The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-10-07
From the PhlladelpAia Age.
General Buell.,

We need not call the attention of our
readers to the letter of Major General Bu-
ell, which we publish below. This letter
was addressed to a friend, by whose per-
mission we print it: e.ri-t'.
BEDFORD SPRINGS, July 10, 1864.
,.Deqr' Sir: The public have seen no
official announcement of the fact---though
it's no. doubt by, this, time very generally
known-that l have resigned my COM
mission in the army, I have several times
been assuredlthat my personal friends, since
and many who without the claim Of perso-
nal acquaintance have taken an interest in
my official career, feel that some expana-
ltion ct the circumstances and motives of
the action is due them. Accepting this
claim upon me, i have already answered
some of my friends in substance as I do
you now. e,o >; .i-.-..es..t,n ,gtE
luis perhaps unnecessary to enter into
an exposition Of the circumstances of my
supersedure in, Tennessee in the fall of
1862, the particulars, though not without
a certain value, involve interests of my
own With which it is not my wish to weary
you. As far as facts are concerned, it
will suffice for the present to, say, that
after the adjournment, about the list of
May, 1868, Of the, ""Com NJ issioa" which
investigated my campaign, my correspond
ence with the Department was confined to
a monthly report made to the ,Adiptant
General that | was waiting the action of the
War Department on the proceedings Of
that Commission that the first week of
April last | was offered command under
Gen, Sherman, my junior, which | de-
clined that. p month later was again
offered command under Gen. Candy, also
my Junior, which, I declined THAT about
three weeks latet I received, notification
| was mustered out Of my rank as Major
General of Volunteers, and that on the
same. day / sent in my resignation as Col
oneDin the regular army. III ;, .,...s;a
The impulse of most men would ap-
prove my eourse.in this matter, if it even
rested, Cd no; other ground than determi-
nation not to. aeauiesce in ANY measure
that would degrade me; but | had high
er motive than that | believed that the
policy and means with which the war was
being prosecuted, were alike discredtable
to the nation, and stain upon civilization;
and that, they would not only fail to re-
store the union, if indeed they had not
already rendered its restoration impossible,
but that their tendency was to subyert the
institutions under which the country, had
realized unexampled prosperity aud happi-
ness; and to such a work l could not lend
my aid. ..,,,.g., !. Iifa ~ y..q ,sgii
While there may have been more Or
less of personal ambition mixed up with
the movements Of secession, as there must
generally be in the management of polit-
ical affairs, yet ! do not doubt that, it, was
mainly determined by an honest couyio.
ton in the minds of those who engaged in
il, that the control of the goyernment had
passed permanently into the hands of the
sectional party which would soon tramp1e
on the political rights Of the South The
apprehension. was shared in by, a very
large portion of the people who did not fan
vor secession, aud who were SO anxious
for the preservation Of the Union, that
even. coercive measures, if tempered by
JUSTICE and mercy, would not have. es-
trangcd them, Under these circumstah-.
ces tbs, use OF military force to put down,
armed resistance was not incompatible
with q, restoration Of the Union with, its
former 'glories and affections, provided the
means were employed in such mapner
as TO convince the people that their CON.
stitutional rights would be- respected ~
Suchta policy, therefore, in the use of
force, if force must be- resorted to, had the
manifest advantage of weakening the pow
err Of rebelliop, and strengthening the goy4
eminent, independently Of the moral force
which dignity aud justice always leud to
authority. @ m+ &,lt .i!a:, ,,yq liz
Aipolicy which recognized these prinei-i
Piles was wisely declared by Congress in the
beginning of>the-war; and from a ferventg
desire for the preservation of the Union,
in. which pride of country and all my in
terests as a citizen centred, not, less from
a natural impulse, gave that. policy my