Year: 1863

a man whose only misfortnnIesis in
not being an Abolitionist Hear
what the National Entelligendsr says:


From the National Intelligencera ls.]


In the present season Of rational
adversity and trial, whensths hearts
of the bravest are moved b3 tae sight
of their country's misforsnle, sand
when the hearts of others arsaaiiing
for fear of things which, asss sap-
prehend are yet to come non the
land, every good citizens sa q to
,himself and to- the gov n1 st s Fl &
express with freedom, but yes with
respectful Difference, the opinions he
entertains and the counsels which he
deems appropriate to the emergency
that IS on us.


After much reflection, and with q
full sense of the responsibility which
it involves, we feel it our solemn
duty at this juncture to avow the
deliberate but earnest conviction that
the President cannot, by any one act
do so much to restore the confidence
of the nation as by the recall of Gen
eral Mcclellan to the command OF
the Army of the Potomac. We IN
tend no disparagement to General
Hooker, and we are sure we do him
no injustice when we say, that while
as the commander OF corps Or q
division, he deserves and possesses
the confidence of his companions in
arms and of the entire country, he
cannot hope, in his present position,
to inspire in the breasts of either the
same confdenceas General Mcclellan
And, in avowing this opinion, we
are very far from anguring inevita-
bic disaster under the military direc-
ton Of General Hooker, for in so do
ing we should write with as little OF
prudence as knowledge. He may be
equal to the situation, and, should
the President deem it best to retain
him in his present command, we shall
seek to be convinced of the wisdom
with which that determination shall
be taken; but, with our deliberate
convictions in favor of the superior
advantages possessed by General
Mcclellan for coping with the de-
mands Of the hour, we cannot Tor
bear to express the opinion we have
lust announced.


We commit ourselves ct this time
to the support of no thesis with re-
spect to General Mcclellan S military
capacity. We simply say that wheth-
er regard be had to the morale OF the
army, to the defense Of this capital
or to the expulsion Of the invading
foe, General Mcclellan is the man
for the hour. All concede that the
private soldiers of the ARM Of the
Potomac love him es they love no
other man. All concedc that he ls
skillful defensive general, and the
whole country knows that he has had
special opportunities for studying
the defense Of Washington while
in the matter of expelling the invad-
ers from Maryland and Pennsylvania
he has already had the advantage Of
former experience in which he was
successful, whatever may have been
his actual Or imputed shortcomings
in failing to "destroy the enemy be
then defeated and foiled.


In giving expression to these views
We know ourselves to be rejecting
those Of multitudes who are among
the most thoughtful, as they are
among the most patriotic Of our
ceuntrymcn. The thoughts of the
people are turned to Genera! McClcl-
Ian and his former comrades at this
crisis. In proof Of it we have but to
advert to the fact that at a meeting
held at Harrisburg On the 18th inst
to take measures fer the defense Of
that capital the Hoa Simon Cameron
the late Secretary Of War than whom
none other should know General Nc
Clellan better, said that, while he
had every confidence in the present
commander of the department, such
men as Mcclellan Or Franklin, in
whose leadership the people had
every confidence, weuld rally to their
standard every loyal nan" He &C
coEdingly ''called upon the governor
to send FOR General Mcclellan to
take charge Of the militia Of the
state"


General Mcclellan would doubtless
do well at the head Of the militia of
PENNSYLVANIA. But he is more
needed at the head ofh; old leglors,
because there be could do more good.
Let the President restore him to
the command, give him unrestricted
control of his movements, and then
hold him responsible for his conduct
in the face of the country. We be-
lieve that if he were again placed at
the head of the army it would be
equal to a reinforcement Of its ranks
b7 tens ef thousands. At his call
we are sure that multitudes who, in
their dissatisfaction, hare left the
flag, or who are reposing at home
from the fatigues of war, would rally
once more to the standard Of the
country under their trusted and