Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-07-11
REPLY.

We decline to discuss the merits of Gen.
Halleck, or his fitness for the position of
General in. Chief of the Union Armies,
pgeferring always to preserve silence with
respect to what we do not at all compre-
heud. We confne our reply to the ques-
tions so far as they respect Gen. Mcclellan.
When this General was called to Wash
ington, we most heartily approved, COM
mended, and rCjoiced over his appointment.
We knew then, as we'll as we do now, that
he was bigoted Pro Slavery Democrat,
but we cared nothing for that, so long as
we believed him intent on crushing the
Rebellion. We clung to him through dis
appointment and disaster, waiting for the
roads to dry, the Potomac to reach a
proper stage, "the leaves to fall" &C., &c,
until we were reluctantly driven to the
conclusion that he was under the direc-
tion aad control of self-seeking
partizan ire-workers who had decided
that the Rebellion should not he put
down by force of arms, but that
the Rebel chiefs should be bribed or bought
over to further acquiescence in the exist
ence of the Union by new concessions to
the Slave Power, involving the further ex-
tension and aggrandizement of Slavery in
our Union. And as that is in our view,
| the worst conceivable result of our present
struggle, involving every element of Ma
tional crime, disgrace and downfall, we
slowly, reluctantly, surrendered all faith
in Gen. George B. McClellan-all hope of
triumph under his command. NE regard
him as man of moderate general ability,
u pretty good defensive engineer, a slow,
timid, and defective General, not at heart
disloyal, but the associate and the instru.
ment ofcraftier men whose hearts are with
JEFF. Davis, and who are more solicito US
for the preservation of slavery than for
that of the Union. Hence we should re.
gard his restoration to the command of the
Army of the Potomac as equivalent to q
confession of National defcat-a death.
blow to the War for the Union.
l. Mr.. Graves asks us if the loyal North
does not to-day desire the restoration of
Mcclellan to high command. We answer
most emphatically, No; but the disloyal
North unanimously and vociferously does
Vallandigham, who has opposed the War
on the part of the Union, from the outset
and before the outset, is warm admirer
aud eulogist of Mcclellan. Tue greaI
Wood Peace meeting in our city, which
resolved that the Federal Government had
no right to coerce State-that the War fol
the Union is q ruinOus, criminal bluudel
throughout-wasV Vociferous for Mcclellan q
This city is the headquarters of Northern
sympathy for the Rebels, their principles,
and their cause; and every man, so far as
we can learn, who desires the success of tbI
rebellion, insists that McClellau is the Onll
man to lead the armies of the Union. Th
intensely Copperhead Common Councils o
this and other cities of our State are all re
solving that Mcclellan must be restored Il
command or the Union is gone to everlasting
I smash. What is the "mystic tie" tha
makes Yallandigham, and Thomas II. Sey
mour, and the Woods, and F. w. Hughes
and William II. Reed, and c.. @. Burr, ant
Elias B. Schnabel, and every one else il
the North who talks aud feels as thoug
Abolitionists were the real rebels and Je
Davis & Co. were prosecuted "constitutiOn
al" patriots, such admirers and eulogists c
George b. Mcclellan Whys is it Lhn
every man you hear brswling against tn
war as wantonly, wickedly, ssvagely wage
I on our side, and most hnmanely, properly
forbearingly, on that of the rebels, is nois
lily for Mcclellan Can We be mistake
las to the fact2 Inquire, consider, inyesti
gate; aud if you can ind one SLAYER
: idolator or rebel sympathiser 10 all th
!. loyal States who is not Vociferous for Nc
CieIlan and anxious that he should lea
= our armies. oblige US with his name.
= No, We are not mistaken. The Pitt
It burgh GGzette-widely known as the ole
lest, one Of the ablest, most steadfast, an