The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-08-26
Mcclellan as the Candidate of peace
Democrats"

ly committed TO it, we do not see. Every
word they shall utter in condemnation OF the
one may be retortcd upon the other; both
candidates, indeed, will DC in the same boat
to the same missiles Of criticism. THIS will
be no little advantage to the Republicans,
who are now obliged to take the exclusive re-
sponsibility Tor the actual condition of pub,
lie affairs.
Some of the most obnoxious measures oi
the war-those which have excited perhaps
the most severe opposition to it-haye been
approved and defended by General Mcclellan.
We all remember the howl of Indignation
with which the democratic journals met the
conscription, although they had themselves
clamOIed for il more than year. Ii was de-
nounced rs tyrannical, unjust, un-American,
barharous and disgraccrul, with so much We.
hemcncc that in this city formidable riot
was aroused against il, which mob cheered
for Jefferson Davis and General Mcclellan
Could they have known at the time that Nc
Clellan was the very FIRST of our prominent
men o. propose a resort tn tho draft? I'm au-
gust Of lS6l-.just n month after the battle of
Bull Run-when volunteers were pouring in
to Washington by regiments and brigades, he
wrote to the President rs follows:
"WAsnINGToN, August %. 1861.
Sir: have just received the enclosed des-
patch in cipher. Colonel Mercy knows what
he says, and is Of the coolest Judgment. |
recommend that the Secretary Of War ascer-
tain at once by telegram how the rerolmcnt
proceeds in New York and Elsewhere, and
that, il 1t is not proceeding with great rapid.
ity, drafts to he made ut once. We must
have men without delay.
Respectfully, your ohedient servant,
GEORGE b. McCLELLAN,
Maj-Gcn. U. s. A."
The following is copy of the urgent note
Of General Marcy, his father-in-law and chicl
of staff:
"NEw YoRS, August 90. 1861.
urge upon you 10 make a positive and
unconditional demand Tor an immediate draft
of the additional troops you require. Men
will not volunteer now, aud drafting is the
only successful plan. The people lrW ap-
pLaud SUCH course, reply upon it. will be
in Washington tomorrow.
R.B. MARCY"
Blu, worse than the draft even, in the sight
or these patriotic "dcmocrats," are those ar
bitrary arrests that have done so much to
weaken the administration How they have
thundered against them night and day as
breaches of the constitution, infringements of
the sacred liberties of person, and q reckless
overthrow of all the safeguards against dcs-
potism which our fathers erected us the rights
Of the States. Nevertheless, the most high
handed. arbitrary and oxorbitant of all acts
Of this kind-thc seizure and imprisonment
of the entire legislature Of Statc--of the
sovereign State OF Maryland, was ordered To
u certain extent executed BY General McClcl
Ian. Banks was at that time in command at
Baltimore, and us il was suspected that the
members of the legislature might take meas
ureS 10 curry the State out o. the Union into
the Coniederacy, Mcclellan wrote to him in
this wise:
IConddcntiaLl
"HRADQUARTERs Army OF TilE PoroNAc,
WASHINGTON, September 10. 1851.
MiJOR-GENERAI. y. II. BANKS, u. ) A.
General: After full consultation with the
President. Secretaries OF State, War, &C., it
has been decided TO effect the operation pro-
posed for the 18th. Arrangements have been
made to have government steamer ut Anap-
oils to receive the prisoners and carry them
to their destination.
Some four or five OF the chief men in the
affair are TO be arrested to day. When they
meet on the 18th you will please have every
thing prepared to arrest the whole party y,and
be sure that mono escape.
Ii is understood that you arrange with
General Dix ard Governor Seward the mooii,
operandi. II has been ntimated to me that
the meeting might take place on tho l4th
please be prepared. would bc glad to have
YOU advise mo frequently OF your arrange
mcnts in regard to this very important mat
ter.
Iii, is successfully carried out, it will 50
far toward breaking the backbone Of the re-
belliOn. 1t will probably be VOL to have n
special train quietly prepared to take the
prisoners to Annapolis.
| leave this exceedingly important affair to
your tact and distretion-and have bu one
thing to impress upon you-the absolute ne
cessity Of secrecy and success. With the
highest regard. am, my dear General, your
sincere friend.
6EoRGE d. McCLElI,N, Mai-Gen. U. S. A."
This was, it must be cOnIcssed,a u pretty
summary and effective way OF dealing with
state rights, and Mcclellan went into the
work with gusto. IL cannot be said that Inc
was merely carrying out the orders Of his SUI
periors. Tor hc appears to have suggested tho
plan himself, merely consulting" the Prcsi-
dent about il, and lending it lis warm and
earnest approval. His anxiety to get it done
with complete success. and the Importance he
ascribes to that SUCCESS. show that his co-op-
Grafton was more than willing; ii was zeal
Gus. lie seizes those suspected legislators-
those representatives OF free, independent
and sovereign sta,e-which was not war
with the nation, with as much ayidity us q
dog catches at u bone. He jugged them all
ut swoop, and there was an end OF the mat
ter. Mr.. Lincoln's seizure OF u poor oiiend
inc editor here and there. or OF peculating
contractor now and then, is pitiiul proceed
ING beside this nabbing Of an entire legisla.
,iyebody. Cromwell = dispersion of the Long
Parliament has become historical; it has
been both painted and sung; but it was
tame affair compared with McClellan's meth
cd Of getting rid Of the Maryland Parliament.
His "democratic" admirers. especially those
who are champions of state rights. would do
well to put the scene upon their Transparent
eies and banners. twould makean extreme
IL picturesque and effective cmblcm OF politi-
cal consistency,-N. Y. Ersning Post.
A gentleman bathing at Newport. few
days ago, lost in the sand diamond ring val
ued at ; 1000. A sieve was procured and the
sand in the vicinity siited TO no purpose, and
ths lOsor h., -, -