Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-08-10
President LIncOln,s speech at tue
IRto War Meeting In WaShlnRLOn.

Three cheers we're given TO. the President and,
after the band had played "Hail to the Chief"
the President, In response to impatient calls,
advanced to the front Of the platform and spoke
as follows:
FELLOW CITIzESs:--I believe there is no pre-
cedent for my appearing before you on this oc-
casion applause but IL is alec true that there
is no precedent for your being here yourselves
Applause and IaughterE and offer, In justi6-
cation of myself and OF you, that, upon exami-
nation, have found nothing in the Constitution
against IL. Renewed spplause.l /, however,
have an impression that there are younger gen.
tlemen who will entertain you better Voices
"No, no, none can do better than yourseli-go
on ;" and better address your understanding
than will or could, and therefore propose
but to detain you moment longer. (Crles-
"Go on Tar and feather the Rebels!"l am
very little inclined on any occasion to say any
thing unless hope to produce some good by IL.
| IA Voice-"You do that; 70 on."l The only
thing 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
| did myself [Voices-"Whatisit2"j There
has been very vide spread attempt 70 have O
quarrel between Gen. Mcclellan and the Secre.
tary of War. Now, occupy position that
enables me to believe, at least, that these two
gentlemen are not nearly so deep 10 the quar-
rel as some pretending to be their friends -
[Cries Of "good."] Gen. McClellan's attitude
10 such that, In the very selHshness of his ma.
ture, be cannot but Wish TO be successful, and l
hope be will, and the Secretary of War is pre-
cisely In the same situation. II the military
commander in The aeld cannot be successful,
not only the Secretary of War, but myself, for
the time being the master of them both, can
not be but failures. Laughter and applause.
| know Gen. Mcclellan wishes to be successful,
and know he does not wish IL any more than
the Secretary of War for him, and both of them
together no more than wish It, Applause
and cries Of Good u fthf s
Sometimes we have dispute about how
many men Gen. Mcclellan has had, and those
who would dispsrsge him say he has had very
large number, and those who would dsparaee
the Secretary Of War insist that Gen. McClel-
Ian has had very small number. The basis
for this lie, that there is always wide difference,
and on this occasion peFhapa q wider one, be-
tween the grand total on McCleIlan's rolls and
the men actually ht for duty, and those Who
would disparage him talk of the grand total on
paper, and those who would dIspsrage the Sec
retary OF War talk OF those at present ft for
duty. Gen. Mcclellan has sometimes asked
for things that the Secretary Of War did not
give him. Gen. Mcclellan 70 not 70 blame for
asking for what be wanted and needed, and the
Secretary Of War Is NOT to blame for not giving
when he had none to give. [Applauss, laugh
ter and cries Of "GoOd.,'l Aud say here, 60
far IS know, the Secretary Of Was has with
held no one thing ct any time in my power to
give him. [Wild applause, and voice, "Give
him enough now."l Ihave no accusation against
him. believe be is o brave and able man
IapplAusel, and stand here, as justice requires
me TO do, to take upon myself what has been
charged upon the Secretary of War as withhold
ing from him, | have talked longer than ex.
pected to do [cries OF "No, no; 20 onj''] and I
now avail myself of my privilege of saying no
more. "A