The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1864-02-04
LNCCLELLAN.S PLAT
FORM
President Lincoln Military
ard Political Policy Discussed.

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and Political Policy Discussed.
The following letter-from Gen. McClel-
Ian to President Lincoln will appear in the
Generals Report, recently laid before con-
gress and now in the hands of the printer:
| HEADERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
| CAMpNEAE HARRISON LANDING Va.
Monday. July I, 1862. J
Mr.. PRESIDENT: You have been fully
informed that the rebel army is in our
front, with the purpose of overwhelming Us
by attacking our position or reducing us by
blocking our river communications. can
not but regard our condition as critical,
and earnestly desire, in view of possible
contingencies, to lay before your Excellen-
cy, for your private consideration, my gen
cral views concerning the existing state of
the rebellion although they do not strictly
relate to tie situation Of this army. or
strictly come within the scope of my Off
cial duties These views amount to con-
victions, and are deeply impressed upon
my mind and heart
Our cause must never be abandoned it
| is the cause of free institutions and self
government The Constitution aud Union
must be preserved whatever may be the
cost in time. treasure and blood. If secc :
sion is successful other dissolutions are
clearly to be seen in the future Let nei-
ther military disaster, political faction or
foreign war shake your settled purpose to
enforce the equal operation Of the laws of
the United States upon the people of every
State.
| The time has come when the Govern
mcnt must determine upon acl,i il ald mill
tary policy covering the whole ground f
our national trouble. The responsibility of
determining declaring and supporting such
civil and military policy, and of directing
the whole course Of national affairs in re-
gard 10 the rebellion, must now be as
sumed and exercised by YOU, or our cause
will he lost. The Constitution gives you
power sufficient even for the present terri
bic cxigcncy. This rebellion has assun
the character Of a war: us such il should
be regarded. and it should be conducted
upon the high st principles known 10
Carstian civilization.
1t should not be war 10 king to the sui
jugation of the people in any State in any
event. 1t should not be at all war upon
population, but against armed forces ard
political organizations.
Neither confsc;,tion of property, politi-
cal executions Of persons, territorial or
ganizatlons OF States, or forc!ble abolition
Of slavery should be contemplated for mo-
. ment.
In prosecuting the war all private prop
erty and unarmed persons should be strict
ly protected, subject only to the necessi-
ties of military operations. All private
property taken for military use should be
paid or receipted for; piilagc and waste
should be treated as high crimes, ali un-
necessary trespass sternly prohibited, and
offensive dcmeanor by the military toward
citizens prompily rebuked.
Military arrests should not be tolerated
except in places where active hostiities ex
,st, aud oaths not required by cnactments
constitutionally made should be neither
demanded nor received
d Military governments should be confin
ed to the preservation of public order ant
II the protection of political rights
Military power should not be allowed t,
interfere with the relations of servtude
either by supporting or impairing the au
. thor;ty OF the master, except for repressint
v disorder, as in other cases.
Slaves, contraband under the act of Con
gress, seeking military protection, SHOULD
receive it, The right of the Governmen
to appropriate permanently to its own ser
= vice claims to slave labor should be asser
ted, and the right of the owner to compen
sation therefor shnuld he recognized -