Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-09-09
The Peace Mems Warrior.

i" Toujours raudace,' audacity always,
said the most intrepid and burly OF the
French revoutionists it is the key that
unlocks every gate, it is the club that
levels all obstacles. Oar friends Of the
peace party seem at least to act upon the
motto. They have been telling US for
two years that this war twas conceived In
sin and brought forth in iniquity;" that
it was not only unjust, cruel and useless,
but that there was no warrant for 1t III
our social and political constitution that
it was levied in fragrant violation of the
rights OF the states, and that every man
who took part in it was doing the work
of butcher, tyrant, a fratricide and a
monster.
This was the accusation, and the audac-
ous comment on it is the putting up of a
man for the Presidency who owes every
particle of distinction that he has to his
connection with the war. Gen. McClell.
an, whom the peace men offer to our suf-
frages, was almost wholly unknown before
war; he was an obscure engineer of some
western road he had never taken part in
politics, and probably had no settled po-
litical convictions but as soon as the war
broke out he volunteered his services, and
made all the reputation he has. But be-
sides using his sword in the war, he has
used his tongue he has defended it, ap-
proved it, urged it on, and still processes
to be willing to give it more vigor ard
drectness. For this prompt rushing to
arms, fo- the tenacity with which he
clngs to his major-genera ship, for his re-
peated iustiications of the war, he is set
forward by the peace men as their proper
candidate for the Chief Maglstracy. They
are so bitterly opposed to the war that
they take up one who has no :cpute ex-
ccpt as Il warrior, to become our principal
civilian.
Again, what loud, clamorous, unceasing
changes Of vituperation these peace men
have rung upon the project of draft
1t las been denounced, IN every variety
Of phase as an anti-democratlc, ,unrepu5i-
can import from the tyrannous courts ol
Europe, which no American ought to
submit to, and the enforcement OF which
might be rightly resisted by arms. Such
teachings, Indeed, as these, led TO that
most mean, moustrous and disgrace III riot
which WIS liked to have deluced our
streets in blood i year n. o. Yet who first
proposed draft; who among our military
men took precedence of all others in H.
sisting that Mr.. Lincoln should resort 70
the conseription? Who, but this same
George 3. Mcclellan. now become the
political f1gleman of the peace faction.-
As long ago as 1861, when the originaI
enthusiasm of the war was yet blazing
tiercely and the ranks Of the army were
getting filled by thousands OF volunteers
daily, he wrote most emphatic note tc
the President, demanding an immediate
draft. Wicked as that measure has since
been said to be, unconstitutional as 1t Is
undemocratic and tyrannlcal as it is, re-
pusiye and cruel as it is, the first mention
Of it came from the present hero OF the
peace men. Whatever odium attaches tc
it, Justly or unjustIy, belongs to him a:
its author.
In no particular has the existing aa.
ministration incurred more abuse from the
peace men than for what they have called
its arbitrary arrests. All their denuncia'
tions Of it as an usurpiug and despotit
power, as invader of the rights Of the
states, as utterly regardless of the rights
of persons, as bent upon overthrowlng
our old constitutional forms, rest mainly
upon these arbitrary proceedings. Yet II
is another curious instance of their politi-
cal audacity that they wish to confer the
highest dignity upon the man who was
both the originator and the executor oi
the most high.hanied AMI enormous "ar'
rest" that has been made during the war
In the seizure OF a single individual, the
rights of that individual, or at most o'
his family, are alone involved but wher
whole legislative body is seized, wher
the chosen representatives Of the people
are violently grasped ard hauled to prls
on, not only are personal rights invaded
but The mos; sacred rights Of freemen a;
a body polite, are set at naught; th(
very principle of free government, on thu
whole structure Of its society rests, is pu
aside by the strong arm. But this wa'
precisely what Mcclellan did when he ar
rested, without warrant of law. by hi
mere will as military commander. tn
legislature of Maryland That assembly
had been legitlmately chosen, it was thu
organ and representative Of the people, |
was engaged in the discharge of its law
tul functions, when McClellan's dragoon
stepped in and hurried every mothers sol
to prison. Nor was it ever allowed t
sit again by the military dictator. Hov
sublime the audacity OF the peace men
then, who after heaping three years o
unstinted abuse upon Mr.. Lincoln for hi
alleged arbitrary conduct, choose for thel
standard bearer one who was the voun
teer instrument of the most exorbitant
those Objectionable procedures Post.
! You arc a great bore, said an enrage
gentleman, froEa q chamber window, to
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