The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-08-20
causing State &epnbliean.
MORNING. AUG. sosh. lsss


The following is the speech OF President
Lincoln, delivered at the recent great war
meeting in Washington. 1t is unique and
Characteristic of the man. 1t is honest to the
last degree. The President takes upon himself
the blame, If any there be, for Withholding
troops from Mcclellan, and thus exculpates
Secretary Stanton, and at the same time e1-
presses his confidence in Gen. Mcclellan, that
he has done all he could do under the circum-
stances, and that he will do all in his power to
succeed in this struggle.
We think this plain, outspOken, honest speech
of the President, should put to shame those
who have been waging blind and senseless
warfare against Secretary Stanton on the one
side, and Gen. Mcclellan on the other. II
President Lincoln, in whose honesty and ability
all profess to have the utmost confidence, can
find no fault with the conduct of those officers,
with all the light which surrounds him, it lily
becomes those who sit in comparative darkness
here is the speech. 1t will pay for the perusal:
FELLOw-CITZENs: l believe there is no prece-
dent for my appearing before you on this Occa-
sion applause but 1t Is also true that there Is
no precedent iOr your being here yourselves
applause and laughter; and OTTER in justin.
cation OF myself and of you, that, upon eAamin-
alton, have found nothing in the Constitution
against it. Renewed applause. 1, however,
have All impression that there are younger gem
tlemen who will entertain you better Oices-
e No, nO-none can do better than yourseli-go
on i l and better address your understanding
| than will or could, and therefore 1 propose
| but to detain you moment longer. lCries-
:. Go on. Tar and feather the reDels' l am
| very little inclined on any occasion to say any
thing unless l hope to produce some good 10y It.
A voice You do that; go On. The only
lhiog think OF just now not likely to be better
| said by some one else, Is matter IN which We
have heard some other persons blamed for what
4 did myself. Voices" What is it?' There
| has been a very widespread attempt 10 have a
quarrel between Gen. Mcclellan and the Secre-
tary of War. Now, occupy a position that
enables me TO believe, at least, that these t"o
gentlemen are not nearly 20 deep in the quarrel
As some presuming To be their friends. Cries
of "GoOd'l Gen. McClelians attitude is such
| that, in the very selfshness oi his nature, be
cannot but wish to he successful, and hope he
| will, and the secretary OF War Is precisely II
the same situation. II the military commander
in the field cannot be successful. not Gully the
Secretary Of War, but yseif, tor the time
being the master Of them both, cannot be but
failures. Laughter aud applause. l know
Gen. Mcclellan wishes to De successful, and
know be does not wish II any more than the
Secretary of War for him, and 10th OF them
together no more than wish II. lApplaus,
aud cries Of " GOOd."I Sometimes We nave d
dispute about how many men Gen. Mcclellan
has had. and those who would disparage hin
say he has had very large number, and those
VINO would dlsparage the secretary OF War In
! sist that Gen. Mcclellan has had very small
number. The basis ior this is, there Is always
| q wide difference, aud on this Occas lou perhap:
| q wider one, between the grand total on Nc
Clellan's rolls and the men actually ut for duty
and those who would disparage han
talk OF the grand total on paper
and those who would disparage the Secretary
| of War talk OF those at present bit for duty
Gen. Mcclellan has sometimes asked Tor thing:
that the Secretary of War did not give him
Gen. Mcclellan is not to blame for asking fol
what he wanted and needed, and the Secretary
of War is not to blame for not giving when h
had none to give. Applause, laughter and
cries of I" Good."] And 4 say here, so for as !
know, the Secretary Of War has W,thhesd no on'
thing at any time AZ my porer to g,ue ham
Wild applause, and voice, Give him enough
now.'0 have no accusation against him.
believe he is brave able man (applause), and
| stand here, as justice requires me to do, ia
take spom myself Whut has been charged upon
the Secretary Of War as rithhoiding from ham
have talked longer than l expected to dc
(cries of '.No no; 20 on''), and now avail
myself Of my privilege of saying no more.