Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-10-14
Vermont i'm the Rebellion.

Editor ofMe Herald II have seen q
work with the above title, recently pub
lished, in which there is biographical
notice of myself. In this notice there are
several errors, one of which is contained
In the following statement:
"Months afterwards, when circumstances
compelled the Administration to adopt
the very policy proposed by Gen. Phelps,
the President offered him Major Cen
erals commission, which he would accept
only on condition that it should bear date
upon the day of his resignation"
There was talk of offering me Ma
jor Generals commission, at two different
times, but I never saw the parchment !;
and declined to receive one unless it
shonld bear date upon the day of the issue
OF my Ship Island proclamation, not on
the day of my resignation, as stated.
The main feature of that proclamation,
It may be remembered, was this: That no
new Slave State had any right to slavery
whatever, and that every old Slave State,
by becoming partner to the constitution
al compact, was bound, ipso tacto, to abol-
ish slavery.
The consequence of this position would
have been, if carried out, that the Slave
State9 would be compelled by the war to
altar their own constitutions, if necessary,
Tor the abolition of Slavery, and not we be
compelled, as we have been, by defec-
tive policy, to alter our Federal Constitu-
tion for that purpose.
This position may not appear to the State
TO be matter of much consequence,
but it is fact A Vermont General in
command of New England troops, and in
the absence of any adequate administra-
tional policy, assumed this position
and under it helped to secure the
lower Mississippi, by which the military
Issue Of the rebellion was virtually settled;
and still both the Administration ana
Vermont declined TO sustain the posi-
ton thus assumed, until partially forced
to it, after the close OF the war, by the |
very defects OF an opposite course.
In other respects, / consented to serve
under General Butler, until the lower
Mississippi was fairly in our possession-a
possession which his peculiar administra-
ton ofssfiirs threatened TO loso the value
OF to tho country; and nothing would have
induced me 10 servo under him again
undor any circumstance Although
very much 6H1nyter man than am, / admit,
yet still he was my junior in years, and
without much military experience or ca
pacity. had boon in tho military SER
vice quarter Of century, while, on his
ride, he was smart politician and a
special pleader. These two litter quail
ties were given the lead over length of
military service, at telling point in our
mili'sry operations, which was an act of in
Justice and wrong that the favoritism Of the
most corrupt aristocracy Of the old world
could not possibly transcend. No govern
msat Of whatever description or form,
can prosper by such acts The Admins
tration need not have sent me to she
South West; there were other officers of
the old army at its disposal, if it had pre-
ferred them. Whoever was sent there,
was bound to lose credit by it, according
to my experience in that quarter.
At all events, another condition which
l made, as necessary TO my acceptance of
Major Generals commission was, that l
was not to serve again under General
Butler.
1t is perhaps needless to add that the {
Administration showed no willingness, |
readiness, nor real desire to grant my con- {
ditions. The different course which it I
chose to pursue eliminating in the IN |
fortunate state of affairs which we have {
had since the war, is proof enough Of that a
j. w. PHELPS. 5
Rrat4leboro VI Oct itb 1890 !