The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-05-08
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT

position to the President of the United
States in any way; that thought his (my
staff otficers) view of the matter was the
correct one; but that had indicated in
that order the only way in which could
command the Army of the Potomac. I
accordingly took this order, already signed
and issued in due form, with the excep-
ton of being made public, to the Presi-
dent of the United States, and handed him
the order, together with my resignation of
my commission as Major General. l
told him that he knew my views upon that
subject; that had never sought any COM
mand, more particularly that Of the Poto-
mac Army; that my wish was to 60 into
civil life, after it was determined that /
could no longer be of use in the army;
that desired no public position of any
kind whatever. At the same time said
that l desired not to place myself in oppo-
sition to him in any way, nor to do any
thing to weaken the government. said
he could now say to me: "You may take
the responsibility issuing this order, and
I will approve it." and 1 would take that
responsibility if he would say that it
would be sustained after it was is
sued, because he would have to
approve it, for had no right to dismiss a
man or condemn a man to death without
his approval. In case that order (No. 81
could not be approved by him, there was
my resignation, which he could accept,
and that would end the matter forever, so
far as | was concerned; that nothing
more would be said in reference to it, /
told him that he could be sure that my
wish was to have that done which was
best for the public service, and that was
the only way could command the army
of the Potomac. The President replied
to me, Il think you are right.
1.-The suppressions here, in the body of
General Burnside's report of the Presi-
dents answer, are the Committees, not
oure. But l must consult with some of
my advisers about this" l said to him,
" If you consult with anybody you will
not do it in my opinion He said, 81
connot help that; must consult them.
| replied that he was the judge, and 1
would not question his right to do what he
pleased.
The President asked me to remain all
that day. l replied that | could not re-
main away from my command; that he
knew my views, and | was fixed and de-
termined in them. He then asked me to
come up that night again. l returned to
my command, and came up again that
night, and got here at o'clock in the
morning. went to the Presidents, but
did not see him. Invent again after break
fast, and the President told me that he
had concluded to relieve me from the COM
mand of the Army of the Potomac and
place General Hooker in command. told
him that | was willing to accept that as
the best solution of the problem, and that
neither he nor General Hooker would be
happier man than I would be if General
Hooker could gain victory there The
President also said that he intended to re-
lieve General Sumner and Gen. Franklin.
| said that thought it would be wise to
do so if he made the change he proposed
to make. Gen. Sumner was much older
officer than Gen. Hooker, and ought not
to be asked to serve under him."
We DO not propose to discuss the Wis
dom OF order No. 8, nor to show how far
the publication of these shameful facts by
the War Committee agrees with their own
doctrine of the duty OF giving an "unques-
tloning support to the administration in
all its means and in all its selections of
agents to carry on the war;" The COM
mittee is too low for public contempt, and
General Burnside has by his own acts and
words acquired his just place in the opin-
ion OF sensible men. Nor do we propose
to discuss the conduct of General Hooker
The revelations of the committee are not
full or trustworthy enough to form the ba-
sis of an intelligent judgment as to his past
conduct, while the success of his future en-
terprises will determine the wisdom of
assigning him to his present command.
But we print these documents to show
the people of this country how the Com
mander-in-chief of the Army and Navy of
the United States performs the duties as
signed to him with what wisdom he Sc
lects his principal Generals what degree
of support to Generals learned in the art
OF war he, an unlearned civilian, gives;
how far he relies upon the opinions of the
military advisers whom he has called about
him for the purpose of having skilled ad-
vice; with what care he cultivates subor-
dination in his subordinates, and how far
he follows the advice of the most incom-
petent of those subordinates and encour-
ages them in military otfenses against their
superiors, to whom he has assigned the
highest trusts.
Generals Mcclellan and Burnside have
some other experience on this point which
would be valuable in the formation of such
a judgment. 1t will be made public one
day or another We venture to predict
that General Hooker, if he has not already
had, will within the next week or month
have, further experience which may
teach the country similar lessons General
Mcclellan was ordered to move in places
and at times where to his responsible and
skilled judgment it seemed unwise. At
other times and places he and General
Burnside were ordered not to move where
to their responsible and practiced judy
ment movement seemed wise. If General
Hooker is now getting similar messages
and experiencing similar interferences
from Mr. Lincoln, he will probably soon
learn what the testimony before the War
Committee might earlier have taught him
that there is now left for him the choice
l. oil