The weekly Butte record. [volume] (Oroville [Calif.]) 1858-1864, 1862-09-20
Speech of Col. Wilcox at Washington.

ington, August 18Th, Colonel Wilcox, who had
been imprisoned at Richmond, spoke among
Others. He made nervous, thrilling and eff
fective appeal, Astounding il senteutious aud
original truths. He was probably the ables;
orator Of the party. and made himself popular
directly. HIS thorough earnestness and con-
seieniiousness were apparent. Col Wilcox,
upon rising. was received with enthusiastic
/ cheers. He said
Fellow Soldiers and Fellow Citizens feel
greatly embarrassed 10y such an exhibition Of
popular feeling. For my own part, feel that
have done no more than my duty, in the SIM
/ plest and plainest manner, and it is almost a
rebuke 10 this age. TO this Government, to this
country, that when a man simply does his duty
he should be applauded. [Cheers,l DO not
believe that there are ten men in this vast null
titude, who, had they been placed in the same
circumstances that we have been placed in,
subjected to the jeers and taunts Of an infutia-
ted Southern bogus chivalry, but would have
had every feeling of their manhood, every true
instinct, rise up in revolt, whether they were
half men or half American. Cries of Good.
good. There is no one in this vast crowd
who is not willing to 90 through such trials if
called upon, and there is no telling to what ex-
tent this war may reach. In the same building
in which we were last confined for day or
two, there were twenty.nne officers. as excel.
lent and gallant men as ever fought under the
free stars. But how were they confined ? In
in the worst and dirtiest building of tue worst
and dirtiest city Of the United States laugh
ter and prolonged applause without a blan-
ket to lie upon, without cup to drink from,
without a knife or fork, without soap or any
means of cleansing face or person; covered
with vermin, and refused the opportunity of
purchasing for themselves the commonest and
meanest neceSsaries of life. \ voce-aRe-
taliate retalate"'l Now, gentlemen, since
my departure from the country there has been
a great change. | myself could hardly under
stand it, and when | began to talk to one of
my friends, he said, "Why, Wilcox, you are
Rip Van Wrinkle come again; you are talking
about things that have passed away" So it
seemed. I am very glad that it is at last IN
derstood that it is time we put forth the
strength of the nation in an effort that shall
control, that shall concenter, grasp and hurl
all the resources of the Government in such a
manner as TO crush this rebellion out entirely.
to annihilate these men, or to drive them into
the Gulf Of Mexico, unless they lay down their
arms. The Government must employ all IFS
resources in a concentrated unity of design
Cries of That is the talk" II 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
nobody's views but my own. do not wish to
make speech. am unaecustomed to speech
making. For a year past have been accus-
toned to be treated as felon, Cries-"Give
US your views" So much has been said
about views that hesitate to do so. Cries
" You need not be afraid" Now, gentlemen,
without casting any reflection upon any mill
tary man, or any politician, or statesman, or
officers, it appears to me that this has been a
brainless war. Cries of That's So" cheers
and immense applause I say it with the ut
most difiidence, utmost haste, throwing myself
upon your mercy, merely for the purpose of
doing good
Gentlemen The means Of the country have
been wasted on isolated expeditions in the first
place. Cries Of Yes, and IN the loss of our
young men, The blood of our men, the
groans of the wounded the tears of the orphan.
the walls of the widow, have been coined into
money. [Cries of * Wesaid," and applause
For this reason, men without principle and
without patriotism have urged upon Govern
ment, tender as l have before described it,
plans which seemed practicable, but which
were outside, unmiitary, and never could &C.
complish anything, and never have accomplish
ed anything Expeditions have been sent far
and wide, outside of the proper line of opera
tons here and there on the coast, while we
have armies of men, millions Of money, and
people whose hearts bounded to the veiy hea-
vens, and would have responded to any call,
and have submitted TO any control or dictation
that the wisdom of the Government might
think essential to its welfare for the purpose OF
striking at the main arteries of this rebellion.
cutting them, and so making a rapid termina-
ton Of this combination. [Cries of That's
So" and applause.l Now. gentlemen, this is
common sense. [Cries of" That's sol Now,
gentlemen, look at the difference. We have
now at the head of the army man who stands
first among men in the nation, who has distin-
guished himself as statesman, and il his broad
and comprehensive views, more so. perhaps,
than any mere soldier-who has distinguished
himself as soldier in addition. Everything
that proceeds in this form in this war will ema-
nate from one BRAIN with a united design to
accomplish great results. and to let little re-
-l+- o,J E4.la r,oliticianc and lttla contractors