The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-08-15
SPEECH or PRESIDENT LINCOLN.


Fsllop. Citizen; believe there Is No pro-
cedent for my appearing before you on this
occasion, (applause, but II is also true tberc
Is no precedent for your being here yourselves,
(spplause and laughter y and offer in justi.
6cation Of myself and Of you, that upon
examinati ton have found nothing In the
Constitution against II. (Renewed applause.)
I 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, and
better address your understanding than l will
or could.
I propose but TO detain you . moment
longer. (Cries, "Go on-tar and feather
the rebels.') I am very little inclined on
any occasion to say anything q2|e" hope
to produce some good BY It. lAv0icc. "You
do that-go on" Tho only thing think
Of just now not likely to be better said BY
some one else, is matter which We have
heard some other persons blamed for what
did myself. (Voiccs-" What Is itf")
There has been very widespread attempt
to have quarrel between Gen. Mcclellan
and the Secretary Of War. Now occupy .
position that enables mo TO believe at least
these two gentlemen arc not nearly 30 deep
In the quarrel as some prcsuming to DO their
friend. (Crics Of good!'O
Gen. McClellan's attitude Is such that In
the very sel6shness Of his nature no cannot
but wish to be successful, and hope he will
be ;.and the Secretary Of War Is precisely in
the tn same situation. II tho military com.
mandcrs in tho field cannot be successful, not
only the Secretary Of War but myself, Tor
the time being the master Of them both, can
not DO but failures. daughter and ap-
plause.)
know Gen. Mcclellan wishes TO be sue
ccssful, and know no does not wish 1t any
moro than tho Secretary Of War for him,
and both Of them together no moro than
wish It. (Applausc, and cries OF "good.')
Sometimes VIC have dispatch about how
many men Gen. Mcclellan has had, and
those who would disraragc him say no had
very largo number, and those who would dis
parage the Secretary Of War insist that Gen.
Mcclellan had very small number.
Tho basis for this is, there is always q
wide diliercnce-and on this occasion, per.
hans, wider onc-between the grand total
of General McClcllan's rolls and the mon
actually Ct for duty, and those who would
disparage him talk Of tho grand total on pa
per, and those who would disparagc tho Sec
retary Of War talk Of those ut present lit
for duty. Gen. Mcclellan has sometimes
asked for things that tho Secretary OF War
did not give him.
Gen. Mcclellan Is not to blame for asking
for what no wanted and needed, and the SEQ.
rotary of War Is not to blauo for not giving
whom he had none TO give (applauso and
laughter, and cries Of "Good, good. y; and
I say here, 90 far a. know tho Secretary ol
War has withheld no ono thing ut any time
in my power to give him. (Wild applause
and voice, "Giye him enough now.'O
believe he is brave and able man zap
plause), and I stand hero, as Justice requires
me to do, to take upon myself what has been
charged upon tho Secretary Of War, as with
holding from him. havo talked longer
than expected to ferries of-No! no 80
on)-and now avail myself Of my privilege
Of saying no moro.