Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-06-11

TO the Presidents orders. out between him
and me there has never beer the slightest
shadow since l entered the Cabinet, and ex-
cept the retention of the force under Nc
Dowell by the Presidents orders for the
reasons mentioned, General Mcclellan has
never made request or expressed WISH
thar has not been promptly complied with, II
in the power of the government. To me,
personally, he has repeatedly expressed his
confidence and his thanks in the dispatches
sent me.
Now one word as to political motives.
What motives can have to thwart Generai
Mcclellan | am not, never have been,
and never will lie candidate for any othce.
| hold my present post at the request OF the
President, who knew me personally, but to
whom l had not spoken from the 4th of
March, 1861, until the day he handed me
nv commission. knew that everything
that cherish and hold dear would be sacri-
feed by accepting the Office. But thought
might help to save the country, and for
that was willing to perish. If | wanted to
be a politician or a candidate for an office,
would | stand between the Treasury and the
robbers who are bowling around me? would
provoke and stand against the whole news
paper gang in the country, of every party
who to sell news would imperil battle! |
was never taken for fool, but there could
be no greater madness for man to
encounter what do for anything else than
motives that overleap time and look forward
to eternity. | believe that God Almighty
founded this government, and for my acts in
the effort to maintain 1t | expect to stand be-
fore Him in judgment. You will pardon
this long explanation, which has been made
to no ons else. 1t is due to you, who were
r hos ,NxNl
and had no claim upon your confidence or
kindness. 1t cannot be made public for OBJ
vlous reasons. General Mcclellan is at the
head of our chief army, he must have every
confidence and support, and l am willing
that the whole world shall revie me rather
than to diminish one grain of strength need
ed to conquer the rebels In struggle like
this, justice or credit to individual is but dust
in the balance.
Desiring no office nor honor, and anxious
only for the peace and quiet of my home.
suffer no Inconvenience beyond that which
arises from the trouble and anxiety suffered
by worthy friends like yourself who are nat
urally disturbed by the clamors and caum-
MES of those whose interest or feeling is hos
tile to me. The official records will at the
proper time fully prove
First-That l have employed the whole
power of the government unsparingly to sup
port Genera! McClel!an's operations.
Sscond-That | have not interfered with
nor thwarted them in any particular.
Third-That the force retained from his
expedition was not needed and could not have
been employed by him. that it was retained
by express orders of the President upon mill
tary investigation and upon the best military
advice in the country. That its retention
was required to save the Capital from danger
to which it was exposed by disregard of the
Presidents positive orders of the 9th of
March.
Fourth-That between the President and
myself there has never been the slightest
shadow of difference, upon any point save
the detachment of Franklin's force; and
that was a point of no significance, but in
which was sustained by General Hitchcock,
Meigs, Thomas, and Ripley, while the Presi-
dent yielded only to an anxious desire to
avoid complaint declaring at the same time
his belief that the force was not needed by
General Mcclellan.
iou will of course regard this explanation
AS being in the strctest confidence, designed
only for your information upon matters
wherein you have expressed concern for me.
The confidence of yourself and men like you
Is full equivalent for all the railing that
HIS been, or can be expended against me ;
and in the magnitude of the cause all merely
individual questions are swallowed up.
shall always rejoice to hear from you, and
am as ever, truly yours,
EDWIN M. STANTON.
REV. HAMMOND DYER.