Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1864-06-08

Who First Urged a Draft.

~NS~ ~ - @~A0AS-
The history OF the administration of
President Lincoln, by H. j. Raymond,
just published in New York, contains a
letter, which We commend to the admirers
of Gen. Mcclellan, who have so violently
resisted the draft to fill the armies 1t
was written to the President of the United
States about a month after the battle of
Bull Run, and at time when citizens
were rushing to arms all over the country,
and when volunteers were pouring into
Washington from every State. Here is
the letter:
WASHINGTON, Aug 20, 1861.
SIR: have j1st received the enclosed
dispatch in cypher. Col Marcy knows
what he says, and is of the coolest judg-
ment. [ Recommend that the Secreta-v Of
War ascertain at once by telegram how the
enrolment proceeds in New York and else
where, and that, if it is not proceeding
with great rapiditv, drafts be made at
once. We must have men without delay.
Respectfully your ob't. servant,
G. B. MCCLELLAN, Maj Gen u s. A.
The following is the dispatch of Col.
Marcy alluded to:
DISPATCH OF COL R. B. MARCY TO GEN.
MCCLELLAN.
New YORK, Aug. 20, 1861.
L urge upon you to make a poSitiye
and unc0adittonai demand for an immedi-
ate draft Of the additional troops you re-
quire. Men will not volunteer now, and
drafting is the only successful plan The
people aoW apptaud such course, rely up
on it. | will be in Washington to morrow.
r. b. MARCY.
The ftllowing hitherto unpublished let,
ter of Mr.. Lincoln to Gen. Mcclellan, is
also of interest:
FORTRESS MONROE, May 8, 1862.
My DEAR SIR Il have Just assisted
the Secretary Of War in forming the part
of a dispatch to you, relating to army
corps, which dispatch, of course will have
reached you long before this will | wish
to say few words to you privately on this
subject [ ordered the corps organization
not only on the unanimous opinion of the
twelve generals Of divisions, but also on
the unanimous opinion of every military
man | could get an opinion from, and ev-
cry modern military book, yourself only
excepted. OF course, | did not on my
own Judgment pretend to understand the
subject. | now think it indispensable for
you to know how your struggle against it
is received in quarters which we cannot
entirely disregard. 1t is looked upon as
merely an effort to pamper one or two pets
and to persecute and degrade their sup
posed rivals. | have had no word from
Sumner, Heintzeman or Keyes. The
commanders of these corps are, of course,
the three highest officers with you, but |
am constantly told that you have no con-
suItatlon or communication with them; that
you consult aud communicate with nobody
bnt Fitz John Porter and perhaps Gen.
Franklin. | do not say these complaints
are true or just; but at all events it is prop
er you should know of their existence. Do
the commanders of the corps disobey your
orders in anything
When you relieved Cen Hamilton of
his command the other day, you thereby
lost the confidence of at least one of your
best friends in the Senate And here let
me say, not as applicable to you personally,
that Senator'S and Representatives speak of
me in their places as they please without
question; and that officers of the army
must cease addressing insulting letters to
them for taking no greater liberty with
them. But to return, are you strong
enough, even with my help, to set your
foot upon the neck of Sumner, Heintzle-
man, and Keyes, all at once? This is a
practical and very serious question for you
Yours truly, A. LINCOLN.