Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-10-20
II,o 1bsurdltIes of the OPPOSITION.

a AhRUEaLlNAGA
There is nothing upon which Democrats
delight to harp so much as what they call
the inconsistencies of Abraham Lincoln.
They assert that he has changed the pur-
poses of the war, and that his ineonsls'
tencies have been SO many that Democrats
who supported him in the beginning can
no longer do so. A little reflection on
NPClellan's records which he delights to
have kept in view, shows that he Is the
man that has proven false to all his former
professions.
Mr.. Lincoln is opposed by them because
be enforees a draft. They bitterly de-
nounce this method of raising troops. But
they forget that Mcclellan, now the bosom
friend of Yallandighan, recommended on
the goth August 1861, just what they con
denim. They also lament about the habeaS
corpus and arbitrary arrests. But they
forget that Mcclellan arrested the Mary
land Legislature by force. Thus he proved
that such arrests are sometimes necessary
and iustifable. In his Harrison Landing
letter he recommended the adoption of the
Emancipation policy, which is now 50 much
condemned
He wrote:
"Slaves contraband under the act OF
| Congress seeking military protection
should receive it. The right Of the Gov
ernmsnt to appropriate permanently to Its
| own service claims of slave labor should be
asserted, and the right of the owner to com
pepsation therefor should be recognized.
This principle might be extended, upon
grounds of military necessity and security,
70 all the slaves soithin particular State,
| thus qDorkiJlo Dlanl.missioa n saeh Stdtsj )
anu in Missouri, perhaps in Western Nir-
ginia, also, and possibly even in Maryland,
the expedieney of such measure IS only
question of time"
This goes further than Mr.. Lincoln pro-
posed to 90. he thus recommends the
appropriation, not temporary but perma-
nent of all slaves, whether in rebelious or
Iovsl States. Now Mr. Lincoln has done
this very thing and yet Mcclellan is now
the Candidate of the party who oppose Mr..
Lincoln for doing what he suggested ought
to be done.
1t is charged that Mr. Lincoln has be-
come despot and assumed too much pow
er in carrying on the war; but Mcclellan
did more. He said:
"Tbe time has come when the Govern
ment must determine upon civil ano
military policy covering the whole grounc
of our national trouble. The TesPonslbitltJ
of determining, declaring and supporting
such civil and military policy, and OF dl
recting the whole course of the natlona
affairs in regard to the rebellion, must 7loni
be assumed and exercised by you, or OuI
cause will be lost. The constitution give
YOU power sufficient even for the presen
terrible emergency"
But to-day he opposes just what he re
commended then. AS to the terms Oh
which peace can he had, he then agree
with Mr.. Lincoln that the military powe
of the rebellion must be destroyed befor'
we can make peace. he said;
Il believe that necessary PTeLiniaar.
to the re-establishment of the Union ls tn
entire defeat or UirtlIaL destruction Of the or
ganized military poa0sr Of the Contederates
and that such aresult should be accompan
led and followed by conciliatory mes
snres."
Now, in all those things Mcclellan is in
consistent, while Mr.. Lincoln has main
tanned his policy throughout. So muc
for the absurdities of the opposition.