, 1862-08-09
THE GREAT WAR MEETING
AT THE CAPITAL,
President l. Iincolnss Remarks.
TAKES THE RESPONSIBILITY,
Washington Dispatch to the n. 7. World. ]

r. Washington Dispatch to the n. 7. World
WASHINGTON, August 6, 1852.
The immense meeting st the east front Of |
the capitol this afternoon Was preceded by |
the ringing Of bells. the firing Of cannon, and
music from the Marine Band. The portico
aid platform were occupied By many ladies,
and military, civil and naval Officers Of dis |
tfnctlon.
No ruler Of nation was ever received with
mote enthusiasm than President Lincoln
when he took the platform this afternoon
The multitude swaged. with expectation.
IhouEands looked TO MIN as al oracle They
-"ere burning tor one determined sentence,
one significant ord, ono glo 4 ing pledge of
leaceT=hlp. AL felt that at thi= juucture such
IN ntterance would ring through the land and
honest disappointment then fell like rain upon
The people when BIZ. Lincoln, after taking the
responsibility Of Gen. McClellan's camp .ign,
positively re1ustd to utter a sytanls more.
The historic words remained unspokcn. Con
greszsneu, governors, and the general throng
shared md manifested genuine regret; nor
Tas the sentiment confined to any party or
clique
TIE PRESIDENTS spEECH.
| Three cheers were given for the president,
| aid, atssr the band hid played t'H4l to the
Chief" the president, in response to impatient
| calls, adqanced to the front Of the platform
| aEd spoke as follows:
FELLow CITIZENS: believe there is no
Precedent for my appearing before you on
ibis ccc7sion, {aprlause,l but 1t is also true
that there is precedent for you being
bcre ,,ourselves;. {applause ana laaga:
ter; ard offer, IN Justification OF myself and
OF yon, that. upon examination, I have found
| nothing in the constitution against it. IRE
newed applause-] I. however, have an inl-
preston that there are younger gentleman
who will entertain you better. Voices,
mo, no-none can do better than your
al and hot
standing than will or could, and thetetcze
| propose but to detaln you L 1doment longer.
i [Cfics-" Go OF! Tar and feather the rebels!'1
am vers little inclined on any occasion to
say any thing unless I hope to produce some
good br it. IA voice. ou can do that; 20
on''l The only thing + think df just now
lot likely to be better said by some ono else,
is 4 l1laItcr III which We have heard some o.her
persons blamed for what I did myself Voices
-"N hat is it There has BEEN 8 very wide
spread attempt to have quarrel bet Eecn
Gen. Mcclellan and the Secretary Of War
! Nov, I occupy position that enables ms
to btlieys, at least, thGt these Two gentlemen
are not nearly Eo deep in the quarrel as
some Pre- Eumirg to be their friends. [Cries of
"Good."l Gen. MeClellan's attitude is such
that, in the very seltishness Of his nature, he
cannet but wish to OF successful, aud hope
he + i'll, and the Secretary OF War is precisely
III tlc same situation Il the militarc eo,a-
mander in the field cannot be successful, nut
only the SECRETARY OF HAf, Out mT5t Tor tue
tine being the master Of them Goth, caanot
be but failures. Laughter a2d aoplrase.1 ]
know Gen. Mcclellan wishes IN be successful,
hid iAoR be does nut wish it any more than
-the: E, cresny Of nar fer him, and both OF then
. t Together lo Ejo5t tnan wish it. Applause
aCd cries Of "Good."] Sometimes We have
| = dispute Low many ten Gen. Mcclellan his
hed, and those Tho would disparagt him say
: he i:as had very larys number, aud .hnse
who wt uls disparage the Secretary Of WI
insist that Ger. Mcclellan las had i yer1
sr:a!l number The basis for this is, there i:
always q wide difference, and on thi:
| ! occasion perhaps wider one, between
! She grand total on General McCle!;a1's
r rolls and the nen actually fit for duty
: and 1hcse who would dlsparage him talk o
! the graud total oo papur, aud tnose whit
would diGparage the secretary Of war tall
: Of those ut present fit for dusy. General Nc
C1cllan has sometimes asked for things tha
: tnv secretary Of ~ar did not give him. Gen
!, t Mcclellan is not to blame f,r asking for wh2
a | be wanted and needed, and the secretary O
T war is not to hl.u!r for not giving when he ha
4 none to give. [Applause, laughter, an
/ crits Of "Gooa.'l Aud sa
n L=rc, so far Us I know, the secret:lr
+ If war las withheld no one thug At an
' time in my poHer to give him. Wild az
/ | plause, and voice. ''Giye him enouy
! Hcw!'l Eaye Eo accusation against him
il believe be Is q bEaSe and nble man, Iappfau5e,
c md staEd hare. as justice requires me to de-
e to 7akc upon myself what has been charge
+ upon the secretary of was as withholdiu
l. fTUn hin. I have talked Longer than c1
: ! rect.d to, ferries OF ~ No, no, go on,''l az
# nov avail myself Of my privilege Of Eayin
- | No Jnora-