The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1864-08-26

SAlNl fAUL. FRlD
the first stages of the rebellion, be was re-
called to the army, and was appointed to
organize and lead the troops raised in
Ohio. From this service he was called to
Washington, and made general-in-chief.
After the first disastrous battle of Bull
Run, he organized and disciplined the
Army of the Potomac, and led that army
to the Peninsula. COheers.] Before he
made this important movement, his plan
of campaign-the first great campaign
of the war-was thoroughly considered
and agreed upon, and he entered upon the
execution of it with an undoubting con-
fidence of success. No sooner had he be-
gan to put this plan in operation than it
was interfered with at Washington the
troops that were to be sent were withheld.
Tories of "that's so," and groans for
Abraham Lincoln They were called for
from time to time, repeatedly and earn
estly, but they did not come, and there
fore Richmond was not taken, as it might
have been taken more than two years ago,
if the government had kept plighted faith
with Gen. Mcclellan. IA voice, eyes,
he'd have done it. Bully for him. u Having
investigated the subject with all the can
dor and impartiality, l was able, it is my
firm conviction that the reason for failure
was a settled, though concealed purpose
on the part Of the Administration, that
Gen. Mcclellan should not have the honor
and consequent influence of taking the
rebel capital. [Groans for Lincoln, and
cries of "He kept him from it; he's to
blame.1
Gen. Mcclellan, contrary to his own
powerful remonstrance, was ordered to re-
tire from the peninsula. He did retire,
and the army, not then in bis command,
united with the army of Gen. Pope. This
general was subjected to a disastrous de-
feat in the second battle of Bull Run.
After this defeat-hardly less demoraliz-
ing to our troops than the first battle of
Bull Run-Gen. Mcclellan collected the
scattered and disheartened soldiers, in
spired them with courage; again intro
duced discipline, and led bis army to vic
tory at Antietam. CThunders of applause,
in which few wounded veterans took q
prominent part. After this celebrated
victory, and while preparing the army, ac-
cording to his best judgment, for future
successes, he was relieved of all command
andybanished from the army, and is yet in
retirement. [Groans for the Administra-
ton, and cries of "He was too honest for
them. y He was succeeded by Gen. Burn
side, who fought without success the bat
tie of Fredericksburg, when he was re-
lieved of command. He was succeeded
by Gen. Hooker, who fought and was
whipped in the battle of Charlottesville.
la voice, 'That was a military necessity"
Laughter. He was relieved, and sue
ceeded by General Meade who repelled
the invading army at Gettysburg, and
saved Washington. Meade has been sue
ceeded by Lieut.. General Grant, who
has lost more than sixty thousand men
and the republic will be happy to learn
that the Army of the Potomac is any bet
ter off to-day than it was under Gen. Nc
Clellan when he was ordered to evacuate
the Peninsula. [Oheers, great excite
ment, groans for Grant and Lincoln-re-
newed cries "Grant is butcher."] And
now, my fellow-citizens, remember the
caution that has been given me by the
Herald. Laughter blame. not Grant,
but blame thos who have ordered
Grant. [Groans for Lincoln And shall
we elect another man in the place of Lin
coin? lCries of eyes; we have had
enough of him."1 l have very little to
say of his administration. IA voice, "The
less the better; laughter. But it has
been tried and found wanting. 1t has sig
nally failed. 1t has failed not for want of
money to supply the army, not for want of
flee white men, who have volunteered to
maintain the cause of their country, but
it has failed from inherent weakness in the
head. Tories of "From Niger on the
brain."1 The wisdom 10 guide and the
hand to direct the power ready and willing
to support the government are all that
have been wanting, and these never can
be supplied by the present admins
tration. CCries of "Never."J
Now, fellOw-citizens, contemplate with
what feelings you may the losses in life
and limb which the Army of the Potomac
has sustained since General Mcclellan was
separated from that army, and ask your
selves were these losses unavoidable
Would they have occurred had Gen. Nc
Clellan been continued in command?
LOries of No.'] Be assured, fellow-cit-
izens, General Mcclellan was removed for
political, not military, reasons. He is now
kept from serving his country, which he
could serve more successfully than any
living man, for political reasons exceed
ingly dishonorable and disgraceful to the
administration. [Cries of "Shame.
Ia voice-"We'llput him in, in spite of
them."1
He was separated from the army which
he reorganized and disciplined, and proved
in many lard fought battle, and he
commanded the confidence and won the
regards Of that whole army, the most in
telligent body of citizen soldiers ever mus
tered in the ranks of military organiza-
ton. They are the witness, the eye-wit-
nesses of bis operations through successive