Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-02-19
Inc Language of Patriotism-Speech of
General Burnside.

y
for the purpose of rendering aid to tn
sick and suffering in the army, Gen. SooT.
presided. Gen. Burnside, being present
was called out and made brief speech
Below will be found all his remarks tina
were of general interest The reader
will not fail to observe the noble contras
between the sentiments and spirit Of Gen
BURNsIDE's speech aud that Of he derna
goeues and rebel sympathizers, who, af
tectiDg 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 divisioH il the North in sid OF
The rebellion. Gen. BURNSIDE said
You may expect ne to say fsw words
| in reference TO the condition of the army
with which have been SO lately identi.
! fed. a wrong impression is existing in
tie community witt. reference to that con-
dillon. Some persons are impressed with
the Idea that that army is in demoralized
state. That is not the case. The sol
dierS are as brave as ever they were
They are well clothed. well fed, well arm
ed, and as long as they are well, are able
to take care OF themselves. Oar officers
are becoming more experienced every day.
There is no such decentralization in the field
which the conversation in the street and
In private circles would indicate. There
IS not that adherence to any special prin-
c1pte, to any special set Of men. or Laaos. or
Partae8 among the soldiers, as some pe0ple
indicate. They remember and appreci-
ate, and feel that while it is noble and
grand to entertain personal friendship and
personal love for their commander, they
at the same time fully realize that it is ig-
Eominous 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 hoIre which
probably have done some harm, and vet
to 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
discouraging letters have been written to
soldiers in the field. We should try TO
correct that, and write encouraging let
ters. Many dlscOuragiDg speeches have
been Nade, ami IL some cases, public our
nall>ts have written discOuragiDg para
graphs, WulCn have fallen under their
eyes, and some Gisc0uraging pamphlets
have been written and sent 10 the soldiers
Il
lnany conversations related to them take
place with the soldiers. heard man in
Washington the other day, near me-sie
did not know me; [ was in citizens
dress and he WAS talking to halt
a 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 Admnistration-and he was doing the
Administration harm at the time. | heard
another man, coming in the cars, last
night, talking to soldier, and be talked
an strain that I cali reasonable. He
was trying TO impress this soldier with the
idea that he ought not to return to his
duty in the field that this aoar had become
q political OGr-that the President of the
United States, (only he used very oppr0-
brious epithet in speaking of him. was
fighting for a 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 |
10 l.
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
eminent, it is our duty to be temperate
in our expressions, and use all the powers
that We have within the limits of the Con-
8titution to do our duty TO the Govern.
ment as it now is. We are fighting against
the people of the South simply because
they did not want to live under a Presi-
dent elected in accordance with the Con-
stltutlon OF the United States, and | know
we would be doing very wrong to think
for one nnoment, OF course, of attempting
to 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 right to maintain
snch people about him as he pleases. 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 demorallzing the army in
the tield-but they are not demoralzing it
to any great extent. am sure of that 1t
is demoralzed probably no mere than any
large army in the field has been some time
dusing lis existence.