, 1864-09-30
Extract from Mcclellan,s Report.

Extract from McClellans Report.
We copy the following extract from the Gre
port of General George B. Mcclellan" The an
nexed letter, 20 the President, contains the views
of Mcclellan as to the general policy that
should have been adopted and carried out on
the part of the federal government, in conduct
ing the war. If settlement of the existing
difficulties cannot be effected by peaceable nego-
tiations, and the war must continue, we make
no debut that Mcclellan will adhere to the prin-
ciples set forth in this letter, and that too,
whether elected to the Presidency or not He
says: r.. ..f,s.1 ..-... .,...
While general-in-chief, and directing the op-
erations of all our armies in the field, had be-
come deeply impressed with the Importance of
adopting and carrying out certain views regard
ing the conduct Of the war, which, in my judg-
ment, were essential to its objects and its sue
cess. r.r.I1 r-r.t leff.tif ....,. ...t+
During an active campaign of three months
in the enemys country these were so fully con-
frmed that | conceived it duty in the critical
position we then occupied not to withhold a
candid expression of the more important of
these views from the commander-in-chiefw whom
tho Constit~tioH pis.~~s- a'Y i,-~l e si~r---
mics and naves, as well as of the government
u
letter to Mr. Lincoln: 9'niti iof $3.50
''HEADQUARTERs ARMY OF THE PoToMAc,
" Camp near Harrison's Landing, Va., July7, '62.
'sMR PRESIDENT You have been fully in
formed that the rebel army is in the 'front.' with
the purpose of overwhelming us by attacking
our positions or reducing us by blockading our
river communications. l cannot but regard
our condition as critical and earnestly desire,
in view of possible contingencies, to lay before
your excellency, for your private considera-
ton, my general views concerning the existing
state of the rebellion, although they do not
strictly relate to the situation of this army, or
strictly come within the scope of my official du-
ties These views amount to convictions, and
are deeply impressed upon my mind and heart.
Our cause must never be abandoned it is the
cause of free Institutions and selfgovernment.
The Constitution and the Union must be pre-
served, whatever may be the cost in time, treas
ure, and blood. If secession is successful 9TH
er dissolutons are clearly to be seen in. the fu-
ture. Let neither military disasters political
faction, nor foreign war shake your settled pur
pose to enforce the equal operation of the laws
of the United States upon the people of every
State.
aThe time has come when the government
must determine upon civil and military poll
cy, covering the whole ground of our national
trouble.
sThe responsibility of determining, declar-
ing, and supporting such civil and military poll
icy and of directinn the whole course of nation
al affairs in regard to the rebellion, must now
be assumed and exercised by you, or our cause
will be lost. The Constitution gives you power,
even for the present terrible exigency.
"This rebellion has assumed the character of
war; as such it should be regarded, and it
should be conducted upon the highest princi-
pies known to christian civilization. 1t should
not be war looking to the subjugation of the
people of any State, in any event. 1t should
not be at all war upcn population, but against
armed forces and political organizations. Nei-
ther confscation of property, political execu-
tions Of persons, territorial organization of
States, or forcble abolition of slavery should be
contemplated for a moment. I
YIn prosecuting the war, all private property
and unarmed persons should be strictly pro-
tected subject only to the necessity of military
operations; all private property taken for mill
tary use should be paid or receipted for pill
lage and waste should be treated as high crimes;
all unnecessary trespass sternly prohibited, and
offensive demeanOr by the military towards citi-
zens promptly rebuked. Military arrests should
not be tolerated, except in places where active
hostilites exist; and oaths, not required by en-
actments, constitutionally made, should be mel
ther demanded nor received.
~Military government should be confined to
the preservation of public order and the protec-
ton of political rights Military power should
not be allowed to interfere with the relations of
seryitude, either by supporting or impairing the
authority of the master, except for repressing
disorder, as in other cases Slaves, contraband,
under the act of Congress, seeking military pro-
lection, should receive it, The right of the gov
ernment to appropriate permanently to its own
service claims to slave labor shouldlbe asserted,
and the right of the owner to compensation
therefor should be recognized. This principle
might be extended, upon grounds of military
necessity and security, to all the slaves OF a
particular State, thus working manumission in
such State and in Missouri, perhaps in West
ern Virginia also, and possibly even in Mary
land the expediency of such a measure is only
a question of time. A system of policy thus
constitutional, and pervaded by the influences
of Christianity and freedom, would receive the
support of almost all truly loyal men, would
deeply impress the rebel masses and all foreign
nations, and it might be lhumhly hoped that ii