ope-
rations is ensemble of movements proceeding from
unity of conduct The regulation and adjustment
of this matter, as have said before, belong to
the province of the General in Chief, after he has
derived from the civil authorities their views and
wishes respecting the objective points which it is
desired to reach for combined political and military
ends And neither President nor General-in- Chief
should transcend the limits Of their province to
encroach Oh the legitimate and proper independence
Of the commander in the field. In this way the
separate responsibility of President, Generalin-
Chief, and General commanding would be distinctly
defined, and harmony Of conduct secured.
We cannot give our concurrence to the plan sug-
gested by the Evening Post for remedying what it
deems defect in the present conduct Of the war,
when it recommends that the President should call
about him board Of high military and naval off,
GERS, and act under their advice and direction The
P,st says:
"Why not to avoid these and other difficulties institute
during the existence Of the war, regular staff for the
CommanderinC Chief to be composed Of such competent
wellnsructcd, and experienced military a. naval Off
cers-not active duty-as the Presid-Bt easily
select Gen. Halleck himself, Gen. Hitchcock, Gen.
Wool Gen Curtis Gen. Dix, Gen. Banks, and others,
distinguished either for military skill and judgment for
their knowledge Of the different localities Of might be
put upon this SAT- form board OF councillors for the
President in his military capacity to suggest aud consider
plans preparations special movements and APP
Int. h.