The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-12
HOW THE WAR OUGHT 70 HAVE
!, /. BEEN CONDUCTED.
Political and Military Policy Of
q. CIV the Democratic PARTY.

Political and Military Policy Of
q, q. the Democratic Party.
McClellan's Political Plans for Re-
@ storing the Union.
From the New York Void. c.s. ~ ,
It has seemed to us that succinct and
satisfactory statement of the Democratic
policy could be more easily selected from
I the writings Of General MoCLR1LAN than
from any other source not requiring
abridgment to bring it within 8 moderate
compass, or a balancing of different au-
thorities to render it acceptable to the
whole party. iz.4 e3 .szAg s.,
This eminent citizen and soldier having
been selected by the administration for the
peculiar object of its hostility and venom,
as signalized by more than two years Of
persistent persecution, the Democratic
party naturally recognizes merit deemed
by Mr.. LINCOLN so dangerous to his pre-
tensions. Besides, the relations which
Gen MCCLELLAN has, by bis profession,
he'd to the war, and his fidelity to Demo
cratic principles, have placed him in a
stand point favorable for judging of the
conjoint bearing Of political and military
considerations, neither of which can be
omitted in a just estimate of public affairs
when the country is engaged in great
war. Touching upon these subjects
only in the way of statement, without ar
gumentative expansion, the soldierlike d.
rectness of Gen. MoCLEILAN's style Sc
cures the brevity we were in quest of
when the idea of this selection occurred
to u.s. We begin with the earliest of Gen.
MoCLELLAN's manifestoes. to show that
neither complaisance toward the admins
t-ation in the beginning, nor a sense Of its
subsequent injustice, has had the slightest
influence on his opinions, which are the
evident fruit of clear head, magnan-
imous spirit, and g eat recttude of under
standing. The followh g is from his ad-
dress to the people of Western Virginia
when he crossed into their State in the
spring of 1861: a'r '.-
| The general government has heretofore care
| fully abstained from sending troops across the
] Ohio, or even from posting them along its
banks, although frequently urged by many of
| your prominent citizens to do so. 1t determi..-
ed ascat the result Of the State election dess Gus
that no one might be able to say that the slightest
fort had been made from ibis side to influence the
! free ezpression Of your opinions, although the
many agencies brought to bear upon you by
| the rebels were well known. You have now
| shown, under the most adverse circums ances,
| that the great mass of the people of Western
Virginia are true and loyal to that benefcent
| government under which we and our forefath-
| ers have lived so long. As soon as the result
of the election was known, the traitors COM
menced their work of destruction. The gene
I raj government cannot close its ear to the de-
| mand you have made for assistance. l hare
ordered troops to cross the rirer. They come as
your friends and brothers; as enemies only to
armed rebels who are preying upon you. Your
homes, your families, and your property are
be relgiously respected notwithstanding all that
Aas been sad by the traitors to induce you to be-
here our ddrent among you will be signdlized by
an interfere NTH your sldres. Understand one
thing clearly: not only oiH zoe abstain from all
such inter ference but sc'H the contrary acih
an iroW hmd crush any attempt at insurTectioss on
theirpart. I....-f stt.
1t is proper to state that the italics in
this and the following extracts are lib
erty which We have taken with the origi-
nal. We desire, by this means, to fix
attention on the idea, so often insisted
upon by General MCCLELLAN, that the war
should be so conducted as to foster what
ever of loyal sentiment remained in the
South, and to interpose no needless obsta-
cles to the resumption of fraternal rela-
tions at its close. 1t stands to common
sense that the Union, even if it could be
restored, would be worthless on any other
basis than kindly relations and mutual
good Twill. We do not want suhjugated
and sullen provinces, lying in wait to rise
in new revolt at the first outbreak of for
eign war. When General MCCLELLAN was
invested with the chief command, it be-
cane his duty to prepare instructions for
the commanders of departments. The pc.
litical passages in these exhibit the steadi-
ness of purpose with which he carried out
his ideas. r.5 m.aes
To General HALLRCK: . s ~
In regard to- the political conduct of affairs.
you will please labor to impress upon the in.
habi'ants of Missouri and the adjacent State.
thai are fighting solely for the inttgrity of The
Union, to uphold the pOWer of our n1tional gop.
ernment and to restore to the mutton the bLes.noe
Of pcuce asd good order.
To General BUELL. qa...,a i.,....,
And it is absolutely necessary that we shall,
hold all the state If Kentucky: not onIv
that but that The majority of its ;niab;t.mt, sh'n
be varm,y in J;IrUr Of our cause. il brin~
that which best eubserves their in,
terests.. 1t is possible that the condnct
of our political affairs in Kentucky ia
more important than that of our miIitary On.
erations certainly cannot overesti,naie he
importance Of the former. Yon' viii i nIe sae
constantly bear iu mind the precise isspe for
which we are fghtiug-.thas issue ia the nres.