Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-10-28

with the army nor the people; and our arl-
gust National Legislature has done all
which President Lincoln directed to be
done. And yet there is fault somewhere
some one is responsible. Can it be that the
fault is with Mr.. Lincoln? that he is re-
sponsible for all the evils and all the woes
which affiict our land? Let Us reflect mo-
ment. . .g
PRESIDENT LINCOLN RESPONSIBLE.
TO become a surgeon, a lawyer, car
penter, a matchmaker, a merchant or q
blacksmith, training and experience are
necessary. But even after years of prac-
tice and study the lawyer has become skill
ed in his profession, still, if his life depend
ed on it, he could not make watch, any
more than the matchmaker could perform
nice surgical operation, which required
not only the skillful use of the knife, but a
profound knowledge of anatomy. So, too,
the profession of arms, which is at once an
art and science, requires profound study
and experience. What, then, should be
thought of the man who, wholly ignorant
of the rudiments OF war-"who never set a
squadron in the field"-who has not sufii-
cieut knowledge of tactics to deploy COM
pany of skirmishers, and who is as unin-
formed in the principles of strategy, as is a
Choctaw Indian in the science of astronomy
what judgment should be passed upon the
man who, thus ignorant, would have the
criminal presumption to undertake the di-
rection of armies, and to interfere with the
plans of well-trained Generals? Why,
comrades, let me put a case to you: Sup
pose that on the eve of battle, when you
expected to meet brave enemy, command
ed by skillful soldier, it should suddenly
be announced to the army that a lawyer
had just arrived from Springfield, Illinois,
with absolute authority over the move
ments of the army-that he had condemned
the plans of Sherman, and was goii g ito
fight it out on his own plan, even If it took
all summer" What would be the effect on
the army? What acould the oeterans say?
What would be the result-victory or de-
feat? This has been done on much larger
scale by President Lincoln, who on the 31st
day of March, 1852, wrote to General Nc
Clellan that he, Abraham Lincoln, was
Commander-in- Chief of our armies, and
that as such he had right to give such
orders as he "pleased;" and so far as the
Army of the Potomac has been concerned,
he has persistently done so. Is it strange,
then, that Richmond has not been taken,
when Jefferson Davis has so powerful an
ally in the person of the "Commander-in-
Chief at the Executive Mansion?"
Have done Mr. Lincoln injustice? Let
facts answer. All of the Eastern Generals
and Eastern troops who have come West
have been successful, although they had
previously failed in the East; as most of our
Western Generals and Western troops have
been unsuccessful in the East, although
victorious in the West. Thus Burnside at
Fredericksburg. and Hooker in the Wilder
ness-both within whispering distance of
Washington-met with terrible disaster.
And who waste blame? President Lincoln.
But no sooner had they got beyond the mar
plot Interference of the lawyer 'Comman-
der-in- Chief" than the one conquered East
Tennessee, and the other won immortal re-
nown upon the heights which surround
Chattanooga. While, on the other hand,
Pope was successful in the West, but no
sooner did he come within the malign in
fluence of ''the military genius of the EX-
ecutive Mansion" than he became so totally
eclipsed, that for some days he and his army
were supposed to be lost, and were in fact
only found when lost on the disastrous field
of Bull Run. And Grant, the victor of
Donelson, and Shiloh, and Vicksburg, what
of him? Why, comrades, and you citizens,
you all know that we were gravely assured.
we were promised that Richmond should
lie ours by the 4th of last July, and although
Grant has lost i'll the field, without includ-
ing the ravages of the hospitals, more than
one hundred thousand men, yet Richmond
is no nearer being taken than it was in May
last, though we are now at the close of Oc-
tober. Now why is it that Western Cen
erals fresh from.the field of their triumphs
| in the West, have met with defeat in the
East; while Eastern Generals, fresh from
| their disasters in the East have achieved
brilliant victories in the West? The answer
is simple and instructive. Donelson, Shiloh
| Vicksburg, Knoxville, Mission Ridge, Look
out Mountain, and a score of other Western
battles and Western victories, were fought
and won too far away from Washington to
be turned into defeats by the meddlesome
| interference of "COmmander-in-C Chief''
Lincoln. While, on the contrary, Lincoln
has always hung, and now hangs over the
| Army of the Potomac, like frightful night
mare; and Mcclellan is the only General
who has found himself equal to beating
General Lee and General Lincoln at the
same time; for while Little Mac" was
| fighting Lee in front, "Old Abe" was cer-
tain to be harassing Mcclellan in the rear
but Lincoln and Lee were always worsted
WESTERN VIRGINIA.
Before further considering the disastrou.
consequences of Mr.. Lincoln's interference
in the operations of the armies, it will bt
proper to briefly glance at the early cam
| paign in Western Virginia. On the 18th o
May, 1851, Mcclellan was given command
of the Department of the Ohio, and finding
| that the rebels were about to seize and occu'
py Western Virginia, he promptly organ
lied column of Ohio troops, crossed the
| Ohio river, and met and conquered the enc
my at Rich Mountain and Carrick's Ford.
| If his military successes were brilliant, so
was his policy humane aud statesmanlike,
| and the confidence he inspired in the hearts
of the people, affirmed the triumphs he
achieved in the field; and Western Virginia
was permanently secured to the Union.
DISASTER IN THE EAsT-vIcToRY IN THE
.. WEST.
| But while victory crowned our arms in
the West, disgrace, panic and disaster en-
veloped our cause in gloom on the Potomac.
| Contrary to the Judgment of Mcdowell,
Mr.. Lincoln forced him to advance against
| the strong position of the enemy at Manas-
sas, before his command was organized, or
| his troops were ready for the field. The re-
suit was utter defeat to our arms, and our
panic-stricken army rolled back upon
| Washington, confused and frantic mass.
| And Mr.. Lincoln gazed anxiously toward
| the southern bank of the Potomac, and In
the mysty twilight he imagined he could
see Beauregard and his lines on their way
| to Washington.
MCCLELLAN GOES TO THE RESCUE OF THE
CAPITAL.
The hero of Rich Mountain and Carrick's
Ford, was appealed to by Mr.. Lincoln, to
hasten to the Capital--above all, to save
the White House. In less time than ever
| performed before, Mcclellan arrived, eQuip-