Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-06-25
A GLASS HOUSE REcoNNoIrERED.

live In glass houses against the lmpruuence OF
throwing stones at their neighbors In spite of the
wisdom inculcated by this aphorism, and from the
sheer force, we presume of bad habits learned in
their frolic youth, our contemporaries of the New
York Tribune venture every now and then to in
dulge in this dangerous sport, for other object
as far as we can perceive, than to give employment
to their political glszier; for every time they
make an attack on the less fraDgibc structures of
others, it is observed that the defensive blows
elected by the rash demonstrations are pretty
to make fearful ravages in the vitreous domic in
habited by our belligerent but unlucky assailants
Unwarned by past misfortunes, the Tribune
continues we are sorry to say, its juvenile diver
sions and has recently discharged few pebbles at
the Intelligencer because, some days ago, we ut
tered what it callss " an urgent but perfectly re-
spectful and temporarily expressed appeal to the
President for the recall of Gen. Mcclellan to the
command of the Army of the Potomac" To any
dissent from the propriety or timeiuess of this ut
terance we should have noreply to make, for, hay
ing discharged the duty we conceived ourselves to
owe when we framed that appeal, We do not pur-
pose any further than may be made necessary by
subsequent developments, to continue discussion
which might subject to the suspicion of being
imporiuuate beyond the demands Of the hour, as
conceived by those who are in position to be bet
ter informed and upon whom the responsibility of
all military appointments and decisions ultimately
rests. We shall hold them to that responsibility
in the face of the nation, without seeking to embar
rlss them in their deliberations. All wise and
prudent discussion aims to enlighten not to worry
and confound our rulers, If therefore, the Tri-
bune had sought to demonstrate the mpolicy of cur
counsel under the head designated, we should have
had little to say. But wheu postponiug this view
Of the matter, it essays rather to impuga our mo-
tives, it transcends the limits of legitimate debate
and provokes curious inquiry into the justice Of the
pretensions under color of which it assumes to pro-
nounce historical judgment on the course Of the
Intelligencer with regard to the present On
this topic the Tribune says:
at in every respect such appeal became it's
source md its subject The Inelgeucrr, to the best of
our recollection, has held that the shareholders
belon either could should he suppressed by military
force it undoubtedly uoud have held that anti
slavery rebellion John Blown raid should be- 1t OPP
posed what il upusty and mschevousy termed the in
vason of Virginia. and supported every project whereby
civil war be averted by surrender by the Ad
mDtraon at the beck OF armed and menaclng treason
of the cardinal principle the strength OF which it had
been entrusted with power But il has yet gone the
full length Of endorsing the nn hcaton principle wherein
secession broadly justified by the ate Wood Mass
Convention 10 our city, whereat ferrous assertions that
the rebels wholly ia the right and could not would
not and should not be put down. were nterspersed with
equally boisterous cheers and shouts for Mcclellan"
So far as the Tribune undertakes to speak, from
q the best of its recollection" with respect to the
position Of the National Intelligencer on the sub
ject of " the Shareholders Rebellion" we have
nothing to say beyond the expression of our wish
that the memory Of our contemporary might be
little longer aud little better when it next irs
the echoes Of the past. Oar contemporary evil
IDENTIFY abors under a confusion of ideas whenever
it recurs to any thing older than nine days
wonder. Nor is it difficult to perceive the source
of this confusion We.will briefly disclose it, and
at the same time revive the fading recolections of
the Tribune.
tits quite true that the Integencer dissuaded from
a mpaign into tie heart Of the South with the ex-
traordinary eves raised BY the President at the out
break of the war 1t did not seem to us that the
insuIrection could be conquered, even that
Richmond could be captured by seventy-fve thou.
sand men, enlisted for ouly three months. The
Tribune thought differently, and from day to day
raised the cry Of "on to Richmond" until the Gov
eminent determined to Try the experiment. The
experiment was tried, and the first battle Of Bull
Run remains standing memorial Of the rare mill
tary sagsci,y and commanding influence Of the
Tribune For a moment our contemporary was
COMPOUNDED By the spectacle of its own presump-
ton, and its principal conductor came before the
public. robed in tackcloth and with ashes on his
head, to say that henceforth he renowned the art
of military criticism. He confessed that he, or
rather one Of his editorial associates upon whom he
then shufled the blame, had done very wrong, but
with hand on his breast after the most approved
style of tragedy, OR Comedy he promised not to
do so any more For time he comportcd himself
with praiseworthy mcekness and gave promise OF
permanent amendment But this promise, alas
was only short-lived
Nor is it difficult to perccise the source OF our
contemporary alterations 1t is bound by all
logic, and by consistency with its past declarations
TO facilitate, as FAR il can, the lcsceful accom-
pIshment Of the disuniou Of these States. When
the secession leaders were plotting the overthrow