The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-02-13
The Abolition AssaiIants of Gen.
cral Mcclellan Eycoriatcd.
SPEECH OF HON. Mr.. COX, OF OHIO, IN TILE
H0TSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Il
II0TSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..
In the House Of Representatives, on the
30th ult., Hon. S. S. Cox, Of Ohio, re-
sponded to the attack on Gen. McCLELLAN
and the conduct Of the war made IN an
elaborate speech by Mr.. GuRLEY, of Ohio.
one of the 'on to Richmond and Bull
Run brood OF Congressman. Mr.. Cox
demolished the Reverend GURLEY by his
facts, wit and arguments. and ably defend.
ed Gen. MCCLELLAN from the attacks
made on him by the anti-slavery fanatics
We make few extracts from this speech
and only regret our inability to publish it
entire:
My colleague, in his attack upon the
General in command, meant to attack also
the President. or he meant nothing. He
knew that the President WAS General Nc
Clellan's superior officer; that all that Nc
Clellaa had done or had not done was
approved By the President. He was. how.
ever. gracious enough to say that the
President would not Set up his opinion in
military matters in antagonism to his Gen.
eral in Chief; and he would, no doubt, for
this. commend the good sense of Mr.. Lin.
coin. as l do. But if the President in thus
acting was sensible. what sort of sense is
it for member Of Congress. whose life
has been passed, too, in shumping the pull
pit desk laughter. and whose thoughts
have been less upon the eagle and more
upon the dove, to set up his opinion against
the skill and education Of the General in
command? If it were not bad sense, sir
it would be nonsense. Why did not my
colleague. if his motive was good. 60 to
the President. and with his array Of maps,
telegraphs. facts Of emission and commits
sion. lay before the President his military
conceptions? Why does he have them
delivered here, before the nation? Was it
to display his military erudition? or was
it to crafty wha! he thinks was the popu-
lar prejudice and impatience. to which he
would administer, regardless of conse-
quence? Why did he not so to Gen. Nc
Clelan aad verify his facts before he used
them for the public disservice?
GURLEY AS A MILITARY CRITIC.
My colleague compels me to examine into
his merits as military critic particularly
and the propriety of military movements
here in Congress and elsewhere by civil
iaus. My colleague will admit that he is
not military man by education. nor &
soldier. like Falstaf. on instinct. Laugh.
ter. His profession was that Of gospel
er. Laughter.l His studies do not Fl
him to discuss martial subjects. We de-
not 60 to blacksmith TO have watch re-
paired. nor to matchmaker to have oul
horse shod. We do not 60 Carolina fol
cheese [laughter]. nor to the Western
Reserve for cotton. l can we'll imagine
how fine scholar. as is my cole agle
might, like Beaumont's Elder Brother,
sit IN his study, and mount upon the
wings of speculation, and
Hourly converse
With kings and empcrors, and weigh their coun
sells,
Calling their victories. if unjustly got,
Unto "A strict account, and in his fancy
Deface their i'll placed statues
But, sir, criticism on the art OF war, &c
be valuable now. must be backed by spe
ci6c study and experience. What has
been the study and experience Of my col
league?
The country was thoroughly Disguised
with the part Congressman played at Bull
Run. Laughter in the galleries. 1t may
be remembered with what jocund levity
the House adjourned to go over to see
our army march upon Richmond No,
one of us ever got there. except my friend
from New York Mr.. Ely laughter who
made his exile 80 conspiculously honora.
BILE in the use he made of it in behalf oi
his fellow prisoners. The House may rs.
member that opposed the adjournment
then on the ground that. by going over the
river, We would only get in the way of the
solderq. Ii turned out that the soldiers
got in the way of the Congressman.
Laughter.
GURLEY's RETREAT FROM BULL RUN.
There will be, Mr. Chairman, empyrics
in medicine, pretenders in religion. petit
foggers in law. mushrooms in vegetation,
secessionists in government, snobs in SO.
ciety, and we must not be surprised al
military wiseacres in Congress |! Laugh
ter. Since my colleague has hurled the
glove at Mcclellan. have right to ex-
anime his claims as a critic He admits
to being at Bull Run. His mastery ac-