The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1864-01-16

| .u'e oi the position, zen. Mcclellan on TIA
same day addressed to the Presinent the
following letter:
Extract from General Mcclellan. forthcoming
/ Report.
1EADQUARTERS ARMY or THE PoToAAC
| LAMP NEAR dARRiseNs LANDING. Va, :
| Monday, July !, lo62
Mr. President You have been fully in.
/ formed that the rebel army is il our front.
with the purpose of overwhelming us by
! attacking our positions or reducing US by
b!eckadinS oar liver COMMUNICATIONS
canrot bat regard our position as critical,
and l earnestly desire in view OF possible
contingencies, to lay before your Excellen-
cy Tor your private consideration my gene.
raj views concerning the existing state OF
the rebellion, although they do not .trict-
~ relate TO the situation OF the army, or
strictiy come within the scope Of my eff
cial duties. These views amount to con-
VIetIops, and are deeply impressed upon
Ely MIND and heart. Our cause must me- er
be abandoned; it is the caLst Of free IN
stltutlons and self-government The Con
stitutlon and the Mon must be preserved,
whatever may b. the cost in time, treasure
and blood. If secession is successful, other
dlssolutions are clearly 10 be seen in the
future. Let neither military disaster, po-
litical faction l.or foreign war shakes
our ssttlsd purpose 10 enforce the equa.
operation 0! the laws Of the United States
upon The people of every State The time
has come wien the Government n ust de-
termine upon Z civil and military policy
covering the whole ground Of our national
trouble. The responsibility of determin>
ing declaring and supporting such civil and
M IA nf al L. t-l. 10
course 0. national etial-s in regard to the
rebellion, must now be assumed and exer-
ercised by you, or our cause viii be lost
The Constitution gives you power sUtii-!
cnt even for the present terrible exgency.
This rebellion hes asstUed the character
OF war: as such it sheuld be regarded, and
it should be conducted upon Sue highest
principles known to Christian civilization.
1t '.euld not be a war looking 20 .lis sub
iugaticu OF the peop!e!n any event. II shoul
not be at all war upon population, but
against ar,nSd forces and political 6rgani-
zations Neither cshiscatiou Of property
political executions of parson-, territorial
organizations + States, or forcible abolition
of slavery should be contemplated for a
moment. In prosecuting the war all pgi-
vate preperty and unaIm ed persons should
lie strictly protected, subject only to the
necessity Of military operations. All pri-
vate property taken for military use should
be paid or receipted for; eillase and waste
should be treated a. EIga crimes al, un-
necessary ;resPess stern!y prohibited, and
offensive deueaucr ty the military toward
citizens promptly rcbuked Military ar
rests should not be to!srated eXcept in
places where active Lostll.tias exist, and
oath. no, required BY enactment, Cou-ti-
tutionaliy made should he neither demand
ed nor received Military government
should he confined TO the preservation Of
public order and the protection Of po!i.I-
cal nights. Military power should 40; be
allowc q TO interfere with tie relations of
servtuds, either by supporting or inlvair-
ing the authority tf The master, xcept for
rerrcssi-.s disorder, as in other cases.
Slaves contraLand under the sc. Of Con-
greas, seeking military protection, should
receive il. The right OF tn Government.
10 appropriate permanently To- lis own ser
vice claims Of slave Iabag should b3 as
serted and the right of th- owner 10 com
pensatien therefor should he recognised.
This principle might be extended upon
grounds Of military necessity and security
10 all the slaves Within Il particular state,
thus working manuu,issIois in such State !
and in Missouri. perhaps in Western NIr.
cinia, also. and possibly even in Mary land,
the expeciiency of such n measure IS only
q question of time A system Of policy
thus constitutional and conservative, ami
pervaded ly tie influences cf Christianity
and freed l>.A, would receive he support of
almos: al truly loyal men, would deeply
impress the rebel masses and all foreign
nations, and it might bo humb.y hoped
that it would commend itself 10 the favor
of the Almighty. Unless the principles
governing the future conduct Sc our s:rug
gle shall be made known and approved,
the eifor, to obtain requisite forces will be
almost hopeless. \ declaration sf radical
views, especially upon slavery, will rapidly
clsintegrate our present armies. The poll
cy of the Government must be supported
10y concentra ions Of military power. This
| national fsrces should rot be dispersed in
expeditions, posts of occupation and nu-
t merous armies, but should be main
/ " collected into masses and brought tc
! bear upon the armies Of the Confederate
| ) ates These armie. thoroughly defeated
/ the political structure which tAsy support
would soon cease to exist. La carrying ou
any system of policy which you may form
/ you Will require Commander in-ChIef .
| the army one who possesses your conf
dente understands your views, aud who i,
competent to execute your orders 10y dl
rscting the military forces Of the nation t,
the accomplishment Of the objects by yo,
proposed do not ask that place for my
self am willing to serve you in such po
siticn as YOU may assign me, and will d.
50 as faithfully as ever subordinate served
superior ! may be on the brink OF eter
witty, and, as | hope forgiveness from mi
! Maker have written this letter with sin
| cer;ty tow ards a. and from love for m,
country. t. aa-
(Siyneoi) GEORGE T. MCCLELLAN.
Early in August the army was ordered
to Aqua The condition OF affairs a
Washington during the campaign Of Pope
| is graphically described Sep ., the Pre-
sident directed Gen. Mcclellan to tax,
command of his own and Gen. Pope:
armies, and find the enemy. On the l'tl
Of September Antietam was fought, Souti
Mountain and Cramptcns Gap havir:
been already won by u%. Not single su'
or color was lost by Us in these bittles, aDo
our total loss in men at Antietam is-ta;ee
bv Gen McClellanat l2,fG9. The advance
! into Virginia after Aati~tam Il reiafrh
| with an account of the causes ny "nich
that advance. was delayed. On the niGh'
OF Nov. I. Gen. Mcclellan was. relieved
and he command transferred to General
Burnside
! A SERVANT GIRLS PREaoG ~ es.-' Now
! Miss Bradford, always likes 10 hove I;
good old fashioned talk with the lady
lives with before begins. I'm awful tem
pered. but I'm dreadful forsivin. Have
YOU Fl ecke flour, Ecebr range, Lo' and
cold water, stationary tubs, oil cloth on
the floor dumb waitor? Then follows
her self planned programe for the week
Monday | washes, Ise to be let alone
that day Tuesday irons Nobody's to
come near me that day. Wednesday
I L.tos. rsa To ha Let alone that daY. ThuFs,