Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1864-01-12
General 0eCleoIas o PFealionl
lIneoln.


Mr.. PRHsrDEYf You have been
fully informed thst the rebel army 10 10
our front, with the purpo Of over
~heiming No BY attacking ccr PORTIONS
or reducing rs by bfockading our liver
communications. | cannot but regard
our position - CRIT cal, and l earnvstIy
desire. in view of possible contingencies.
to lay before your Exccllency FOR your
private consii.raiioL my general view.
roncs,n ming the ex sting state Of the re-
BELLE although they d. not sni.tly
come within the scope Of my fficia! du-
ties. These views amount to conv'c-
,ious, and are deeply impressed upon
my mid and heart. Ocr eanse mus,
never be abandoned; it is the cause OF
free Institute ns ard sclf.gov r.mt mt.
The Cor stitu,ion and Union must be
preserved, whatever may be the cost in
time, treasure and blood. II secession
10 successful, o.her dis olulious are clear
" 10 be seen in the future. Let Loi,her
military disas er, political faction, nor
foreign war shake our settled purpose
to enforce to equal operation Of the laws
f he United States npoR the people Of
every State. Tue time has come vixen
tho Government must determine upon a
civil and military 20 icy covering the
whole erou.d Of our national trouble.
The respons III iy of determining, de-
c'arilg and supporting such civil and mil
itarv policy. and OF directing the VIII, lc
course OF na,ionsl stf.irs in regard to
the rebellion, must now be assumed and
exercised by you, or our csuse will be
Lost. The Constitution gives you power
sufficient even for the present x gency.
This rebellion has assumed the chsrac-
ter of war; as sucn it should be regard
ed, and it shonId be conducted npoa the
i.hest principles k,o~n to Christian
civil z-tiou. 1t should not be war look
ing to tie sulj"galion OF the PEE pie OF
any state on auy,vent 1t sh- ud not
DC at all war upon population, but
against armed forces aud poii,ican or
gan zaions. Neither cohtisc ton of
property. poll ic tx, cutlons Of PEI SOL 5.
ierr,tor al oreanizs' ;uns Of States, Or
forcibIe abolition cf slavery should be
contemplated for mome,t. In poe
cutlng the var all private prof city aud
uuarmed persons sh, uld be ric,l. pro-
tcc,cd, subject only to the necessity #
military operations. All private proI err
ty taken for military use shorlG be paid
or rece'pted for; pillage an waste
should tic estei as high crimes, all rn-
necessary t,cspass .t-rn)y prohibited,
and ffensive demeanor Wy the military
toward citizens promptly rebuked. Mil
'tary arrests oud not be tolerated *
cept 10 places where active host,lities
exist. aud oaths not required by enact
meats consi,tut,onal'y made should be
neither dem anded nor received. Military
government should be CO, fined to the
preservation Of public order and The pro
lection Of po itical tights. Military pow
or should not tic allowed to interfere wi b
he relations Of srrvi,udc, either ty .up-
porting or impairing the authority o.
The master, exc. pit for depressing disor-
der, rs IN other cases. Slaves contra
band under the act of Congress, SC. king
military protection, should receive it,
The right Of .he Government to appro
pr,ste permanently to it, own service
claims Of slave labor should he asst rled
and The right Of the owner to compen-
.a,iou therefore should be rec ,gnizcd.-
This principle night be extended upon
grounds Of military itv and Sc
cutity to all the slaves within a pa,ticu-
lar State, thus working manuD,s.ion in
such State and in Missouri, perhaps 10
Western Virginia, also, ava possibly
even in Maryland, the expediency of
such measure is olny qAs ION Of
time. A system Of olicy thus consti.
tntional and conservative, and pervad-
ed by the i, f1uepces of Christianity and
iIeedcm, would ,eceive the support OF
almost all truly lovsl men, would deeply
impress the rebel masses and all f,,eign
nations, and 1t might be hunbly BIO; ed
thai it would commend itself 10 the
favor OF the Almighty. Unless the
principles governing the future conduct
OF our struggle shall be made known
and approAed, the eff ut t, obtain requ-
site forces will be almost HOPELESS. A
declaration OF rad cal views, especially
from avery, will rapidly disintegrate
our present armies. The policy OF the
Government must be supper cd by con.
ccnlrations Of military power. The ma.
tlonai forces should MT be dispersed IN
expeditions, posts Of occupation and
numerous armies, tut should be mainly
collected j TO masses ard brought to
bear upon the armies Of the Confsder-
Ate States. Those armies thor. ,hly
defeated, the political structure which
they support would soon cease to exist.
IN carrying cut any system Of policy
which ycn may form, you ". - quisc
Z Misunderstanding OF the army, one
Who possesses your confidence, under
stand yoal view. and who j, compct~n,
to execute yorr ordei By dir, c,ng the
n iltary Tor, cs Of the nation to The &C
complishment OF the objects by you pro
posed. 10 not ask that place fYr NY
self. l am willing TO serve You in .uch
post. on ar You may assign me, and Ill
DO so as fai hfu.iy as ever subordinate
served superior. I may be on the brink
of e'crn'ty, aud, as Lope f,,given,s IS
from NY Maker, have written this let
ter With sincerity toward You, and from
love for nv country.
(Signed) GEo. B. McCLELLAN.