The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-10-21
Gen. Mcclellan ON the Use of Negroes
i,.,.sa7. y,,, lin utheo War. sY,g 3.is, s3f

u shE -
=, It is a favorite charge with. the AZ advo-
Gates of the election Of LINCOLN thae' III
the event of the election of Gen. McSLEt.
Lam, the negroes now in our armies '' would
be returned to their masters, ana tnus give
fresh strength to the rebellion Lest any
one should be misled by these assertions,
we call attention to the fact that Gen.
MCCLELLAN has put himself squarely on
the record on this subject. We quote
from the Harrison's Landing letter to
President LINCOLN: '''.a'N 90 '''7si"''.,E
The rebellion has assumed the character of
war: as such it should be regarded !; and it
should be conducted upon the highest princi-
piles known to Christian civilization It should
not be o war looking to the subjugation of the
people of any State in any event. 1t should
not be at all a war upon population, but against
armed forces and political organizations Mel
ther confiscation of property, political execu.
ton of persons, territorial organizations OF
states, nor forcible abolition of slavery should
be contemplated for o moment. In prosecut-
ing the war, all private property and unarmed
persons should be strictly protected, 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 trespass sternly prohibited, and
offensive demeanor by the military toward cit
liens promptly rebuked. Military arrest should
not be tolerated, except in places where active
hostilities exist, and oaths not required by en-
: actments constitutionally made should be nei-
ther demanded nor received. Military govern.
ment should be confined to the preservation OF
<rIa AND he
rights. Military power should, not be allowed
to interfere with the relations OF servitude,
either by supporting or impairing the author
ity of the master, except for suppressing dis
order, las in other cases. Slaves contraband
under the act of Congress, seeking military
protection, should receive it. The right of the
government to appropriate permanently to lts
own service claims to slave labor should be as.
serted, and the right Of the owner to cempen.
sation therefor should be recognized.
The paragraph embodies, better than
anything ever written, the policy upon
which the Democracy would conduct the
war, should the government be committed
to their charge. stThis should not be q
war looking to the subjugation of the peo-
pie of any State in any event. It should
not be at all s'war upon populations, but
against armed forces and political organi,
cations, &c. Forcible abolition
of slavery should not be contemplated fol
a moment. SO = Oaths not required
by enactments constitutionally made shoult
be neither demanded or received.
The right of the government to appropri
ate permanently to its own service claims
for slave labor should be asserted" These
propositions, in connection with the one
that "the Union should be the one condi.
ton of Peace" comprise policy that viii
give this suffering country Union and
Peace. ....... ........ ("