Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-07-03
PRESERVING THB ooEsrITuT1oN,
Hew Mcclellan nah U.ser ne Asvse. ar
Llncoln.

4
Every political party seems to
have special mission; whilst the
republican party was bending it's
energies To save the country. the
Democratic party was intent on
preserving the constitution. II was
McClsllan's first and perhaps only
idea. and although at the head Of
The army of the Potomac, be never
forgo. it. When on the Peninsula
the boys got away on q little fora
ging expedition aud returned with
considerable plunder including q
number of new mich COWS.
They were too large to be con-
cealed in q s.dog tent" and as a
matter of necessity had to be turn
ed over to the Quartermaster Gen.
eral and in due time they were re.
ported to the Major General COM
manding. Now here is where the
trouble commenced. George
scratched bis head, he could remem.
Der no clause in the constitution
authorizing the capture of COWS, so
he stook down that instrument and
finding nothing in it relating to the
capture of COWS" sent the following
dispatch to the president:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF the Poroxac, Me-
cBASIcsvILLg, Va.
June 4th 1859.
TO his Eseellesy, -Ibraaaa Li,seels Prssdsat
u s,
Some of INV people have been out on for.
aging expedition and have captured num-
Der Of new mich cows; l have taken down
the constitution and have examined that i'm
strument with the greatest Of care, but can
lind no authority therein authorizing the cap
ture OF their disposition afterwards. Please
instruct me without delay.
Csc. B. McCLsLLAS,
MsjorsGenersl Commanding.
The General waited patiently for
reply but none came. Soon Gen.
Seth Williams. Adjutant. Den eral
and Chief of Staff came to Gen. Nc
Cl.i'an and stated, that an orderly
attached TO his staff reported that
unless the cows were MIXED imme-
diately MIXED shcir bags would
"cake." George was again in .rou.
BILE and the constitution WAS again
examined and not being able to find
any consolation the following dis.
patch was sent:
HxADouARrKRs ARMY OF rHk PoroNAc, Ms
GAINESVILLE Va.
June 4th, 1862.
10 his EIcellcency 45rahan. Lincoln, President
u s,
IL is reported to these headquarters by an
orderly who was raised on a stock farm in
Vermont and has had considerable experience
with cattle and is now attached to the staff
OF Gen. Williams that unless the cows (here-
tofore reported by me as captured by some
of my people,. are MIXED Immediately their
bags will cake and they viii be spelled. |
have again taken down the constitution and
have examined that instrument with the
greatest of care and in II found no authority
to milk cows or dispose Of the milk after.
Ggo.-B. McCLrLLAx,
Maior-General Commanding
When the dispatches arrived In
Washington both Lincoln and Stan.
ton had retired for much needed
rest; orderlies howe yer. were sum.
tuuucu uuu UOtu tho TebiQeut anu
Secretary of War hurriedly dressed
and repaired to the war office.
With trembling hands the over-anx-
ious President broke the seal and
read the first dispstch and handed
1t 10 his faithful Secretary, and then
went for the second one. A smile
stole over his care>worn face as he
passed that also so Stanton. The
stern Secretary smiled and said,
mr.. President we must help
George preserve the constitution.
4 can do IT. said Lincoln. give me
= sheet Of paper The President
then wrote and cont tho following
War DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, d. G.
June 9th 1852.
TO Geo. B AfeCtelian, Major General Com.
naa,sdi,g.
Geerge:--You are the biggest calf in the
army of the Potomac, suck the cows yourself
and don't let their bags cake.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
President U. s.
Thus Mcclellan preserved the