The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-11-05
"LINCOLN AND STANTON"

|
"LINCOLN AND STANTON"
We have received from the publishers, G.
P. Putnam's Sons, New York, advance sheets
of a small volume bearing the above title
by Hon. VIM. D. Kelley, Member of Congress
from Pennsylvania. The book is further
explained to be "a Study of the War Ad-
ministration of 1861 and 1862, with Special
Consideration of Some Recent Statements
Of Gen. George B. Mcclellan"
MIR. Kelley is well known to the country
as the Father of the House" He was a
member of that body during the entire war
period, and it is probable that no one was
closer to the Administration than he. Very
few knew as well as did Judge Kelley the
motives and feelings and plans, from time
to time, Of President Lincoln and Secretary
Stanton, and this is especially true as to the
relations that existed between them and
Gen. Mcclellan. The latter has died sud
denly while the presses are running upon
Judge Kelley's volume The authors strict
ures upon Mcclellan are very severe, and
doubtless no one feels more keenly than Mr..
Kelley the publication Immediately follow
ing the death of him whom it criticizes so
| sharply. Judge Kelley is not coward, and
is the last man who would attack the char
| acter and services of one whose tongue has
been forever slenced and can make no de-
Tense.
Judge Kelley handles Mcclellan without
gloves. Abiding to the fact that death has
taken away Mr.. Lincoln and all the mem
bers of his Cabinet at the time of which he
writes, he says:
Emboldened by the ravages death has made dur
| ing nearly quarter of century, George b. Nc
Cellan avails himself of the pages of the Century
TO present his explanation of the failure of the
Army of the Potomac while under his command.
The initial article. which appeared in the May
number, is unustifiable assault upon the memo
ries of Lincoln and Stanton and but for this fact
would not deserve notice, as it can have no historic
value. AS to the details of the Peninsular Cam
pagn it furnishes no allegation of fact with which
the authors reports, memoranda, and correspond
ence have not made the country familiar. The
statements by which he attempts to make good his
assaults upon the memory OF the llustrou5 dead
are sustained solely by his word, and would vanish
before freshman's applications of the primary
canons af criticism. He offers no summary of
suits achieved by the army under his command,
and the few positive assertions upon which he ven
lures conflict with each other.
Judge Kelley then proceeds to dissect Gen.
McClellan's article controverting him at al
most every point. He says:
But for the instant, earnest, and persistent CO.
operation of National Democrats the Government
could not, believe. have crushed the rebellion and
restored the Union. Dix and Stanton were Demo-
Gratis, who served till the close of Buchanan's Adj
ministration in his Cabinet; Morton, of Indiana,
Tod and Brough of Ohio. who were distinguished
for courage and energy among the illusrious group
of War Governors had been lifelong Democrats
and might add the names of hundreds of Demo-
Gratis of State National reputation who promptly
sought service in the Union army. But the highest
enthusiasm for the National cause was exhibited by
the rank and file who, ignoring party names OF
distinctions, with the jubilant shout: I'VE
are coming, Father Abraham three hundred
thousand more" swarmed into the Union
camps of every State, and illustrated the
popular devotion to country and flag by COM
polling the President to accept the services of tens
Of thousands of men for whom he had not called
but whose services would evidently be needed Yet
the headquarters of the General in Chief soon be-
came rendezvous for the master spirits of the re-
dictionary force Here frequent conferences were
held in which Messrs. Valiandigham and Geo. H.
Pendleton, of the House, and Senators Milton s.
Latham and Henry NJ. Rice were conspicuous
These meetings were characterized by prominent
Democrat who revoted from their objects as a
continuing caucus for the consideration of plans
of resistance TO all measures which proposed to
strengthen the army or the navy, to provide means
for their pay, sustenance the munitions of war and
means of transportation and to devise means of
embarrassing the Government by Constitutional
bubbles and legal subtleties.
The author reviews carefully and logically
the relations that existed between President
Lincoln and Gen. Mcclellan, their volumi-
nous correspondence during the year follow
ing Midsummer of 1861, and the tardy
military operations of Mcclellan when forced
to move by the absolute command of the
President.
Judge Kelley writes as one thoroughly
familiar with his subject, and with great
force and pungency. He knows how to ex-
press himself in a way that cannot be mis-
understood, and is at all times bold enough
to do so. The book is one that many thou
sands will read with keen interest. AS we
have said, probably no one now living is
competent to write such book, from his
own knowledge, except Judge Kelley; and
none can say that he has not done well his
self-imposed task.
ENDORSING THE VETERANS RIGHTS
UNION.
In General Orders, No. Z, published in the