The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-09-30
Letter from the Hon. Reverdy johnson


The committee of arrangements of the
Mcclellan ratification meeting held in
Washington on Saturday evening, received
letters from number of distinguished
gentlemen, among the number, the Hon.
Reverdy johnson, the Hon. Isaac D. J ones
and the Hon. Thomas f. Bowie, of Mary
land. The following is Mr.. ,Johnson's
letter: r. .., .........
SARATOGA SPRINGS, Sept. IA, 1864.
Gentlemen: Your invitation to the meet
ing to be held in Washington on the 18th
instant, to ratify the nominations of Nc
Clellan and Pendleton, is but just receiv-
ed. 1t will be out of my power to be with
you, my stay here for some days, longer
being unavoidable. Opposed bis 1 was to
the original election of Mr.. Lincoln to the
station he now occupies, from conviction
of his being unequal to its duties, the
manner in which he has met them has
but confirmed me in that opinion. With
more than two millions of soldiers placed
in his hands, an unlimited amount of trea-
sure, his policy and his manner of using
power, instead of 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 outndmber the rebels, has
but served the double purpose of uniting
them against us, and of dividing the pub.
lie opinion of the loyal States. The effect,
of course, is, that Notwithstanding the
gallant deeds of our army and navy, and
the manifest justice of our cause, the
Union is even more effectually broken
now than it was when his administra-
ton commenced. Whatever of honesty
of purpose may belong to him (aud l am
willing to admit that he has had IT'D his
vacillation - his policy, now conservative,
now radical--his selection of military Off
GERS grossly ncompetent-his treatment
of those who were evidently competent
his yielding in this to what be has himself
been ofleu heard to say, as au. excuse,
was "outside pressure''--his having not
punished, but, as far as the public
know, unrebuked the vandal excuses
Of military officers of his special So
lection, shocking the sentiment of the
world, and disgtacing US in the view of
Christendom, by the burning of private
dwellings, and depriving them Gotten ex-
clusively female occupants) of home and
means of livelihood-all demonstrate that
he is grossly incompetent to govern the
country in this crisis of its fate.r How
can an honorable man believe that one who
has SO signally failed for almost four en-
tire years, Gun be successful if another
four years is granted him /? No one in
Congress-certainly not twenty members
believe him equal, or 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
while-we are on journey, and safety de-
ponds on our making our destination at
the earli st moment, we should cast
aside spawned and thin horse, and Sc
cure a sound and, active one. - ~.
.s- In General Mcclellan we. are fur
nshcd--in the history OF his life, in the
purity of his character, hisreinement, his
'attainments, civil and military, and above
all, in his perfect lnyalty-erery assurance
that under his executive guidance, the war,
now SO exhaustive of treasure aud blood,
will be soon brought to u triumphant ter
animation, and that Union, which, Sat all
hazards" he will never agree to surrender,
will be restored. ..t.,.... ID, ~, ~
" With regard, your obedient servant,
g. .... REvERDY JOHNSON.
4 L.