The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-09-23
Hon. Reverb johnson for
Mcclellan.

Washington was electrified the other day
BY the publication 0f she following letter
from Senator Reverdy johnson, of Mary
land, who was 'elsctsdby bis State Legls'
lature opposed to the Democratic party
and who. in the Senate acted not unfre,
quently with the Republican party Of that
BODY. Let him speak for himself a. the
Oldest Senator in Congress: 50 =
i fSARAToGAfSPRINGs, Sept. IA. .
Gentlemen Your invitation to the meet
ing to be held in Washington on the 18th
inst. to ratify the nomination OF Mcclellan
and Pendleton is but Just received. tyk
II will be out of my power to be with
you, my stay here for some days longer be-
ing unavoidable. Opposed as l was to the
original election of Mr.. Lincoln to the
station he now occupies, from conviction
of his being unequal to its duties, the man
ner in which he has met them, has but con-
firmed me in that opinion. With more
than two millions oil soldiers placed in his
hands. and an unlimited amount oftreasure,
his policy and his manner of using his power,
instead of putting the rebellion down and
bringing to our ranks the thousands OF
Union men who were then in each OF the
seeded States, and who, in some, are be-
lieved to out number the rebels, have but
served the double purpose of uniting them
against ,us and of dividing the public opin-
ion Of the loyal States. The effect is that
Notwithstanding the gallant deeds of our
army and navy, and the manifest justice oil
our cause, the Union is even more effectu-
ally broken now than it was when his adj
ministration commenced. Whatever OF
honesty of purpose may belong to him, and
I am willing to admit that he has had It.,
his vacillation, his policy, now conserva
tive, now radical, his selection Of military
officers grossly incompetent, his treatment
of those who were evidently competent,
his Welding in this to what he has himself
been often heard to say as an excuse, was
ooutside pressure" his having not only not
punished, but so far as the public know, un-
rebuked the vandal excuses Of military
officers of his special selection, shocking
the sentiment of the world, and disgra;ing
us in the view of Christendom by the burn
ing of private dwellings, and depriving their
| often exclusively female occupants OF home
and means of lvelihood-all demonstrate
that he Is grossly incompetent to govern
the country in this crisis of its fate.
| How can an honorable man believe that
one who has so signally failed for almost
four entire years, can be successful if an
other four years be granted him2 No one
in Congress, certainly. Not twenty mems
bers believe him equal or at all equal to the
mighty task. He has been tried and
found wanting Let rs 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 q
stream, but that when We are on a journey,
and safety depends on making our destina-
ton at the earliest moment We should cast
aside spawned horse, and secure sound
and active one.
In General Mcclellan we are furnished
in the history of his life, in the purity OF
his character, his refinement, his attain
ments, civil and military, and above all in
his perfect loyalty-every assurance that,
under his executive guidance, the war, now
90 exhaustive of treasure and blood, will
be soon brought to triumphant termination.
and this union which 'iat all hazards" he
will never agree to surrender, will be re-
restored.
With regard, -..-
= Your obedient servant,
RryrpDy JouNsoN