The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-09-09
Sentiments of Gen. Mcclellan
His Ideas of War for the Union,

/ al MCCLELLAN addressed 10 the President from
Harrison's Landing. in 1862. Had his advice
been heed led, and the war been conducted sole
ly for the restoration of the Union, instead of
the enforcement of abolition ideas, hundreds
of thousands of lives would have been spared,
and the true object of the war attained. The
letter is taken from Gen. MCCLELLAN's report.
He introduces it as follows:
| While general in-chief, and directing the Cd
eratiOns of all our armies in the field, had
become deeply impressedwith the importance
| of adopting and carrying out certain views re-
| garding the conduct of the war, which, in nv
judgment, were essential to its objects and its
| success. During an active campaign of three
months in the enemy's country, these were so
| fully confirmed that conceived it duty, in
| the political position we then occupied, not to
withhold q candid expression of the more i'm
| portant OF these views from the commander-in-
| chief whom the constitution places at the
head of the armies and navies as we'll as of the
government of the nation. The following is
copy OF my letter to Mr.. Lincoln:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoroMAC.)
Camp near Harrison's Landing Va.
July Z, 1862
Nh PRESIDENT You have been fully in
formed that the rebel army is in our front
| with the purpose of overwhelming us by at
lacking our positions, or reducing US by block
ing our river communications. | cannot but
regard our condition as critical, and earnestly
desire, in view of possible contingencies to Law
before your excellency, for your private con-
sideration, my general views concerning the
existing state of the rebellion, although they
do not strictly relate to the situation of this ar
my, or strictly come within the scope of nv
official duties. These views amount to con-
victions, and are deeply impressed upon my
mind and heart. Our cause must never be
oh Sc fIoo p rco1
and self government. The Constitution and
the Union must lie preserved. whatever may be
the cost in time, treasure and blood. If seces-
sion is successful, other dissolutons are clearly
to be seen in the future. Let neither military
disaster. political faction. nor foreign war
shake your settled purpose to enforce the equal
operation of the laws of the United States up
on the people of every State.
1.-THE time has come when the government
must determine upon a civil and military pol
icy, covering the whole ground of our ma.
tional trouble. The responsibility of determin-
ing. declaring and supporting such civil and
military policy, and of directing the whole
course of national affairs in regard to the re.
bellOn must now be assumed and exercised by
you, or our cause will be lost. The Constitu-
ton gives you power sufficient even for the
present terrible exigency.
..This rebellion has assumed the character of
war; as such it should he regarded: and it
ouOuAU UC COuuuCtCu upon inc QlGQcSC Drlncl-
pies known to Christian civilization. It should
not be war looking to the subjugation of the
people Of any State in any event. 1t should
| not be at all war upon population, but against
| armed forces and political organizations.
Neither confiscation Of property, political exc
culions OF persons, territorial organization of
States or forcibe abolition of slavery should be
| contemplated fora moment. In prosecuting the
| war, all private property and unarmed persons
should be strictly pro ected, subject only to the
necessity OF military operations All private
| property taken for military use should be paid
| or receipted for: pillage and waste should be
treated as high crimes all unnecessary tres
pass sternly prohibited, and offensive demeanor
by the military towards citizens promptly re-
buked. Military arrests shonld not be toler-
ated, except in places where active hostilities
exist and oaths not required by enactments
| constitut!onally made, should be neither de-
manded nor received. Military government
shOnld be confined to the preservation of public
order and the protection of political rights.
Military power should not be allowed to inter-
fere with the relations of servitude either
by supporting or impairing the authority of the
master, except for REFRESHING disorder, as in
| other cases. Slaves cOntraband under the act
OF Congress, seeking military protection should
receive it. The right of the government to ap-
propriate permanently to its own service,
claims to slave labor, should be asserted, and
|
for should be recognized.
This principle might be extended. upon
grounds of military necessity and security. to
all the slaves within particular State. thus
working manumissiOn in such State: and in
Missouri, perhaps in Western Virginia also,
and possibly even in Maryland, the expedien.
cy of such measure is only question of time.
"a system of policy thus constitutional and
conservative, and pervaded by the influences
of christianity and freedom would receive the
support of almost all truly loyal men, would
deeply impress the rebel masses and all foreign
nations, and it might be humbly hoped that
it would commend itself to the favor of the
Almighty s
"Unless the principles governing the future
conduct of our struggle shall be made known
and approved, the effort to obtain requisite
forces will be almost hopeless. A declaration
of radical views, especially upon slavery, will
rapidly disintegrate our present armies.
- The policy of the government must be
supported by concentrations ofmilitary power.
The national forces should not be dispersed in
expeditions, posts of occupation, and numer-
GUS armies, hpt should be mainly collected into
masses. and brought to bear npon the armies
ofthe confederate states. Those armies thor
oughly defeated, the political structure which
they support would soon cease to exist.
I'm carrying out any system of policy which
you may form, you viii require commander
1 ln-cnl0f OF tho army: one who Possesses your