The New York herald., 1863-06-25
Pet Halsted ON General Mcclellan.


Pet Halsted ON General Mcclellan.
We publish in another column a letter and q
card from MIR. o. 5. Commonly known as Pet)
llalstead, in reference TO an item of our Wash
ington correspondence, published on the 10Th
June. Our only objection TO admitting this
card to our columns is that il is couched in
language to which our readc1e are entirely un,
accustomed Pet Aalole4 mas evidently read
the Tribune too often, and has caught something
of its vulgar and ungentlemanly style Such
terms as "a wilful, wicked and malicious libel
aud lie," "a base, unprincipled scoundrel and
coward" and "a vile SANDER" are very unre-
fined, and are never used between gentlemen.
Poor Greeley has complete monopoly of this
sort of writing. and it seems to suit the audience
to whom he addresses himself. But to the read
ers of such journal as the HERALD it cannot
but prove unfamiliar and repugnant How
ever, as we conceive that Pet Halsted errs
only through being subjected to Tribune infu-
ences, and that his fault lies at poor Greeley's
door, we waive this objection and make room
for the card
In this very amusing correspondence Pet
Halsted takes occasion TO assert, and TO reite-
rate with indignant and undignifed emphasis,
that our Washington correspondents statement
was "a libel and lie,' and Pet Halsted's
friends pronounce it "an unqualified falsehood" J"
We are really and sincerely rejoioed at this ex-
planation. We are glad to know that Pet Hal
sted did not call Gen. Mcclellan go damned
coward" nor use any such ungentlemanly Ian
-guage, nor express any such ungentlemaniy
opinion of the personal or the military charao-
ter of one of the greatest generals of the age.
Indeed, our satisfaction at the discovery that
Pet Halsted said nothing derogatory to Gen.
Mcclellan is Of itself sufficient apology for
introducing bis card to our readers. Such Ian
guage IS he is represented as using would have
been disgraceful and scandalous, and it is re-
lief to be informed that he did not use 1t. Mr..
Halsted has called several times at our
office, and while here he has always be-
haved himself in proper manner. 1t would
be singular if the atmosphere of Washington
or of Willard's had 50 demoralized him as to
make him capable OF abusing so able and pa
triotic general as Mcclellan, and we are gra-
tilted that the correspondence referred to is so
explicit in its declarations that Pet Halsted
did nothing of the kind.
Apart from his natural desire to please US by
this intelligence, we can see no reason why Pet
Halstead should have taken the trouble of writ
ing and copying, and authenticating and endors-
ing, and witnessing and signing, and sending us,
this card. If the occurrences mentioned in our
correspondence did not happen, Pet Halsted
had only to call upon Colonel Whitley, our
Washington correspondent. and state the fact.
It would then have been Colonel Whitley
duty either to verify his correspondence or to
send us brief correction. In fact, even if
Colonel Whitely's report were true, we
do not approve Of his telegraphing to
the HERALD accounts of barroom squabbles
and burthening our already overcrowded
columns with notes of personal alterations
Our correspondents are directed to send us
news Of public interest and importance. and
should be careful not to transmit anything else
Still, if Pet Halsted had called at our Wash
ington bureau, as above directed, we have no
doubt that our correspondent would have cor
rected his misstatement as soon as he was fully
satisfied that he had made a misstatement. But
then, perhaps, we should never have been
aware of Pet Halsted's gentlemanly reticence
in regard to General Mcclellan. That would
have been an irretrevable loss. IL is an en-
couraging sign that Mr.. Halsted does not now
abuse the favorite commander Of the Army ol
the Potomac and the hero Of Antietsm
In little while we may venture TO hope
that he will be found calling for McClel
lans restoration to command, and joining
with all the rest of the people in doing justice
to his genius. We know that the Pet is chiv
alric admirer Of the lamented Kearny, ani
we are decidedly of the opinion, judging from
the statements Of his letter. that he will soor
become an equal admirer Of Kearny's forme
chieftain.