Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-06-23
General McClellan-A Calm Appeal.

| General McClellan--A Calm Appeal.
From tho National Intelligence, juno 1871
In the present season Of national advsrsIty
and trial, when the hearts Of the brayest are
moved by the sight of their country's misfor-
tune, and when the hearts of others are falling
for fear Of things which, as they apprehend, are
yet to come upon the land, every good Citizen
owes Il TO himself and to the Government 70
express with freedom, but yet with respectful
Difference, the opinions he entertains and the
| counsels which Re deems appropriate to the
emergency that is on US.
After much reflection, and With full sense
of the responsibility which II involves, we feel
| il our solemn duty at this juncture to ayow the
deliberate but earnest conviction that the Pres.
ident cannot, by any one act, do 60 much to re-.
store the confidence OF the nation as by the re
call of General Mcclellan to the command of
the Army of the Potomac. We intend no dis.
paragement to General Hooker, and We are sure
we do him 40 injustice when we say, that while,
az the commander Of corps or division, he
deserves and possesses the confidence of his
companions In arms and of the entire country,
he cannot hope, In bis present position, to in
spire In the breasts of either the same conf.
dence as General Mcclellan. And, In avowing
this opinion, we are very far from auguring in
evtable disaster under the military direction of
General Hooker, for In 80 doing we should write
with as little of prudence as knoWledge. He
may be equal to the situation, and, should the
President deem IL best 10 retain him in bis pres
ent command, we shall seek to be convinced of
the wisdom with which that determination shall
be taken; but, with our deliberate convictions
In favor of the superior advantages possessed by
General Mcclellan for coping with the de-
mands of the hour, We cannot forbear to ex-
kho niutn haua az
We commit ourselves OF this time to the sup
port of no thesis with respect 10 General Nc.
Cellsus military capacity. We simply say
that, whether regard be had to the morale of the
army, to the defense of this capital or to the
expulsion of the invading foe, General McClel-
Ian is the man of the hour. All ooncede that
the private soldiers of the Army Of the Poto
mac love him as they love no other man. ALI
concede that heiis skillful defensive General,
and the whole country knows that he has had
special opportunities for studying the defense
Of Washington; while in the matter of expell.
| ing the invaders from Maryland and Pennsylva-
mia, he has already had the advantage of for
mer experience, In which he was successful,
| whatever may have been his actual or imputed
shortcomings in failing to "destroy" the enemy
he then defeated and foiled.
In giving expression to these views we know
ourselves to be rejecting those Of multitudes
who are among the most thoughtful as they are
among the most patriotic Of our conntrymen.
The thoughts Of the people are turned to Gen.
| Mcclellan and his former comrades at this
crisis. In proof of it we have but to advert to
the fact that at g meeting held at Harrisburg
on the 18th inst, to take measures for the dc.
| fense Of that capital, the Hon. Simon Cameron,
the late Secretary of War (than whom none
other should know General Mcclellan better),