East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1862-08-26
speech OF Col. %. B. WiicOx st t,le
Reception in WashingtcEs.
From the New York Herald.

| SeulcHtlOuS anu Original Itulns. III
was probably the ablest orator Of tn
party, and made himself popular direct
| ly. His thorough earnestness were ar
parent. Colonel Wilcox is Of the mid
die stature, dark complexione,l, thick
set aud he wears dark beard. III,
bears some traces of confinement an,
i'll treatment. Colonel Wilcox, upol
rising, was received with enthusiast
cheers He said:-
Fellow SOLDIERS AND Fellow CTT
zENs-I feel greatly embarrassed b,
such an exhibition of popular feeling
For my own part, feel that / hav'
done no more than my duty, in tn,
simplest and plainest manner, and it i:
almost rebuke to This age, &c III
government, to this country that wher
a man simply does his duty he shoulc
be so highly applauded. [Cheersl ]
do not believe that there are ten meT
in this vast multitude, who, had the,
been placed in, subjected to the jeer,
and taunts Of an Internal Southern DO
gus chivalry, but would have had every
feeling of their manhood, every true in
stinc: rise up in revolt, whether they
were half men or half Americans. [Cries
of "good, good. There is no one in
this vast crowd who's not willing to gc
through such trials if ca He'd upon, and
there's no telling to what extent this
year may reach. In the same building
in which we were confined for day OF
two there We're twenty nine officers as
excellent and gallant as ever fought un.
der the free stars. But how were they
confined? In the worst and dirtest
building of the worst and dirtiest city
10 the United States laughter and
prolonged applause without blanket
TO lie on without cup to drink from, a
plate to eat from, without a knife or
fork, without soap or any means of
cleansing plate or person, covered with
vermin, and refused the opportunity of
purchasing for themselves the common
est and meanest necessaries of life. A
voice" Retaliate, retaliatel' Now,
gentlemen, since my departure from the
country there has heen great change
l myself could hardly understand it,
and when | began tn talk to one of my
friends, ho said, "Why, Wilcox, you
are Rip Van Winkle come again. You
are talking about things that have pass.
cd away So it seemed. | am very
glad that it is at last understood, that
It is time we put forth the strength Of
the nation in an effort that shall cvuirol
that shall concentrate, grasp and hurl
all the resources of the government in
such manner as to- crush this rebel
lion out entirely, to annibilcte those
men or to drive them into the Gulf of
Mexico unless they lay down their
arms. The Government must employ
all its resources in concentrated unity
of design. (Cries of That's the talk y
1t must strike at the main arteries of
this monster, that is ready to swallow
up our liberties Will you have my
views? | am no politician, and speak
views but my own. | am mac
customed to speech making. For
year past have been accustomed to be
treated as a felon. Cries-"Give us
your views."] Now, gentlemen, with
out casting any reflection upon any mil
itary man, or any politician or states.
men, or officers, it appears to me this
has been brainless war. Cries of
That's So" cheers and immense ap
plause. say it with the utmost diff.
dence. utmost haste, throwing myself
upon your mercy, merely for the pur.
pose of doing good. aaH.Ha
Conference.-The means of the coun.
try have been wasted on isolated expe-
1itions, in the first place. [Cries of
Yes, and in the loss of our young
men, The blood of our men, the
yroans of the wounded, the tears of the
children the walls of the widow, nave
been coined into money. [Cres of
We'll said" and applause For this
'eason, men without principle and with.
'ut patriotism have urged upon gov.
tender rs | have before des
,iibed, plans which seemed practicable,
,ut which We're outside, unmiiitary and ]
lever could accomplish anything, and
lever have accomplished anything. Ex
,editions hsve been sent far aud wide,
outside of the proper line of operations,
Iere and there on the coast, while we
ave armies of men, millions of money,
nd people whose hearts bounded to
he very heavens, and would have re.
ponded to any call, and have submit.
ed 10 any control or dictation that the
wisdom Of the government might think
sseatial to its welfare, for the purpose
{ striking at the main arteries of this
ebellion, cutting them anj so making
rapid termination of this combination
Cries of That's So" and applause.
tow, gentlemen, this is common sense
Cries of That's so,"l Now, gentlemen
,ok at the difference We have now
t the head of the army man who
tards first among men in the nation
'ho has distinguished himself as a
latesman, and in his broad aud com
rehensive views--more so, perhaps,
IAN any mere soldier-who has distin.
uished himself as soldier in addi-
on. Everything that proceeds in this
,rm in this war will emanate from one
rain, with united design to accom-
ish great results, and let little politicians
nd little contractors 90. [Cries of
,.l ~...1 D. .l.,,,l n. D.. |