, 1863-03-07
CUR WASHINGTON LETTER,


The news Of Gen. sigcl's resignation will
doubtless hnye reached you By telegraph be.
fore this arrives. Of the immediate occasion
Of this action know nothing. With its gen
M cause, NC are all acquainted That Gen.
d"llcck is our fighting Germans foe, that he
mas never Let all opportunity slip to belittle
MIN, 10 deny his reasonable requests, to give
the weight Of his authority to every rumor
calculated to injure his reputation or to de-
crease his efficiency, md to every representa-
lion against him made by jealous rivals or
aspiring subordinatcs, is known Of a1l men.
What the latest manifestations Of this spirit
may be, am notinformed; but the friends
Of Gen. sigel will readily believe, upon their
filth in his character rs well Us upon the
strength Of his recent assertions, that no feel
ing Of mere piquc or Of pride, nothing less
than belief that he can be moro scryiccable
to his country In private life than in shoulder
straps, Of which the honor alone seems to
be given him has Influenced him.
The fact that Gen. sigel's letter Of resIgna.
tion is awaiting the action Of the President
indicates TINT 1t is not peremptory, but that
some alternative Is presented. It is to be
hoped that his special grievance, Whatever 1t
may be, will be removed, and that the general
cause Of complaint be done away with, 20 TINT
: hc may retain the command he has so much
capacity to fill. Shonld his resignation be
accepted, Lis corps will probably be broken
up, its divisions attached to the other CORPS
ofthe armY Of the Rappahannock. The pres
in which case there Will be contest between
Gcus. schurz, Steinwchr and 9tahcl for the
command; but no one of the three viii brine
to T. 1.-THE Of the prestige, or inspire the
soldiers with 1.-THE Of the confidence which
vent with Gen. sigel.
THE TAX. UPON DAsKs.
The friends of bank-taxation have reason
to be satisfied with the result at which Con-
grcss finally arrived. One per cent. upon ail
ctiGuiatlon, a IN ADDITION to quarter Of per
cent. upon the amount Of deposits over and
above the circu1ation-a provision designed
to apply to the city banks-aud to one ner
cent. more upon the circulation over and
above specified proportion to the capital
upon a graduated scale, with the nature Of
mi'lar, is heavier tax than either House had
previously agreed to-the two per cent. Of the
Senate not going into effect till 1865. Il Is
probably as heavy tax as it would be lust to
begin with, since, whatever may be the case
in the West, the Eastern banks are SO inti-
nately intcrwoyen with the business Of the
community that serious consequences might
flow from the operation Of law, TINT shoRli
force them to wind up suddenly. That Nil
Important changes Of this description should
be gradual, would seem to be elf:eyident
truth. 70 the result finally reached, the cx-
ertions of Elihu Washbnrne, have largely con
tributcd. he, with Owen Loyejoy was among
the first to urge The policy of ta1ing Tie
banks upon the House, and has worked to
TINT end on every occasion. To his persist
cuce OF purpose, parliamentary skill and par-
sopal e3ertions the friends Of bank.taxaffou
owe hearty thanks: Schuyler Colfax with
tating members, did good service, Sc Senator %
sherman carried this point in the Senate and
finally in the Conference Committee. SecEe-
tary Chase, by reasoning, personal influence
aEd methods similar to those hitherto set
forth, did much to achieve this his second til
unph.
TIE MOVEMENT TO MAKE MCCLELLAN GENERAL
N-CnIEr.
The Mcclellan faction is Intriguing for his
reinstatement as General-in.C Chief Thurlow
Weed urges the President to put him in Hal
leck's place, and the newspapers in the came
interest loudly assert that the change has
been determined upon. The President is IN
ecFntable, and keeps his own counsel; but,
posed to put this old man Of the sea-youuc
in years, old in caution aud kindred qualities,
and In being aburdcn not easily to be shaken
on-on his shoulders again. Mr. Lincoln can
have seen no reason for changing his opinion
Of Little Mac, since in the character of Young
Napoleon he went on his starring tour
tnrough New England; and it is not possible
that he eau be moved by Copperhcad or Sew
ard-Wecd pressure to act against his we'll
considered nnd deliberately formed Judgment.
