Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-03-23
Gen. Mcclellan on the Conduct Of
the War; b3ssDg.lb !
His Letter to President Lin
A coin. ~" i"i3ii

HEADQR's ARMY OF THE PoToMAc, N
CAMP NEAR HARRIsoN's LANDING, VA.,}
mQa e sl1 TORS Monday, July 2, 1852. y
Mr.. PREsIpENT:--Y You have been fully in
formed that the rebel army Is in our front,
with the purpose Of overwhelming us by
attacking our positions or reducing us by
blockading our river communications. 1
cannotbut regard our position as critical,
and / earnestly desire, in view of possible
contingencies, to lay before your Excellen-
cy, for your private consideration, my gem
eral views concerning the existing state of
the rebellion, although they do not strictly
relate to the situation of the army, or strict
ly come within the scope Of my official du-
ties. These views amount to convictions,
and are deeply impressed upon my mind
and heart. Our cause must never be aban-
d0ned-it Is the cause Of free institutions
and selfsgovernment. The Constitution
and Union must be preserved, whatever
may be the cost in time, treasure and blood.
If secession is successful, other dissolutions
are clearly to be seen In the future. Let
neither military disaster, political faction
nor foreign war shake our settled purpose
to enforce the equal operation of the laws
of the United States upon the people Of ev-
cry State. The time has come when the
Government must determine upon civil
and military policy covering the whole
ground of our national trouble. The re-
sponsibility of determining, declaring and
supporting each civil and military policy
and of directing the whole course of nation
al affairs in regard to the rebellion must
now be assumed and exercised by you, or
our cause will be lost. The Constitution
gives you power sufficient even for the
present terrible eXigency. This rebellion
has assumed the character of war; as such
1t should be regarded, and it should be con-
Quoted upon the highest principles known
to Christian civilization. 1t 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 force and political organiza-
tion. Neither contiscation of property,
political executions of persons, territorial
organizations of States, nor forcible aboli-
tion of slavery should be contemplated for
a moment. In prosecuting the war, all pri-
yate property and unarmed persons should
be strictly protected, subject to the necessi-
ty 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 unnec-
essary trespass sternly prohibited, and Of
fensive demeanor by the military toward
citizens promptly rebuked. Military ar
rests should not be tolerated except in
places where active hostilities exist, and
oaths not required by enactments constitu-
tionally made, should be neither demanded
nor received. Military government should
be confined to the preservation of public
order and the protection of political rights.
Military power should not be allowed toin-
terfere with the relations of servitude,
either by supporting. or impairing the au-
thority of the master, except for repressing
disorder, as In other cases. Slaves CONTRA
band under the act of Congress, seeking
military protection, should receive it. The
right of the Government to appropriate
permanently to its own service claims of
slave-labor should be asserted, and theright
of the owner to compensation therefor
should be recognized. Tlis principle might
be extended upon grounds of military ne
cessity and security to all the slaves within
a particular State, thus working manumis-
sion In such State; and in Missouri, perhaps
in Western Virginia, also, and possiblyeven
in Maryland, the expediency of such
measure is only question of time.
A system of policy thus constitutional
and conservative, and 'pervaded by the in
fiuences 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 it
self to the favor of the Almighty. Unless
the principles governing the future conduct
of our struggles shall be made known and
approved, the EFFORT to obtain requisite
forces will be almost hopeless. A declara-
ton Of radical views, especially upon slave
~, will rapidly disiite1rate our present ar
mics. The policy Of the Government must
be suppOrted by concentrations of military