Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1864-01-23
Presid.ntiaI Prospects.

The gentlemen whose accession to politi.
cal power depends upon the salvation Of
slavery are already casting about for avail.
able Presidential candidates. A year ago
the nomination of Mr.. Horatio Seymour
was forgone conclusion. But his obse-
quiousness to murderous mob alarmed
the most substantial Of his supporters
They hate Abolitionism; but civil magis.
trate who calls The most reckless aud bru.
tai criminals his friends appalls them. Mr.
Seymour, so long as lie made dull speeches
merely, was to have been nominated as "a
Conservative statesman" But Conserva.
tive craftsmanship in practical operation
dnring the days of July was a little too
repugoant to the popular common sense
The Conservative statesman committed po-
l'tical suicide upon the steps of City Hall.
His alternate, if circumstances should re-
quire military candidate, was General
Mcclellan. ~-b p &8 3 r. E-<k- .A--a-
Poor General McClellanl Charles Lamb
ellis an excellent story of the mau at the
table who preserved dgni6ed silence and
soIemnity, which gres ly impressed the
company, until suet dumplings were brought
IN. Upon which the dghiied silence was
broken by the earnest exclamation, "them's
the jockeys for mel" So General McClel,
Ian patiently kept silent while the mob
cbeered for him and JEFF. Davis, and while
Mr.. Cox, the special advocate of Valland
igham. extolled him as the hope of the fu
ture. He held his tongue while every
friend of the rebels praised him and every
loyal man looked on him in painful doubt.
But when the Pennsylvania election came,
aud the rebel papers prayed for the success
of Woodward, and Lee moved to support
his chances, and the lackeys of slavery
aud rebel parlisans strained every nerve
for Woodward, and every loyal Union man
10 the land knew that bis election would be
equivalent to victory over the Army Of
the Potomac, then the late leader Of that
army choose to break his long silence by
declaring that Woodward was the man for
him. Poor General McClellanl His
letter was as fatal to bis political hopes as
Governor Seymour's speech. And be
should hold his managers to strict account
for be not only threw himself but the ere-
mics of the Government with whom be
allied himself off the track. He lett them
without tOleraDle chbuiuate. ... ...H#
The moment General Mcclellan suhordi.
mated his military conduct to his political
aspirations he was doomed. A more
tragical campaign than bis upon the Pc.
uinsola, history does not record. Not
three volumes of thousand pages each
can explain away the prolonged horrors OF
tue Chickabominy swamps. "Here's the
smell of the blood still: all the purfumes
Of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand"
1t was the penalty OF not comprehending
war He thought be could fight without
hurting the enemy much; for it would not
do to- yexasperate ones natural political
allies He would try fighting with one
hand aud waving the olive branch with the
other. He was well meaning Captain
of Engineers, of no remarkable military
capacity, utterly spoiled by the touch OF
political intriguers who hoped to make him
their tool fq l.t-g .+,.-. rlr-r<-.
Does any body suppose the same game
can be played with General Grant? Gen.
Grant Is soldier who does not believe in
olive branches but in unconditional surren-
der. He is citizen who compreheDds the
scope of the war. and knows aud frankly
says that liberty, Union aud peace. are
benceforward insepsrable. His politics are
the overthrow Of the rebel army In the
field, and the destruction Of the cause that
seuds il there He supports the government
aud its policy. Would he have written
letter to help the election Of Judge Wood,
ward? Would rebel mob in New York
ever couple his name with that Of JEFF. Da'
Wis? Would the frissds of VsllaDgdiham
and Of peace by Submission to the rebels,
ever count upon him or Horatio Seymour
TOR their csndidstef The herevolutinary To.
ries in Connecticut would as soon have
nominated Israel Putnam for Governor Is
! the Coppsrheads Of 10 dsy would Wish