Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-04
A Friendly and ..Co,nrorting' speech
To the Rebels

The Hon. and Rev. JoHS a GJRLEY, VI. c.,
from Cincinnati. delivered speech in the House
last Wednesday bitterly denunciatory of the man
ayers OF the war. lie charged the entire delay
of the onward march OF the army from the Poto
mac to Missouri, to the inaction. and We may
add, inferentially from his remarks, to the inca
pacity Of Gen. MCCLELLAN We make extracts
from the Rev. GURLKr. to present Republican
view Of the conduct of the
But what means this long delay in attacking
the rebelli3us forces? Sir. our army HIS long
been ready and anxious TO fight, our soldiers burn
with desire 10 strike at the trators-the mldmen
who have risen up against the best Government
in the world-and our subordinate officers are
chatting and painting for the battlefield; but what
avails llthisg They have earnestly cast about for
a bold and daring leader, ready for the great con
test, but where Is her Sir, echo answers in the
far distance-irhre is hel 1t is painful to con
fess the real truth on this subject this late day
Thus far they and the country have looked in
vain for a commanding General Commander
in Chief | mean--who has exhibited the will and
the requisite enterprise and genius to lead our
forces to victory. But why not fghtg What
lion is that which stands in the wayg Il il fear
ed that if we fight somebody will get hurt? or is
il the ghost OF Bull Run still lowering about and
haunting the minds of our commanding Gener- !
alsr Sir, we have lost more men in camp by or
binary disease aud sickness during the last FIVE
months, than we should have lost. in all human
probability, In half dozen engagements in the
field. Not only so hundreds of millions
Of money have been spent, and one Of the
largest armies in the world gathered. only to re
main, II would seem. comparatively idle. and 10
become weak and demoralized by inactivity in
camp.
IN a.. -. =. ~ 4
in the WAY OF the onward march of our troops,
who holds in hrm check more than half a million
Of menl Then ! say take him out Of the way,
and let his place occupied by another, If this Is
the only remedy for u terrible evil Generals are
nothing of themselves in this great contest when
thrown into the balance against the honor and
integrity OF the Union. Sir, it the angel Gabriel
had command of our forces. and he failed to do
his whole duty and march out against the enemy,
| would at once petition that court 10 which he
holds allegiance, aud ask for his instant dismissal
Sir. I prefer no charges against him That he
is good and loyal man have no doubt; that he
Is brave Offices Is perhaps true; and thtt he Is
skillful commander shall not now question: but
that docs not live. thas msu does not breathe
in my Judgment, who can command with that
success required six hundred thousand men, scat
tered over territory extending over two thou
sand miles: and vet ne has been holding the
thread that guides and controls this vast body of
men. larger than any man OF modern times has
commanded. Indeed. sir. the destiny of this
great Republic has long hung upon the vohtion
co. hs viii, Tor the army that must decide the
we'll or woe of this country only moves as his
mind directs. IL requires no great military sci
encetO decide, il requires nothing higher than
common sense "a comprehend the fact that il J.
impossible Tor m.,n standing upon the banks of
the Potomac 10 guide and control an army in dc
tail a thousand or miles distant so - 70 sue
cessflllv meet the sudden exgeuceS that must
arse. requiring almost instant movements AMI
attacks upon the enemy. Nothing short OF ON
niscisnce aud omnipresence would qualify him
for - vast responsibility and - great 4 work
No other Government invests its Generals with
such unlimited authority; and although France
and England have some OF the best trained. best
esiucatet and ablest Generals in the world. no
man has been found high enough. no man has
been found great enough To receive the supreme
command OF even three hundred thousand sol
diers. Sir. the idea that the destiny OF this
mighty Republic. with it, army of halt a million
men. with its great wealth, ~ multiplied inter
ests. IT, hopes and fears should exclusively rest
with single General in the field ani he an un-
tried man, with almost unlimited power. j. not
only anti republican and alarming. but monstrous
to the last degree
Sir. am informed, on authority which am
not PEI nittei 10 question. thai some three weeks
ago from ten 20 fifteen thousand C0uledera In
the neishborhood Of Romney. were virtually ia
the power Of division Of our army, numbering
about forty thousand General Lander sent a
messenger TO General KELLEY. saying IA substance.
We have got uem now eertan-j0in me, and
General Kelley without the kpOwleI-e Of such
a messenger, seat Oae OF his own bearing ssm
lar message. showing thai they both concarrel in
the same thing. Meanwhile. one o. these Gen
erals teIegraphei General Banks u advance on
one side. while ne advanced upon the other. but
unfortunately, autographed Al the same time 10
head quarters in reference "a what going on
when an answer came in the torn OF an order u0t
70 advance. accompanied with a severe reprin,and
for even the suggestion. and this. too. when able
officers ca the ground saw or thought they saw,
more than ten thousand men completely IN their
power The capture of this army. which vas Al
most surrounded by N immense force OF ours,
about forty thousand men would have hrei the
whole country with enthusiasm. and lifted the
nation I'D from general distrust Of the efficiency
of those in high command That the battle
wouli have sadly broken IN upon some great
as4ftff.a