Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-05-19
Presentation to General McClelIan..The
Generals Speech.

0ShSA0A'o RPVCNhs
On Thursday last, May l4lh, the committee
from the Common Council Of Washington to
present the resolutions of that body thanking
General MoCLELLAN for bis defense Of that city,
waited on the General at bis house on Thirty
seventh street, New York. The occasion was
a very happy one, and an interchange of mutual
gratitude and good feeling. The resolutions
are neatly engraved on parchment, surmounted
by the figure Of an eagle. The following are
the resolutions
Resolped, That we, the Board of Aldermen
and Board of Common Council Of the city Of
Washington, fully appreciate the military ser
vices of Major General George Mcclellan In
defense of the city OF Washington. and we
hereby tender to him the heartfelt thanks Of
the citizens thereof.
Resolusd further, That copy of this resolu-
tion be forwarded by the Mayor to General
Mcclellan.
JOSEPH F. BROWN,
President Board of Aldermen.
ALEX. r. SHEPHERD,
President Board OF Common Council.
Approved jan II, 1863.
RICHARD WALLACE, Mayor.
The following gentlemen composed the dele
cation appointed 10 proceed to New York and
make the presentation on behalf of the citizens
Of Washington;
Charles K Entermehle, Chairman Thom-
as E. Lloyd, Alderman William Ripley, G.
c.; Thomas H. Donohue, G. c.. G. W. Eu-
termehle, General Peter F. Bacon. Colonel
Y. Davis, Major Rhinehart, Captain P. NJ. Du-
bant, Samuel Sylvester, William Spaulding,
Frederick Harvey, Joseph G. Clay ton, Jo'
seph F. Hodgson, Charles II, Anderson, Sam.
uel Fowler, Samuel Moment, Wallace w.
Kirby, and William Chandler.
The committee arrived at General MoCLEL-
LAn's residence at Eve o'clock on Thursday
afternoon, and were conducted to the pnrlors.
General FITz john PORTER was also present.
A circle having been formed about General
MCCLELLAN and the chairman, the presentation
speech was made by the chairman of the com
mittee, Mr.. CHAs. X. EETERMEHLE He said:
GENERAL McCLELLAN: The Mayor and Com
mon Council OF the city of Washington have
ordered us 10 present you with thls copy of joint
resolutions, recently adopted unanimously by
the Common Council OF Washington, to express
the gratitude felt by them aud the citizens Of
Washington for the great services you have
rendered n defence . chat city.
Mr. E. then remarked that The loyalty Of
Washington bad been questioned and migDed; !;
but he vindicated It against all such assaults.
After briefly reviewing the career of Gene raj
MCCLELLAN as connected with the defense of
Washington, the speaker again said the soldiers
of Washington had fought bravely and verified
the truth Of the poets sentiment:
Dulce ct decOrum est pro patra mori.
In concluding he presented the engraved res.
outions, asking the General to accept the pres
ent q, the sentiment of sixty Thousand loyal
citizens who counted it their pleasure as we'll as
their duty to do honor to whom honor is due.
General MCCLELLAN replied ss follows:
Mr. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN: II IA with
unusual pride aud satisfaction that receive
this testimony of the confidence of the ci.izeps
of Washington, not only because IL Is the capital
of our nation, but because, as your chairman
has hardly adequately expressed, you were the.
first who were thrown directly In the path of
this civil war, ana thus made to bear the first
brunt. Had you not proved faithful to your
trust and truly loyal, our capital would have
gone before the North could have raised its
hand to save ii. l never have thought that
sufficient Justice has been done to the citizens
of Washington in this regard, but history will
do you justice as your own conscierees do
now. i hope no instance will ever arise
when you shall feel called upon to defend
your loyalty; that is too universally conceded
to permit any one to be base enough to doubt
It, 1t is true l once did find Washington
threatened BY victorious army Il is rue
that most OF the anxious hours OF my life and
probably my most barassing labors have been
spent in trying to secure the safety of Washing.
ton. That IL was secured was due entirely to |
the gallant troops had the honor to command.
| take this high honor ae one paid to them, and
regard myself in this case as merely their rep
or exponent, to whom you choose to
present this. | know they will feel we'll re.
warded for oil their dangers and trials when |
knowing that those most vitality interested 10 |
the safety OF Washington were satisfied with |
what We did. | feel doubly honored that 90 |
many of you have taken the trouble to make |
this long journey to do me this honor. have
not words to express my feelings In this case.
1t is an honor higher and greater than deserve.
! truztyou will receive my most heartfelt thanks
and convey to the Boards Of Aldermen and
Councilmen ard to the citizens of Washington
my warm and sincere thanks; and hope that
the fortunes of war shall never again make it
necessary that | shall be called to the defense
of the capital. hope Washington shall never
again be threatened by any hostile force, either
springing from the bosom OF our own country
or coming from some foreign land, aud that
your dangers and trials are over forever -
loud applause)