, 1864-08-31
lie Advocates Emancipation as a
k'ilitary Necessity and as *c-'
ing Constitutional and
-C0QssryaliTt.
AND CoKflscATiGA AS A
MILITARY NECESSITY.
Ana a Concentration OF Military
Power TO Put flown the
Kebeuion. !.
Tlep the Rebel Aru les are Thoroughly De-
(eatel, he Says tks rebellion Will
Cease to Exist.
Hesays that Slaves Seeking Military
, .Ptutec1io1l Should Receive it.
HEApqu1RrERs AnAY OF Tnk PoToAAc,
CANT aKAR HARR1svas LANDING, VS.

HEADQUARTERS AHNY OF the POTOMAC,
CANT az.a h4Hh1s's:s lAjPisa; Jo1s 7. iss$ xs {
Mr.. PREsIpEs7,- have been fully In:
forded th.t tne rebel army ia in our 'front.',
with the purpose Of over -helmtng us b5 at
tatkirg our position or reducing Us by
blocking our river Communications; cau-
not but regard our position "a crtttcd, aod
Earnestly ocsire, In view OF possible con
ttDgencteF, to lay before your Excellsncg fdr
your private consideration, my general Views
cobcrrulpg tie existing state Of the rebel
lion, although they do not strictly relate
to the eituatinn OF thia army, Or STRICTLY
come within scope of my nthcil duties.
TEeBe views amount to convictions, and are
deeply impresaed upon my miad and heart
Our cause muBt never be abandoned; 1t is
The cause Of free Institutions and BelfgoV-
ernmeut. Hhe Consultation an'i tue Union
must be preserved, whatever may be the cost
in time, treasure or blood. If secession is
SUCCESSFUL, othr1 dtesolutio1s ate c1.1tly to
be seen in the future. Let pettEer military
disaster, political faction, or foreign war
sh:ke yuur settled purpose to enforce the
equal operation Of the lass Of tue United
States upon the peorle of every St.tc-
1hs time has core 1ch<n the Hoserxnaent must
dster1ni.e upon eiui! and nsi::tarn policy eore-
f-g the whole ground cf oar ..atiouo. ir,ub!,.
The RESP ielbilitJ Of le.ermtntGg declaring
and supp~ulng such civil AMI military poll:
CT, and # directing the raAt cou &c Of natio adj
ecoirs in regard to The -e6A1ion mus: n 70 dt as
su"sd end s7e'e'sed ~ gea, or our cause will
be lost. The Cousffafioa gire* yo's pno:r
sufficient eVen1or the presea. tcTriole e1i-
geEcy.
This rebellion has assumed the character
Of war So such 1t should be regarded; and
it should be conducted upon thn highest
tion. 1t should not be n wAr looking
to the aubJugntion Of the Peopls g
any State in ary event. it should
not be ut all WAr upon population, but
against armed forces aud political orsaolza-
tlnnt. N. ither confisea ston of property, po-
litical executions Of PERSONS, ttr.itoril or
ganszation Of States, OF folcib1e abolition Of
slaver.s should be CONT plated for mo-
meDt. In prosecuting the war, all priv4to
property snd unArmed persons should bo
strictly protected. subject Only to Ms z.eeesaty
cfmilfn'y = operations. All private property
taken tor military use should TIC paid Or re-
ct'rted Tor; pil'uge andd waste shoultbe
tzeattd US high crimes; ail unuscessury tres
pats ste1n]y prohibited, aud offensive
demeauor oy this military touerd citizens
promptly rconkcd.. Military arrests ehould
net be tolerated, except In plRces where &C.
ave tortillttes exist, aud oaths not required
By ersc'mtnfs constttutionauy madH, SHOULD
he Dcither demands i nor received. Military
government shuuld b. coodhed TO the prs
Of pcltlcbl fi-bts. Military power SHOULD
LOT be allowed to interfere ~itu the
relations OF eersitude, :. either By sup.
porting or impairing the auth 'rlty If
maEttT, except for suppreseiug disorder,
as in othtr csses. Slaves coateanaud
uratr the act Of Congress. ssl:,ey military
protection shhuld f<teire it. Tie right Of tic
own service, claims to slave lultor, should bs
os,t7sed, atI the right Of the owner to com
peEsatton tuerrfor SHOULD bu recognized!
This pstne.ps m t3hs b. eert.adcd npoa grounds
Of military .eses,ity and security, 70 ALL THE
SLAVES WITHIN PARTICULAR STATE, THUS
WORKING MAEUM1ssIoN IN sHeh STATE; and IN
Missouri, perhaps In Western Virginia also,
and possibly even In Msr3land, the expe-
df+Icy Of such measure IL only question
Of time.
As,stem Of policy thus constitutional and
conxe7ta{ire ana ptrvaded BY tie indueace of
Chri.tsd"ttu and 151erdcm would receive tue
support ot.almoat ul truly loyal u<t, would
dee plS impress the rebel masses and nu for
eign nattobs, and 1t might bs Duinbly hoped
sthat It would CONNIE nd itself to the fuTor Of
tho Almighty.
Un'ess The principles governing the future
coDduct of our struggle shall be made
buo~n and approv. d, the effort to obtain
requisite forces will be truftlcss. A declara-
tion Of radical yieHs, especially upon slay~
ery,. will 1spioly disintegrate our present
arm lee.
The policy Of the government must be sup.
ported py concentrations OF military uoner.
The national forces Bhould not ba dispersed
in expeditions. posts Of occupation, and nu.
meruus armies, but should be mainly c4zecsetf
info ,ndes, 01.d brought to bear apoa tac armies
'ty the ConJtde' ate States. Those arnies thor,
opyt}y dc}tdttd, the political structure whicd
thfy surp.rf t7pu|d scou ez1se - eziAt
III carry Ing out any system Of polic7 which
sou u4sy form, you will require To .'nas4ler-
IL ehier (Gfant> Of the army; one who pos
te,sts ye5, confluence, {Grant) Hndcr:taads y,nr
t'ietst, (Gsant) acd who IS compliant to execute
your oruers (Gen. Grant, By. directing the
m1litary forces OF the nation to thu accom-
plishmtnt Of the objects By you proposed.
DO not ask that place for mssclf 1 an
willitg to serve yon ID such positi3n as sou
M, assign me, and Will do so as tialthfnlly
ne ever subordinate served superior.
MY be on the brink OF eternity, and os
hope fer forgiveness from my Makcr, I /, svo
written this letter with sincerity towards
you AID from love of uly couatrY.
V+ry respt cifnl,y your obedisnt sarvt,
6. D 5lcCLELLAS, Maj Gen. Co 4.
His Excell.ncy 4 LINCOLN, President.