The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-08-15
Speech Of President Lincoln.

President Lincoln was greeted with
great enthusiasm when he appeared upon
the platform at the immense wnr meeting
held in front Of The Capitol on the eth
After the band had played "Hail TO the
Chief" the President, in response 10 inn
patient calls, advanced 10 the front Of the
platform, and spoke as follows:
Fellow Ciiizens-I believe there is no
precedent for my appearing before you on
this occasion. (Applause.) But it is
also true that there is no precedent for
you being here yourselves (applause and
laughter,) and offer in justification Of
myself and you, that upon examination
have found nothing IN the Constitution
against it. (Renewed applause. have,
however, an impression that there are
younger gentlemen who will entertain you
better--( (Voices--No, no--none can do
better than yourself. Go on. land bet
ter address your understanding, than [
will or could, and therefore propose to
detain you but moment longer. (Cries
Ego on" "Tar and feather the rebels.")
am very little inclined on any occasion
TO say anything, unless l hope to produce
some good by it. A voice-"You do
that. Go on p')
The only thing think OF just now, not
likely to be better said by some one else,
is a matter in which we have heard some
other persons blamed for what did my
self.
(Voices-Wbat is IL ~
There has been very widespread at
tempt TO have quarrel between Gen. Nc.
Clelan and the Secretary Of War. Now,
occupy a position that enables me to be-
Iieve, at least, these two gentlemen are
no; nearly so deep in the quarrel as some
presuming 10 be their friends. Cries OF
"good.'O
Gen. McClellan's attitude is such that,
in the very seIfshness Of his nature, he
cannot but wish to be successful, and |
hope he will, and the Secretary OF War is
precisely in the same situation. If the
Military Commander in the field cannot
be successful, not only the Secretary Of
War, but myself, for the time being the
master OF them both, cannot but be fail
ures. daughter and applause.) know
Gen. Mcclellan wishes to be successful,
and l know that he does not wish it any
more than the Secretary Of War for him !;
and both OF them together no more than l
wish it. (Appisuse and cries of "good."")
Sometimes we have a dispute about
how many men Mcclellan has had, and
those who would disparage him say he
has had very large number, and those
who would disparage the Secretary of
War, insist that Mcclellan has had a very
L. L., of al e kl,a~
is always a wide difference, and on this
, occasion perhaps wider one, between
/ the grand total on McC,ellan's rolls and
: the men actually fit for duty, and those
Q who would disparage the Secretary Of War
g talk Of those al present fit for duty.
n Gen. Mcclellan has sometimes asked
= for things that the Secretary Of War did
/, not give him. Gen. Mcclellan is not 10
|, blame for asking for wha. be wanted and
f needed, and the Secretary Of War is MOI
. 10 blame for not giving where he had
7 none 10 give, (Applause and laughter, and
cries Of ''good good, ,") and say here
r SO far as l know, the Secretary Of War has
o withheld no one thing at any time in my
power to give him. wild applause, and
; voice "give him enough now.") Ihave
9 no ACQUISITION against him. / believe he
. is brave and able man, (applause,) and
l stand here, as justice requires me
g to take upon myself what has beer
&c charged upon the Secretary of War, al
ID Withholding from him. l have talked
10 longer than l expected to, (cries of "no
.. a. no, go on, and now l. avail myself G
~ ~ my privilege of saying no more.