The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-06-11

GREAr LASS MNBTM0 or RETURNED OOLr
DERs.-There have returned to this city and
State from the Army Of the Potomac within the
last few weeks from twelve to 6fteen thousand
OF its best soldiers Most. If not all Of these,
are men Of education and intelligence. They
went TO the war from motives of patriotism and
without any views OF selfadvancement; they
have participated In all the hardships and dan
gers of the sanguinary campaigns Of Virginia
and Maryland, and from their superior disci-
pline and valor have earned the designation ao-
corded by Napoleon to his veterans of " the Old
Guard" Now, we know no class whose views
and sentiments it is more important to consult
in the present position of our affairs than these
men. They have studied attentveiy the course
of the administration in connection with the
conduct of the war; they have been personally
affected by the various changes that it has
been thought proper to effect in the command
of the army to which they belonged; they have
had the fullest opportunities Of approaching
the merits and dement's of the successive gone
rails under whom they have servedi and, - their
lives have been staked on the competency and
energy of their commanders, their opinions
have, upon Ill these points, an incontestable
value In the present vascillating and mis-
trusting condition Of the public mind, and with
an administration utterly without judgment or
military foresight, we must seek for guidance
where experience and freedom from political
prejudices unite to point the way. These re-
turned soldiers Of the Army of the Potomac are
the opportunity arrived Nestors Of our difficult
ties. They are the practical statesmen who are
to find solution for the obstacles that have
hitherto prevented the triumph Of our arms.
That the radicals are fully sensible of this
is evident from the efforts made by the
broken down politicians Of the party to
prevent them paying q tribute of their
respect, on their arrival in this city, to their
old commander, Mcclellan. There is nothing
that they dread more just now than any mani
festation Of this kind.
The sensitiveness thus exhibited renders it
all the more important that we should en-
deavor to get at the real sentiments Of the
army. This can now be done without violating
the rules Of military discipline or introducing
politics into the army. The gallant veterans
who have just completed their term Of service
will probably remain home for month or two
before they again volunteer, as no doubtsthe
great majority Of them will do. Let them be
convened together in a mass meeting from all
parts of the State-arrangements being pre-
viously made for their transport herein order
that we may obtain a full and untrammelled
expression of their sentiments on the conduct
of the campaigns through which they have
passed with so much honor to themselves, but,
unfortunately, with so little advantage to the
country. The opinions enunsiated there will
have powerful influence in dispelling the
illusions created by the Misrepresentation OF
partisan journals, and may have the effect OF
shaping the future course of the President and
of inducing him to cast out from his admins
tration the men whose imbecility and foolish
ambition have been the main obstacles to the
successful prosecution OF the war.