The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-01-15

lite PLAN and did 80; and surely II his three cam
paigns against Richmond overland have not
modified his views in relation to 1t his intellect
must be fearfuliy and wonderfully made. They
have, at least, answered some Of his questions;
for they have triumphantly shown that the ad-
vance overland inevitably involves q greater
expenditure OF time, Of money and of men than
the other does; they have shown that victory
on the peninsula would be far more valuable
than one by the overland route, inasmuch as
Seven Pines Is only seven miles from tho rebel
capital, while Antietam and Gettysburg are
hundreds Of miles away; they have shown that
a victory on the peninsula IL not less valuable
than the other would be, because the great vic-
tory of Gettysburg had no value at ell except
to save US from invasion, while such victory
within seven miles Of Richmond might have
ended the war. AS for the lines Of communi-
cation that the President proposed to break by
his plan, we have only to say that by the other
plan such line would not have been in exist
ence as the rebel armies would be in another
place; and we may submit to the military
genius of the President that it Is even better
that there should be no line than that we should
be put to the trouble Of breaking one. For tho
answer to Mr.. Liacolns fifth question, let any
one contrast Pope's disastrous retreat upon
Washington, in which our army was broken to
pieces, with that great fighting retreat to Har-
rison's Landing, or with the final orderly with
drawal from the peninsula.
So much for the Presidents military genius.
By this hasty review of General McClellan's
plans we see that our failure to put down the
rebellion cannot be traced to our not having
good advice o to how we could best do it.
But General Mcclellan did not retain his place.
He was put aside, through the clamor Of the
radicals, because 1t was known that his views
President that "neither confscation Of property,
political executions of persons, territorial or
CARNATIONS q States q serclb!e abolition q
slavery should be contemplated for a moment"
These were the cherished measures Of the radi-
cals-the measures by which they expected to
States and 10 crush the Southern people-and
they feared the prominence Of q man who
entertained such views as General Mcclellan
did.
Many circumstances have occurred since
General McClellan's removal which would
favor the view that the war Is prolonged
because Of the imbecility Of the administra-
ton; but others indicate more strongly that the
war is not ended because the admiaistra-
ton does not want to end it; for the
| war seems to have consolidated and formed the
republican party. United for the maintenance
Of the Union, the American people unfortu-
nately appear to be united : as the republican
party. There is no great opposition, because
. party arrayed against that party in whose
hands the government now Is would inevitably
secm to be arrayed against the government. 70
sympathize with rebels; and the American
people are not wVlllng to take such . position.
Deceived by this circumstance into the convic-
ton that the war builds up their party, and
animated also by the hope Of continued
plumber, the active spirits Of the republican
party now employ all their energies to nurse
and continue the war. They will certainly
keep il alive through the present Presidential
term; and il Mr.. Lincoln should be no elected
they will keep it alive for another four years.
There is, therefore, but one plan by which the
country can secure peace, and that Is by the
election Of another mana man who will end
the war-and the best man for that purpose Is
General Grant.