Before The alliance between the: Young M
pcleon and the peace men vas quite as close
Us If is nt present, while there seemed to be a
possibility that tic furmer might harmlessly
play the useless role Of Gcnerai=in CLicf. there
were those who were willing that he should
oust Iial1cck, on condition that there be at
tle same time thorough reorganization of
the Cabinet on an rncompromfsing war basis,
the new Secretary Of War being, rs Butler
would be, q ,nan resolved to brook no inter
ference with his duties and responsibilities by
. asubordlnatc-1m man, In word, who would
keep his Generals, from the highest to the
lowest, In their proper places.
This much, for the sake Of ac1lieyfnc the
great end in vieW, and Of making more lnti-
mate union amongst those intent upon that,
Some or the most uncompromising Republi-
cans, bearing no special affection for Halleck,
were willing, at one tint, to conccdc, Query
Whether they ought to do so now, under any
clreM,nn.stances , rs for any q4sd pro qHo? Is there
OF one who has done nothing in this war to
earn the plaudits Of any, except those who
wish it to stop, and who, it is to be fearcd.
might be a tool in their hands? Precisely
what hc is, as soldier and q man, will be
more generally and more clearly known after
and the testimony respecting his campaigns,
taken before tue Committee on the Conduct
Of the War, shall have seen the light. II.
then, victory shall, at the ea1ne time
brighten the arms Of Gen. Hookerts forces
the Young. Napoleon's sun will have set to
hnS yho Ar.A
may stimulate the growth Of the noxious
weeds OF treason and dishonorable peace.
GEN: HooKER's Do1SGs AND PURPOSES.
That Gen. Hooker will march TO a victory
SO soon as the condition Of tho roads admits
OF his marching, ut all, I believe; and vet,
after the disappD1ntments from which rhe
country has go often suffered, do not ask
others to believe 1t. But every one should
k'oW that AZ the accounts which come from
the army that is encamped upon the bank of
the Rappahannock arc favorable. They show
That iis commander is seriously working to
increase the efficiency, promote the comfort
and supply The wants Of bis soldiers. The
absent are called back, under severe penalties
In case Of delay in obeying; the worthless are
u i;ii,ehargea ihe gpllty are punished. There
tion. The great truth that ssan army moves
upon its belly. and lives upon its belly as
well, when not in motion Is recognized md
acted upon by Gen. Hooker. He secs to it
that every soldier has his breakfast and his
dinner; that he has. freshly baked bread and
fresh vegetables with his ration. What lie
cares for while in camp he will not NEGLECT,
when upon the march. He will not lead INT
troops into battle upon empty 6tomachs.
That he is organizing well, and rapidly gain
ing the soldiers confidence, is freely admitted
eSen e,'eI ! y oihcets, not more friendly to him
bnt why does Hooker not fghts Why arc
yon so eontented with his quicscence, Won
who we're SO loudly critical Of last winters
all quiet upon tho Potorac:" 81 the Iaut1a,
te4rs ttnporis afeC2tRdni. Alter VFichtine
joe" has spent five months In organizing his
a.my, and has then had SIX weeks Of dry roads
and clear skies, such questions will begin to
be op'spos. t vas not. till long aftef tho
e3oq'fcatTs Of Mcclellan declared That he had
the army Of the Potomac under perfect t,isci-
pine, not TIL weeks Of weather the finest that
could be desired for an active campaign, TINT
ssf c5it1elsm began to be seriously and generally
Of which he takes command, worn With
marching aud counter1narcling for months:
dispirited By defeats, fruitlcss campaigns and
n1oooy but worthless victories; poisoned by
me influence Of intriguing, disaffected and
aemorallzlng officers; cursed with disloyal
eouragtd and paid tor By such as Fernando
Wood; m army in which the rewards of
merit hare too often been bestowed unon r..
so11tcs, or sown broadcast without regard to
aesert, and md, the ,punishments Of offences un.
Tsa t%a tae miiiaasy law are condorcd, until even
tHc oeseFtlon Of 4 private ceases to b.
crime, md the absence Of an officer from his
command Is the rule rather tl,an tLn
exception; General to whom such an
army army Is entrusted docs not require
roiG n h}6mcS i9r foo oo1nG nnt would justly be
which make for victory hefnTe 1;,-;.. ~