The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-09
General Keyes, opinion OF General
mcclellan.

The enemies Of Gen. 4COIHxAH have
made much Of speech inimical to him by
Gen. NGDowuL. There are, however.
other Generals. equally competent - wit
nesses and judges in Gen. NoOtu1Aus
case. who hold . very different opinion /;
and, being more independent than Gen.
NoDow.11, masehs rsaeonably less sus-
pectsd taan be Of speaking under sinister
Influences One Of these IL Major General
KsYRs. That gentleman, just prior to the
election, sent tho following letter to a
meeting of the friends Of NoO1r11Au in
San Francisco=
San FRANCISCO, Oct. 20, 1864.
d D. CoIroS, Esq, cAa;rman Of the MeCsk.
Ian Club:
DEAR SIR: Your note inviting me to oct a.
Chairman of the grand mass meeting of the
Mcclellan Club at Union Hall this evening.
ana containing remarks complimentary to my.
self, etc., has just been received. The high
honor you propose to me- to preside over the
meeting, beg leave most respectfully to de-
cline. It is true, IS you suggest, that I I'd.
here to the cause of Major Gen. Mcclellan a
the candidate for the Presidency, and my adhe-
sion is full, cordial and hearty. The speech of
Maj: Gen. Mcdowell, Is published in the Aha
Caivo'nsd, have read, and I am unable to
lind in the facts cited or the arguments used,
any grounds Whatever TO agree with the speak.
Ian as military commander or a. candidate
for the Presidency; on the contrary, dissent
from Gen. Mcdowell entirely. Il Is proper
that ! should add that my personal and off,
cial relations with Gen. Mcdowell have always
been friendly. With Gen. Mcclellan, whom
in the main, on questions of military charac.
ter. Otherwise my relations with him have
been generally cordial and sometimes con.
fidential. For a short period, howev-
ever, l was assailed by so many SLAM
derers of his true character, that I al.
lowed myself to underestimate his trans
But since l have had the opportunity to com.
pare him with other succeeding commanders,
and to reflect upon his conduct Is . General.
and the opinions oppressed by him with such
c0nsistency ct all times aimee the war com.
menced, I should regard his election to the
Presidency q the most fortunate event which
possible to Judge Of the merits Of Gen. McClel-
Ian az soldier from detached extracts from his
dispatches, or casual instances of his conduct.
selected even BY . friendly hand; and far less
could they be judged from such selections
when party or personal feelings preside at the
choice. Ny estimation of Gen. Mcclellan as a
military commander, IL based upon his military
plans, to q greater or less extent; and, from
having compared his plans and conduct with
those OF other officers, the result is, regard
him Is the most able commander in the army.
In regard to the patriotism of Gen. McClel-
Ian and his love for the Union, he has on more
than one occasion, when he seemed oppressed
with the great responsibilities imposed upon
him, and with his still greater fears for the per-
petuity of our republican form of government,
expressed at all times sentiments of devotion
to the old flag and for the whole Union, as
pure, and, as believe, as heartfelt as any that
ever issued from human lips
have the honor to remain, sir, your ODE
dent servant E. D. KEYES.