Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-02-18
The Language of Patriotism-Speech of
General Burnside.

Commission III new OK ldSI SATURDAY
for the purpose of rendering aid to the
sick and suffering in the army, Gen. SooT1
presided. Gen. BURNSIDE, being present,
was called out and made brief speech
Below will be found all his remarks that
were of general interest. The reader
will not fail to observe the noble contrast
between the sentiments and spirit of Gen.
BURNsIDEs speech and that of the dema-
goeues and rebel sympathizers, who, af-
fecting great devotion to the Constitution
and extraordinary zeal for personal rights,
are doing what they can to stir up Sc
dition in the loyal States, and thereby
make q division in the North in aid of
the rebellion. Gen. BURNSIDE said:
You may expect me to say few words
in reference to the condition of the army
with which | have been so lately identi-
fed. A wrong impression is existing in
the community witt. reference to that con-
dltion. Some persons are impressed with
the idea that that army is In a democrat zed
state. That is not the case. The sol
diers are as brave as ever they were
They are well clothed. well fed, we'll arm
ed, and as long as they are well, are able
to take care OF themselves. Our officers
are becoming more experienced every day.
There is no such Decentralization in the field
" hich the conversation in The street and
IL private circles would indicate. There
% not that adherence TO any special pTin-
cipte, TO any special set Of men, o.. laos, or
parties among the soldiers, as some people
indicate. They remember and appreci-
ate, and feel that while it is noble and
grand to entertain personal trieL dsb ip and
personal love Tor their commander, they
at the same time fully realize that it is ig
nominious and low TO give Blind adher-
ence TO any man, TO any name, or to any
specific line OF policy, either political or
military. They are in the field to give
their whole strength and energy in support
of the Government.
We make mistakes here at houe which
probably have done some harm, and yet
10 no great extent, and might do more if
pursued. but | think that our people IL the
main, when they find themselves wrong,
will generally right themselves, aud |
think this mistake will be righted. Many
Encouraging letters have been written to
soldiers 10 the field. We should try TO
correct that, and write encouraging let
tiers. Many discouragiug speeches have
been made, and IN some cases, public iJur
nalists have written discouraging para
graphs, which have fallen under their
eyes, and some discouragiDg pamphlets
have been written and sent 90 the soldiers
All these things have done harm, and
IuaDy conversations related to them take
place with the soldiers. | heard man in
Washington the other day, near me-he
did not know me; | was in citize Us
dress and he was talking to half
dozen admirers about him-say
that he wished and hoped to see
the guillotine established again--he
wanted to see the heads rolling from the
block by the thousand. | heard another
man, who was trying to show some special
enthusiasm In favor of the Government
the Administration-and he was doing the
Administration harm at the time. | heard
another man, coming in the cars, last
night, talking to soldier, and he talked
an strain that I call reasonable. He
was trying 30 Impress this soldier with the
idea that he ought not to return to his
duty in the field that this oar had become
q political so0r-that the President of the
United States, (only he used very oppro-
b-ious epithet in speaking of him. was
fighting for political party-that these
men were being sacrificed in the field for
that purpose. This was wrong The SOL
der did not seem to believe it. He did
not seem to be of the same opinion, and
prayed that he would not be. There are
mistakes in our private circles and in our
intercourse every way. | think, at the
same time, we should entertain opinions
with reference to the policy of the Gov
ernment, it is our duty to be temperate
in our expressions, and use all the powers
that we have within the limits of the Con-
stitntion to DO our duty TO the Govern
ment as il now is. We are fighting agains t
the people of the South simply because
they did not want to live under a Presi-
dent elected in accordance with the Con-
stitution of the United States, and know
We would be doing very wrong to think
for one moment, OF course, of attempting
10 force the Government Of the United
States to give up what the Constitution
gives it the right to do. The President of
the United States has a right TO maintain
such people about him as he peases. The
Constitution gives him that. He has been
elected for four years; half of his term is
gone; if the people don't like him, at the
end OF four years they can change their
policy. | DO not mean 10 say by this that
the people do not like him. | do not ex-
press my opinion But these are the
things that are demorahzing the army in
the tield-but they are not demoralizing it
To any great extent. | am sure of that. 1t
is deinoralized probably no more than any
large army in the field has been some time
dusing its existence.