Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-11-02
Gen. Mengher ON NIcCleIIan-The
Sentiments Of n Real Soldier.


General THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER, the
Irish patriot and soldier, delivered an ad-
dress for LINCOLN and JOHNSON, last Thurs
day evening, October 9th, in the Capitol at
Nashville, Tennessee. The most brilliant
portions of his speech, and those which
elected the heartiest and most enthusiastic
applause from an audience composed large
ly of soldiers and Abolitionists, were those
in which he referred to the character and
services of Gen. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN. Gen.
MEAGHER, true and heroic soldier himself,
has the magnanimity and courage to ac-
knowledge in MCCLELLAN those merits and
qualities which none but the basest and
most reckless politicians have the temerity
to deny him. With one sweep of his elo-
quence he brushes away the cobwets Of
falsehood, Misrepresentation and slander,
which Abolition tools and LINCOLN toadies
have labored so sedulously to weave about
the name of the first General OF tire Ite-
public. Here is an extract from Gen. MEA-
CHEERS speech, the effect Of which was, ac-
cording to an Abolition correspondent to
carry the audience away in frenzy of en-
thusiastic applause:
Pronouncing in favor of the Baltimore
Convention and its nominees, as matter Of
course l pronounce against the Chicago
Convention and the nominations emana-
ting from it. Hear, hear, hear.] This l
sincerely regret being compelled to do, for
l widely differ from those who assert that
General Mcclellan personally Is unworthy
ofoccupying the Presidential chair. Loud
cheers for McClellan.] Highly cultivated,
refined in manner as in mind, deeply imbued
with reverence for all that is virtuous,
wise and heroic in the history of the Re-
public, proud of his nationality and sensi-
lively jealous of the honor of his country,
l am satisfied that no man could bring to
the discharge of the duties of the Presi-
dency a better spirit, nor to the position
ITSELF exalted as it is, a more appropriate
graecfulness, manliness and dignity. Loud
and continued cheering.]
In his truthfulness, in the goodness of his
heart, in his disposition to serve the country
faithfully and earnestly, whether in civil
life or in the field, to the utmost of his abili
ty, have the fullest faith, loud cheers;]
and this faith not only repels but resents
the imputations against his loyalty and
courage, in which those who do not know
him have seen fit to indulge. Loud cries
of hear. hear The firm gentleness with
which he has borne these aspersions, con-
firms in my mind the belief, that tempera-
ment so well disciplined as his, nature SO
magnanimous, demeanor so ehivalrously
decorOus, qualify him personally, in a SUI
perior degree, for the highest office in the
gift of the people. Loud cries of bravo,
Meagher, and enthusiastic cheering.] As
to his evasion of the dangers of the battle
field, all shall say is this-that if General
Mcclellan was not under fire at Fair Oaks
and Malvern Hill, neither was the Irish
Brigade, tremendous cheering,] and this ]
should have said before the Committee
on the Conduct of the War, had / been
examined by that Committee. Loud and
l)ng continued cries of hear, hear, and
deafening cheers.l An upright and exem-
plary citizen, an accomplished and judicious
soldier, true to his men as he was true to
his flag, [hear. hear, hear,] indefatigable as
he was scrupulous in his work, honest and
fearless, hear, hear, hear, nothing, repeat,
can with any serious force be justly urged
against him personally in derogation of his
claims to the Presidency. Enthusiastic
cheering, and cries of well done Meagher.]
For my part, If any man, in my presence,
dare call General Mcclellan traitor or a
coward, will not stop to argue with him
Il will at once knock him down. 1 will
answer such assertions only by a blow-and
an Irishman's blow at thatl