New-York daily tribune., 1862-05-09

gard to a sy,tem of internal improvements. Since
that day TO the prosent time, may say that have
M least had something TO do with every work OF m-
provement connected with the progress Of ths city
and State. The first efforts Of my pen were directed
in iurtheraneo Of the great policy Of internal i'm
proyemeuts which brought forth our canal system.
] next abored for years 10 secure the erection oil
railroad from Harrisburg Lancaster, though laughed
at a. visionary boy who talked about carrying cars,
wagons and frt ight on rails by steam. j am reminded
here Of an expression made az one Of the meetings
which we beli in favor OF that railroad project
GOr st that time in tie habit OF persuading my
friends 10 go around the country and convene meet
inQs by which means might be enabled 10 talk 10
the ueOple on my favoite theme Of the desirabiliy
Of railroad communication and its importancel-one
of the auditors upon this occasion lthe meet
ing being held at Elizabethtown) was one
known as Abraham Harnly. a very In
in that neigbborhood. During the course Of my
marks ] had happened TO ray, 81 have 10 doubt,
gentlemen, there many OF you present VINO VIII
live to the day when man can eat las breakfast
al Harrisburg, 90 TO Philadelphia lone hundred
mies take his dinner, transact hs bnhinesi there,
and return home to Harrisburg in time to 20 TO bed,
az usual, IL the evening" There was silnutane-
ous roar of laughter from the audience, which had
hardly ceased when this old very cOnidentially
whispered in my ear, "Simon, | am glad You told
them about going TO Pbiadel phia and back again TO
Harrisburg in day because that will make them
take the shecrS (shaTesl, IaE yOH anil 4 kH0U al
0bon that :" lLaughterl | leave yon TO Judge
gentlemen, whether lay prediction was verified
After having proved successful in my endeavors ~
behalf Of the railroad from Harrisburg 10 Lancaster
became engaged in project 10 construct road
from here to Chambegsburg, then again to Baltimore
then again TO Sunbury, the place Of my bOyhoOd
and also to Reading. all Of which, an glad TO state
are now prosperous, and IN most successfdl opera
ton i mention this, gentlemen, not boaslfuly but
10 show what may be accomplished by Il determined
will and night purpose.
In responding TO the sentiment Of our worthy
Mayor, my intention, gentlemen, was simply 10
speak TO you faniarly as friends and nelgbbors,
without referring 20 10y control OF the war Depart
ment, over which had the honor to preside, but 10
view OF charge recently made against me because
OF my exercise OF the delegated power with which
intrusted it may bs proper for me TO cay to you
a few words in relation thereto. took seat iaft
year in Mr.. Lincolns Cabinet against my own jDde-
ment wthou; consulting lay tatte for the position,
and may cay, Against my own determination. l
resigned that poet, wien | thought my mission wae
ended in organizing equipping, aud snppying under
the most adverse clrcumstances, larger army than
had ever been raised in the same space OF time ht
any period of human history. When j did accept
the place it was with the perfect understanding be
tween Mr.. Lincoln and myself that whenever
thought proper 10 resign should be privileged to DO
20; and when vacancy occurred IN the appoint
ment to Russia, he offered me the post, anu was
glad 10 accept it. Why, gentlemen, toied 10 that
Department ar no man ever toiad before; / have
old you that in my younger years worked for
twenty hours ont Of the twenty y-fonT for uccessive
months but that labor was nothing in com
parson with the overpowering toll which i
at Washington. To ray nothing OF
the extraordinary Necessities OF the Depaf ment
hr1siDR from an unforeseen and Threatening neiiQpa