The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-22

heavy sacrifices In support of the war IS New
York. The contributions in volunteer offerings
and taxation Of this city alone, up to the pre-
sent time, amount to little short of one hun
dred millions of dollars, and there has not been
battle field which has not been freely moist
ened with the blood of the best and bravest of
our sons. Let it not be forgotten, moreover,
that we have been thus prodigal of all that is
dearest to US in spite of the well founded appre-
tensions of the great conservative majority of
our citizens that the war Is being diverted to
other purposes than that of the suppression of
the rebellion.
When now it has become manifest that, under
vailed since the commencement of hostilities,
it can never be brought to a close except by
the permanent separation Of the belligerent
sections, it is time that the State which has con-
tributed thus literally to its support should
exercise q controlling influence over its future
direction. 1t has already made its voice heard
through the elections. 1t should now give for
NAL and well defined effect to the sentiment
that led to the late sweeping changes in the
position Of parties here. AS soon as
the Legislature has completed its or
ganization one of its first duties should
be to pass resolution denouncing the bung-
ling and unskilful manner in which the cam
paign has been conducted, and calling upon the
President to place at the head of the War De-
partment General Mcclellan, and at.the head Of
the Navy Department some naval officer whose
professional knowledge and antecedents will be
guarantee to the country for its vigorous and
successful prosecution.
There would be nothing irregular or unbe-
coming in this proceeding. In constitutional
countries-in Great Britain, for example-the
head Of the State always yields to decided
expression Of national opinion through Parla-
ment or otherwise in regard to the composition
of his Cabinet, and changes his ministers when
he finds that they have lost the confidence of
his people. In republic it is still more i'm
portant that such indications should be promptly
acted upon. The President can no longer doubt
the evidences that present themselves on every
side Of the utter contempt in which his present
advisers, with one or two exceptions, are held
The indignant circumstances that reach him
even from some of the leading men and organs
Of his own party ought to be sufficient to con-
vince him that their maladministration and
failures have disguised and disappointed every
one. What in the beginning was merely specu-
lative in the way of criticism on the con-
duct of the war has been reduced to
positive certainty by the daily recur-
renee of the same facts. Reverses crowd
upon revsrses from the want Of ordinary FORE
sight and preparation, and when we do gain q
victory 1t costs us more than 1t Is worth from
the utter aimlessness of purpose or insuffciency
Of means that charactsrizes it. Any doubts
that may have existed on these points have
been removed by the military courts of inquiry,
and the country is now satisfied that as long as
Mr.. Lincoln's present Cabinet is continued in
Office there can be no hope Of bringing the
struggle to successful conclusion.
1t is therefore not only proper. but urgently
necessary, that this great State, representing,
1t does, the most important interests in the
Union, and entitled to be its mouthpiece by
the heavy sacrifices that 1t has made to preserve
its integrity, should formally convey to the
President the expression of the popular will
in regard to the future management of the war.
1t is the more important that this should be
promptly done from the attempt that was re-
Gently made, and that is about to be renewed,
to drive from the Cabinet the only man--Mr.
Seward-who has steadily and faithfully per-
formed his duty to the country, and whose ex
ample, II followed, would long since have ter
minated the sanguinary contest in which we are
engaged. Mr.. Lincoln, we repeat must be told
in distinct terms that there is but one man in
whom the people can feel confidence at the
head Of the War Department, and that is Gene
raj Mcclellan, and that at the head of the Navy
Department they must have q naval officer of
tried ability and experience. The system Of
appointing civilians to such posts is vicious in
principle, and has cost the country too much to
be longer perssvered in The President cannot
and dare not disregard formal declaration of
this kind on the part Of the Legislature Of this
great State. Following close upon an election
which has signalized one Of the most extraordi
nary political revolutions in history, il will
carry with it significance that it would be
foolhardinsss to ignore.
EUROPEAN CRITICS ON THE BATTLE OF FREDE-