The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-01-03
Speech Of Gen. Lane, Of Kansas, IN the
United States Senate, on the Conduct
Of the War.

SpOONh VI OSh LduOj VI AhHndb, III JUc
United States Senate, on the Conduct
Of the War. ......... ......
Mr.. Lame sad Mr. President. do not
dosiro to conceal my motive IN introducing
this resolution. As a citizun aud Senator.
l have the right of criticising the acts OF
the Government; and moan to ekorcise it
with tho tuIl flush of truthful patriotism
kindly but fearlcssiy. cordially but search
ingy. ....0 ....
will waste no words. I do not wish
uselessly to consume your time But the
hour is. when truth should DO spoke. in
these Halls aud tina. plai0ly. | declare.
then, as u Tact which all fnanciols will adnu.
aud no statesman dispute, that every days
delay in the vigorous prosecution Of this
war Is pregnant With porii 20 the Republic
Sir. this is u war of the people. Whom
Sumter fell. iEoy became u unit. Party
pr,judlccs were scattered, personal hates
forgotten. Reused by their wrongs, .hey
pr0ifcred their strength and pledged all
thcir resources 30 avengo an Injustice which
ihreatouod to destroy the huest Govern.
meut of Garth. Manassas followed a fear.
tul reverse, aud seemingly u fatal dofEat.
But even that did not dash the spirit nor
shake the purpose OF the people The bulk
of the moment, the blood aud treasure lost,
only ducpeued their determination 10 crush
out the conspiracy. Such unity. such urdor.
such sacrllicus, tho world has rarely or mover
witnessed. E.... .t .....|.. ..
Sir, let me not bo misunderstood in this
matter of doIay. My c0ufidenco in the Ad.
ministratiun will not permit mo. for mo
ment. seriously to entertain the injurious
suspicion tina: this army we have created
SD admirable in spirit and discipline. 81
complete in all its appo niments--this mag.
nllicont organization, t0 which this conutry
has contributed ts choices spirits. and on
which it has iavished untold millions oi
trcasure-is destined, WITHOUT onO decisive
blow struck 10 a living burial in tho inglo
rious obscurity of winter quarters But
should this confidence proved 10 be mis-.
placcd--shoud this fatal policy of inactioi
seize upon tho energies of our rulers. foel
knotp, that the public announcement Of
me fact will bo as tho fro bell at midnight
ID snay and confusion will follow and the
evils of anarchy may intcrppso now and
fearful obstacles to tho restoration of that
GnvornmoDt whose chiut poril must always
result from the Ioss of coniidonco on the
part of the people. .....s d..
Fortunately. the people are as intelligent
as they are patriotic. They do not require
imposslbilitcs. nor insist upon premature
action Aud thus We arc brought 10 tho
consideration ot tho questions of strength
aud preparation.
Why 10 our army Inactive? Will it be
answered that il is still deficient in dsci.
pine: That reply would be as unjust rs
il is illogical. Ours is an army of voIun.
tn..,s vh, .nuat mt hp iuJgad nv tho ruIns
applied to regulars. You cannot d't'l I"
INTO mat mere mach'ne ~n'cn nartne's
consider tne perfection OF tihciency. In"
cil'1th soio'er Is an 'no'''uua' no amount
OF discipline can destroy ms Individuality
-FOUR months Oh industrious dri'' ample
time to prepare sueh troops Tor effectlv
service fro'ohgeu inac'Vny VIII hna'ly
discourage MS zea'' Inc prospect ot action
must be ever presen us an incentive ln'
action Is the bane OF tho voiantoer'
These opinions express win confidence
tor nave hhn large persNna' experl ence
IN tho management OF vo'phtecr soldiers
TIC training OF Two dis'iccl regiments du-
ring tho MEXICAN war, win subsequent
iao"rs IN hahsas' ano 'no campaigns OF inc
last spring ana Summer III missouri. have
given me practical Knowiooge on TINS sub
J"ct enu'ied 10 considerations
Inc regiments 'nat I"ugn' anu won INC
oat'ie OF buena VISTA wore uot as "e'' pro-
v'ded NJ the army OF tne fuomac, ana NOT
better urll'eu' sir, nave "hn'ssed the
drlil OF mat army; ana am shllshed that
It has reached tho MAXIMUM OF uRc'p'ine
attaIna0ie Dy V"iuh'eers' ava 'hat every dsy
o' mIc,ion now, 'enus W ''s INTERPRETATIONS ,,.
"m"e' a'S'' % sesa'ua u"o'I'"u, "o a'e
as 'u''y prepared ,or a'''ou ss ~o over s"a''
"o' we "a'o wv u"'a"'as" VI ~ S"po''o'NS, pS, "
'"a' ''spec'' lo 'no o"t' u"p.'J
uulceu observer uuri"g '"o 'ioA,ca" war
WI" 'esu'y '"a' u"e 'oe','pu'e n"., W"
N"rn 70 'ne 'AceIH"ce ct ''e'r ur'!.' lar
'Ae'eue" ,hose rom ."e stays s now !" ,o'
oe,''"' Our "pP"''e h'o, ~, ''"""'"'
Only wnen 'he'r ",n,'"ua,"y ipOy y" .o s''o~o S'l
VINO ngn',ng under c"V"rI"sa' mahassas'
Spr'hghe'u ahh ba''s DUN pl"'a'hR '"
mass on 'hr open he'a' We eau a'~ays con,
4ner; as a' Dry ""on' ~hers pu' "un"Ieu u
ha'SaS troops c"ecs"i a"' uU''o o'oN w"
U'"usa"u " reoe's anu :" '",so s',, ''o.o. ''''
Commentaries are thrtnse''es! ini'y aware,
h"cehtiy. AT spring h'Ver' eg"t nupuron
ha"s"s troops enc"nn''reu PIX .nouSand
reon's covered ny 'na' stream 'nu st n'nes
OF umber. lhis hahuin' o' "er"c "o"
"nefeo hent on 'ne open Na""' ""'o"
was oeohnfu oy 'ne eho"y ! o,nu m "'e'"so
'n"y expected nS 70 rePoae ."e.'"ny W ~,
saok'ne "'e," VI l.e" .''' "t;n, y, ~