Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-09-15

ements Of the Army Of the Potomac But
one single man in that hour could oppose
the rebel army Of inyasion--who could risk
successfully the occupation Of PHILADELPHIA,
the plunder Of New York and the over
running Of the entire North. That man
was Mcclellan He had Just been dis.
graced humiatcd and would have been
justified in allowing the administration to
be overwhelmed BY that ruin which it has
so richly merited. He magnanmously for
got and forgave. He came forward, placed
himself in the breach, saved the North
from invasion. drove back the invader, and
IN little while was once more djsgraccd by.
the ungrateful government.
Such is in brief an outline Of the militia
ry career Of one who to-day is second to no
military genius Of this or any other country.
His political life, although not as full Of in
terest as his military careeer, has been as
consistent in every respect. Always Dem
ocrat, he has ever been true to the princi
pies of that party, carrying them with him
not only in local and national politics, but
being cover ned by their dictation in all his
military enterprises. 1t was Democracy
that taught him that war should not be cou-
Quoted against mere opinion-that citizens
should not be disturbed in their property
that the institutions Of States should not
be interfered with, and that the force of the
Federal government should be directed
against those only who were in arms. To
illustrate this feature in his character, and
as a fitting close to this sketch, We cannot
do better than give an extract from Gener-
al Mcclellan letter to the President, dated
at Harrison 5 Landing, July 7th, 1862. 1t
shows at once the character of a statesman,
a soldier, Christian, and gentleman.
This rebellion has assumed the character
Of a war; as such it should be regarded, and
! it should be conducted upon the highest
principles known to Christian civilization.
| 1t should not be war looking to the subju-
cation Of the people Of any State in any
event. 1t should not be at all war upon
population, but against armed forces and
political organization. Neither coniscation
of property, political executions Of persons,
territorial organization Of States, or forci-
! bic abolition of slavery, should be contem.
plated for Il moment. In prosecuting the
war, all private property and unarmed per
sons should be strictly protected, subject on.
ly to the necessity of military operations
All private property taken for military use
should be paid or receipted for; pillage anG
waste should be treated as high crimes; al
unnecessary trespass sternly prohibited, and
offensive demeanor by the military tOwarC
citizens promptly rebuked. Military ar
rests should not be tolerated, except in pla
ces where active hostilities exist, and oath'
not required by enactments con3titutionally
made should neither be demanded nor re
ceived. Military government should be
/, confined to the preservation of public ordel
and the protection of political right. Nil
, itary power should not be allowed to inter
tere with the relations of servitude, eithe
} by supporting OF impairing the authority 0
r the master, except for repressing disorder
f as in other cases. Slaves contraband unde
Il the act of Congress, seeking military pre-
= lection should receive it. The right of th
o government to appropriate permanently
1t its own service claims to slave labor shou
ID be asserted, and the right of the owner
j. compensation therefor should be reco
X nized.
E. This principle might he extended up,
IS grounds of military necessity and securi
l. to all the slaves of particular State, tn
'e working manumission in such State; and
k Missouri, perhaps in Western Virginia ais
is and possibly even in Maryland, the exped
ency of such a measure is only a questic
!, of time.
Il "a system of policy thus constitutions
d and pervaded by the influence of Christian
:, ity and freedom would receive the suppo
o of almost all truly loyal men, would deep
:, impress the rebel masses and all foreign n
l. tons and it might be humbly hoped that
# would commend itself to the favor of Il
e Almighty.
d "Unlcss the principles governing the Fl
Is ture conduct Of our struggle shall be mac
II known and approved the effort to obta
', requisite forces will be almost hopeless.
i declaration Of radical views, especially upC
S, slavery, will rapidly disintegrate our presel
ID armies.
r The policy of the Government must !
lie supported by concentrations of militia
1t power. The national forces should not
/ dispersed in expeditions, posts of occup
re tion and numerous armies; but should
rs mainly collected into. masses and broug
y to bear upon the armies of the Confedera
A. States Those armies thoroughly defeate
is the political structure which they suppo
" would soon cease to exist y