Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-05-24

ment, and if in place of attending to my
duties, L had been content to receive men at
my house and treat them to the hospitalities of
my social and political posit:5sa, or allowed
them to control me in the discharge of my
duties, those men who now attempt TO SLAM
der me would now be most profuse in COM
plment and profession. More than this.
had / remained in the War Department
until this vote came off, ! should doubtless
have received the compliment paid to my
late and esteemed colleague, Mr.. Welles.
Laughterl He was charged with having
improperly employed man to purchase
ships yet the House of Representatives
voted down resolution to eensure him by
about the same vote that they censured me
for having secured the services of an en-
ployec. Mr.. Welles obtained the assistance
referred to long after the excitement and
confusion attending the commencement of
the rebellion had ceased. / did so at time
when the country was almost totally bereft
of n government, and when We did not know
whom to trust.
Now, gentlemen, could narrate to you in
this way many incidents of official connec-
ton with the War Department Were it
necessary would give you some particulars
connected with the history of this man
Dawes, who appears to be most active in
the persecution against me. | understand
he Is little prosecuting attorney, living
some where in Massachusetts. | am well
aware of the real cause of his enmity, and |
will briefly state it. Some people of Massa-
chusetts, especially about the good city of
Boston, own nearly all the stock in the Will
mington and Baltimore railroad. Notwith-
standing that road has accumulated more
money on account of this war, by the trans
pOrtation of troops and war material for the
government, than it ever did before in
double the length of time (Which fact was
chiefly owing to the confidence entertained
in its President,) yet the management of the
road were displcased because certain por-
tion of the troops were ordered to Washing
ton via Harrisburg and Baltimore. When
the bridges on the Wilmington and Balti-
more road were burned, it became absolutely
necessary to construct new line of travel
to Washington. BY my direction, the Pre-
sident of the Pennsylvania railroad, Mr..
Thompson, in connection with the Whining
ton road, made arrangements to run line
OF boats from Pcrryvile to Annapolis, and
succeeded in getting the project into sue
cessful operation. This new route was used
until the Baltimore and Ohio road was taken
possession of by me for the government, and
until the bridges of the Wilmington road
were rebuilt. In the meantime, an arrange
mcnt was made by the Harrisburg, Reading
and New jersey roads, to reduce the fare
from six to four dollars from New York to
Baltimore, per soldier. But my action in
| this matter took money out of the purses of
gentlemen in Boston, and Mr.. Dawes, who
appeared to represent the interests affected,
became my enemy. This Is the only reason
for his opposition of which am aware.
do not know him further than that he was
frequently hanging about the War Depart
ment in common with other applicants for
special favors. Having my whole time Oc-
cupied in preparing an army out of raw and
undisciplined soldiers, of course may have
run counter to the desires of such gentle
men, and consequently, they now return the
disfavor
This theme is by no means a pleasant one
| for me; but after the recent wrong which
has been done me l felt that when talking
| to my old friends and neighbors | would do
myself the simple justice to speak plainly
| 1t would be needless for me TO attempt to
convince you Of my honesty of purpose and
intention in every official act Of my life. |
am known to you personally, and feel will
ling to abide by, and will fully appreciate
your decision upon my character Us your
|
leave you with great reluctance. 1t has
been the dream of my life to go abroad in
some position that would enable me to catch
a proper glimpse of the beauty and grandeur
Of the old world and as the time draws
near when l shall bid you parting adieu,
| approach it with pain caused by the scpa-
ration from old and dear friends.
Perhaps l have said enough-it may be
too much. | desire to state to you, how
ever, that my relations with the President
have always been those of the highest respect
for that distinguished gentleman. | enter
tain as great a respect for him as for any one
with whom l have ever been associated
He is an honest, high-minded gentleman, as
well as faithful public officer. applause }
This rebellion will be ended after while,
and with it We will end the cause of this
and all future internal strife, as | hope
| Great applause.) | have never been an
abolitionist. / am not one now. But If
had the power, i would call into the field
every man able to shoulder q musket, whc-
ther he be white or black, that this war may
be brought to a speedy and certain close.
And l believe we will come TO that. | do
not believe that, after while, when the hot
Southern climate is killing our soldiers who
are fighting for the government, our people
Will NC COHtclb ~ Stt lnclT SOllS anu DlOlHcIs
die, when men acclimated to the South are
able to defend the country and of their own
strength and will, to drive all the rebels out
of the land. [Applause.] There cannot be
a doubt about how this slavery question is
to be settled in the end. But, so far us
am concerned, | am willing to leave its
disposal TO the Great Ruler above. would
not punish the deluded rank and file after
they have laid down their arms; | would
not harm one hair on the head of single
individual who was enticed or seduced upon
misrepresentation to join the rebel army
but had the leaders, would do with them
as ! said l would do with the Mayor OF
Baltimore when he asked the President to
send back the national troops from Cockeys
vile, and not allow them to pass through
Baltimore. said "lct me alone, and will
hang him and his whole posse upon the trees
around the War Department" Had | been
allowed to do so, our troops would nevel
have been impeded in their march through
that city, and by such course the rebellion
would now have been crushed. Such ar,
my opinions on that question, which, per
haps, sometimes express unwisely for my
own good; and this is another reason fo
I H.. N...- Il. IL.