Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-17

Reply TO his COfieague, the Hon.
and Rev. John A. Guriey
Mr. Chairman, obtained the floor on yester-
day to give prompt answer to the elaborate at
tack made by my colleague Mr.. Gurley) on Gen.
Mcclellan. i was not unaware that my colleague
had thus prepared himself. 1t was bruited about
that we were to have a dissertation ON the con
duct of this war which would annihilate its pres
ent managers / wish that my colleague could
plead the impulse of the moment for his speech;
but give more significance to his labored effort
because it betokens a plan-and in which my col
league plays his rOle-to get rid of the gallant
Major General. in whom repose the hopes and
the confidence of the people. If his speech had
been made by Democrat, it would have been
said that it was an attempt to aid secession; to
cripple our credit at home and our honor abroad;
TO undermine the popular faith in the power of
the Government to conquer peace and restore the
Union Ii twOuld have deserved, according TO the
practice now obsolete, prison in a sea bound
castle.
do not understand, nor will attempt to ana
I'VE, the motives of my colleague. If were to
Judge of his intens by the effect Of his speech he
would discourage the army in their efforts, and
the people in their payment of taxes His speech
will aid the rebellion, not so much because it was
spoken by him as because il seems TO be part
of plan, outside and inside of this House, to be-
get distrust and SOW discord. do not know, sir,
how much weight will be attributed to. my col
leagues military structures. If his facts are no
better than his conclusons-and will demon
strate that neither are cOrrect-hs speech will only
go for what il is worth--the scodng of an uh-
military Congressman.
NV colleague began with the cry that Generals
are nothing; that if any General wasincompetent,
to take him away. He read from the Richmond
Dispatch to show the errors our Generals had
committed. The article read was so full of SLAM
der aud ialsehood that he himself corrected a part
of it, He charged the COMMANDMENT Chief with
causelessly holding back our eager soldiers Tor
months. He charged him with denying to them
the victory which was in their reach. He said
that no man living was it to command over three
hundred thousand.
Mr.. Gurley-I said six hundred thousand.
Mr.. Cox-I have read the gentlemans speech
in the Globe, and | am right. He further said
that il was not only anti republican and unwise,
but alarming 20 the last degree. He found fault
with his plan--as he claimed TO know ito at
tack the enemy's whole line at once 1T all points
He said this was unwise because it was impossible
He did not approve of the Generals "nice and
precise adjustment of military affairs before the
army moved. He wanted the army to overwhelm
the enemy without waiting for orders from Wash
ington CITY. He sien undertook, by statement
OF facts as 10 the affairs at Romney, in Missouri
and Kentucky, TO deprecate the character of that
Commander in Chief He demanded that the
army should move at all hazards, unrestrained
by a single hand. He thought he saw in the ac-
cessi0n OF Mr.. Stanton streak Of sunlight, for
he (Mr. Stanton) was like brave Ben Wade of
Ohio. He thought, if we did not move soon our
reputation as military people would about equal
that of the Chinese; and then my colleague wound
mp his speech by the figure of the Anaconda in
which lie tried 10 be humorous at the expense Of
Gen. Scott, who originated the trope. and finally
he was for stirring up the anaconda, even though,
like the snakes from Tenedos in Virgil, they
wound their tolls around the most sacred Of our
hopes TO crush them forever. This is the analysis
Of my colleagues speech. es-.e..
On the very eve, sir, of the most important
movements, and when, too. our army in one sec
tion has already given earBesti IN carrying out
successfully one part OF Gen. McClelan's scheme,
We have ihis most in0pportune display of impa-
tience AGAINST Gen Mcclellan. | would rather
have heard u from any other than an Ohio mem
Der. Ohio gave Mcclellan his first commission
/ remember t. have seen him when he came with
aacrity 10 her capital TO accept this mark of our
Governoss trust How well he repaid the conf
denee Western Virginia answer; and il all
his plans there bad been carried out by the sub
ordinaies with vigor equal 10 their wisdom. We
would had less trouble and more glory IN that
campaign srte
As To the advent of the new Secretary OF War,
Mr.. Stanton, whom my colleague halls a
''stFesk Of light in the gloom, do not believe
that he will delight IN such hapg. coupled with
such railing al his friend. the General IL is too
much like the ''as haill" of the witches 10 Mac
beth. Laughter There turks sinister object
e this congrstnlation. It was intended de-
precautions Of Mcclellan; as if the errors and 10
compesepey of the late Secretary Of War ought
to be shared by the General. /, sir, "a much and
more sipcerely than my colleague welcome the
new Secretary. His advent is the hsrbinger Of q
better day, when the General Aenergy can be
seconded by the termination and intelligence
os an accomplished civilian and an honest man.
But my colleague would hurry the army into
a poxement now "at all hazards" !" because for
eign nations may soon interfere. donot under
stand this logic. He would have Us risk every
thing for fear Of trouble from abroad " e may
have foreign war; but this nation should not haz
ard is own existence from scrsile fear Of Eng
land OF France If he had been a Democrat he
would not have been 50 fearful Of every move
ment abroad. Choate said he loved the old De
mocracy because they had gay and festive
defiance Of foreign dictation. - - = E.
Mr.. GarIey-ihatis is he party Of which rss
q member. .s 49,. 49,, ~, n.
Mr Cox-Then my colleague has been a ren
eg1de 70 his ancient faith. am sorry for it. We