Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1864-01-08
PUBLISHED DAILY BY
EDGAR SNOW DEN, JR.
rag OPFICE-No. 104 King street, over
s on-s. (foruery Freach:s) Book Store
GEN MCCLELL.lN'S LETTER.

GEN. McCLELLAN'S LETTER.
The letter written by Gen. Mcclellan TO
President I4ncoln from Harri>o 5 Bar, I'm.
mediatcly after the great battles Of the Seven
D,vS, is one of tbs most remalka lc docu
nents in the history Of the war. 1t has just
seen given to the public, and is attracting
great attention at the North It is contained
:, the #; ..ia repare Of Gen Mcclellan.
MR.. PREsIDENT Yuu have I'een fully IN
:,r,n.l that the rebel army is ia our front,
ar,h th. purpose Of overwhelming US by at
lacking oar poStions or reducing Us by block
80 o,r rive: communications | cannot but
r,sarl our condition as critical: and | earnestly
desire. in view OF possible contingencies, TO
lay },cf IRE yogr Exc :llency, tor ysur private
consideration, my general views concerning the
existing state of the rebeliloH, although they
4, n II strictly relate tn the situation ct the ar
snv, or s:ricklj me within the SC 'pe Of ny off,
cal duties. These views amonI.t to cunvlc-
slons, an are deeply impressed upon my mind
AMI heart.
Oar cause must never be alandone lit is
she cause ut free institutions anl Self-gnvsrn-
u:at 'j'he Constitution and Union must he
preserved, wIlatever may he the cost in time.
treasure, anl ulood. 1t secession il successful
oshes dissolltiona arc clearly te be seen in
.he future ! Il neither military disaster, po-
;i;ica ac';on, nor foreign war shake your set
.Iet purpose to enforce the equal operations of
:kc Laws Of the Uuited States upon the people
;: ecery State.
the time has come when the Government
rust determine upon a civ al military policy
covering the whole ground uf our national
4reuhle The responi ility Of determining,
declaring, and supporting such civil and mill
9ary no,iry, aul Of directing the whole cnuroe
3t national atfllrs IN regard to the rebel on,
aust u .w be assumed and oxeerci>c'i by yn,,,
:: Cur cause will be 10 t. The Constitution
gives you power sufficient even tor the present
:cytne cAlyency.
j'I.is rebellion has assumed the character Of
v;;g. as sucE; it should he reyare,l, and il
s., eu;ti be conducted upon the hivhc I priuc
p!es Snown ~ Christian civilization 1t
SHOULD ~, ',e war lookins to the SUI! juyaiuu
- the people OF any State in any event 1t
sanuia not be 1T al VAR upon populations
out against armed torces and oliticai oryan
z't;on Nel her conl,catl"n vt property, DO
4"icat executions OF persons, territorial uroali
.';iUn> "t States, OI toicli,e abuliun Of slave
y should be coniemp plated for !; moment. IL
prosecuting the War all private property aud
3'ia:Med persons should bc >tiictIy protected,
~ ct on y to the necessity of military opera
si:n5 Al private property taken tor military
1Sc S|lo'i he paid or receiptel tor; piIlaye
a''1 waste should e treated as high a. crimes
AZ u'n1c 'sslry tre>p'ss stern!y prohibited, aud
o11nsyc deineanor by the military toward cIt-
zh5 promptly rehuked. Military arrests
saou'd not be tolerated except in places where
sa;o'e hostl'ltles exist, and oath' not required
" enactnents consti,utlonally made should he
iel'her den anled nor received. Military gov
arnnent shonJ be confined to the preservation
" po1ilc nr Ter and the protection of political
s'gas< Military power should not se allowed
- Interfere with the re.atinns Of saryitude