The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-10-05
Hon. Reverdy Johnson for
Mcclellan.

/
day by the publication of the following
letter from Senator Reverdy johnson, Of
Maryland, who was elected by his State
Legislature opposed to the Democratic
party, and who in the Senate acted not
unfrequently with the Republican party
of that body. Let him speak for himself
as the oldest Senator in Congress:
SARATOGA SPRINGS, Sept. IA.
| GENTLEMEN Your invitation to the
meeting to be held in Washington on the
18th inst, to ratify the nomination of
Mcclellan and Pendleten is but just re-
ceived
1t will be out of my power to be with
you, my stay here for some days longer
being unavoidable. Opposed as I was to
the original election of Mr.. Lincoln to
the station he now occupies, frem con-
viction of his being unequal to its duties,
tho manner in which he has met them,
has but confirmed me in that opinion
With more than two milliens of soldier,
placed in his hands, and an unlimited
amount Of treasure, his policy and his
power, instead sf putting the rebellion
down and bringing to our ranks the thou
sands of Union men who were then in
each of the seeded States, and who, in
some, are believed to out number the reb-
els, have but served the double purpose
of uniting them against US and of divid-
ing the public opinion of the loyal States.
The effect is that notwithstanding the
gallant deeds of our army and navy, and
the manifest justice Of eur cause, the
Union is even more effectually broken
now than it was when his administration
commenced. Whatever of honesty of par
pose may belong to him, and 1 am willing
to admit that he has had it, his vacilla
ton, his policy, now conservative, now
radical, his selection of military officers
grossly incompetent, his treatment of
those who were evidently competent, his
yielding in this to what he has himself
been often heard to say as an excuse, was
'outside pressure" his having not only
not punished, but so far as the public
know, unrebuked the vandal excesses of
military officers of his special selection,
US in the view of Christendom
by the burning of private dwellings; and
depriving their often exclusively female
occupants of home and means of liveli-
hood-all demonstrate that heis grossly
incompetent to govern the country in this
crisis of its fate
How can an honorable man believe that
enc who has so signally failed for almost
four entire years, can be successful if an
other four years be granted him? No
one in Congress, certainly. Not TWEEN
ty members believe him equal er at all
equal to the mighty task. He has been
tried and found wanting. Let US have
change; none, if loyal, can be for the
worse. 1t is not that we wish, to use his
own classic figure, to swap horses in the
midst of stream, but that when we are
on journey, and safely depends on max
ing our destination at the earliest moment,
we should cast aside spawned horse,
and secure a sound and active one.
In Gen. Mcclellan we are furnished
in the history of his life, in the purity of
his character, his refinement, his attain
ments, civil and military, and abeve all in
his perfect loyalty-every assurance that,
under his executive guidance, the war,
now so exhaustive of treasure and blood,
will be soon brought to triumphant ter
mination, and this union which cat all
hazards" he will never agree to surrender,
will be restored.
With regard,
Your obedient servant,
REVERDY JOHNSON.