Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-10-18
Iohn van Buren'- speech an Phiia-
dolphin.

stone Club. Philadelphia. on The 'th inst. Mr.
Tatiow jackson introduced the distinguished
orator. who poke - follows.
Mr.. Van Buren, commenced his remarks by
70 the political situation Of the hour
and the choice presented TO the people Of sup
porting either Abraham Lincoln or General Ne
AZ the commeneemeIt OF the war "
were called upon 10 sustain the legal head OF the
The contest was between the legi.
bead OF the government, and those who
sought TO overthrow the authority OF the Uaion
and the Constitution. In common with Others Of
the Democratic party, Mr.. Van Buren, felt called
upon % urge Tie people, whatever their views.
the policy of the govern ment not 70
their support from the legal authorities
OF the nstion or the prosecution OF the war IN
which We were engaged. At the same time that
the Democratic party gave an entire and unhesi-
tating support 20 the government. IL could Dot
but observe the departure Of that government
from the strict constitutional laws OF the coun-
try. and is disregard OF toe pure principles OF
liberty. save with deep regret and intense indig
nation. Applause The policy Of the gov
eminent was 30 unwise that at the commence
ment Of the war. with the armed rebellion IN
front and the deep dissatisfaction at the meas
ures of the-President in their flank and rear, It
seemed hardly possible that the administrator
could ride over the sea of difficulties that sur
TOllQtQ IL anu Tcdcu tue Gnu mat y uON udppl-
~, legitimately approaching. At that time il
was supposed by many that the Presidential term
would expire before we could properly discuss
the actions Of the President of the United States.
Aud now, TO use the language of his letter TO
Mr Blair. 1.-THE time has come" Laughter.
We are engaged in a war which has lasted
some three wears and n half. 1t has imposed
upon the country an enormous debt. 1t has been
destructive Of life, and it is still raging, and prom
ises to rage for an indefinite period. Ii is idle,
under such circumstances. therefore, 10 advert to
any other question. The questions that now
press upon the mind are: l. the continuance Of
the war at the present time, and has il been, a
matter of necessity IL it prosecuted with abil
ity. yigor and patriotism7 Is there a promise
that il will be so in the future by the existing an
thoritiesg Are they competent to negotiate a
pescel The charge is now laid upon the Admin
istratiOD that the war has been unnecessarily pro
tracted for partisan and political purposes by the
furtherance OF electioneering schemes and through
gross incapacity. Applause.
When the President came into power we had
DEBT Of sos .000, 900. The Secretary Of the
Treasury apprises US now that we have a debt of
81 1000 .U00, 900; and il the facts we're truly
stated. and the legitimate claims upon the treas
ury recognized. and the unpaid creditors of the
government satisfied. the debt would probably
reach $40, 900 600, 900. Added to that. in
county and township there is an enormous accu-
mutation of debt, necessary, IL may be, tor
bounties to volunteers and for various expenses
incident 10 the war, indispensable for the purpo-
ses of county and State taxation. We have a
war waging that is costing Us some three and a
bali millions of dollars a day; we have an army
OF nearly a million of men under pay, and the
people out Of their humble means are called upon
to support them. For the last three years the
49,. l-I4 - communicated e thu ratn sc nna
thousand millions a year. and there is a proba
bility. unless there is a change of administration
that it will accumulate as rapidly as that for the
future. Now. the people should remember that
the war hBs been prosecuted without ability and
without vigor. They should remember that pol
itics and not patriotism has been the distinctive
feature Of the war. and we all should remember
that the prosecution of the war and this accumu
laiion of debt lies at the door of the party that
has presented itself To US for at least aLother -four
years of power. Great applause
The war has been conducted with a disregard
Of advice given TO the Administration at its out
set. About the first of March Gen. Scott wrote
to President Lincoln. and told him that he would
require $50 900 men to prosecute the war. Was
the slightest attention paid 10 that 2 No. 10 900
men were called out. The riot act was read to
the South. (Geat laughter They were told
TO disperse, 60 home and keep quiet. Renewed
lsughter.) The Secretary of STATE said it would
blow over in sixty days. The President declar-
ed TO W. that nobody was hurt (roars OF laughter
and Mr Seward. on the banks of the Mississippi
comfortably we'd from danger. cried out.
who's afraid Z" Great merriment.) Said Mr
Van Buren,. | was afraid. and my worst fears
have been realized by the result. At the time
the war commenced there happened to be a young
general named George B. Mcclellan great ap
plquse). who was pu; at the head of our army.
aud who was rilled upon very shortly afterward
to furnish "A plan Of campaign upon which he
entered. Now since the time of his being placed
at he head of the army NJ to this hour no eli
fort has been spared TO embarrass him. Had the
whole object of the war been 10 destroy McClel-
Ian, and not the rebels, the efforts made to ac-
c~omplish the purpose reflect credit upon the pro
secutors. tCheers.) Bot that cannot be accom-
pIished without our aid (cheers), and il is proper
that VIC have a little to saw on this subject. When
General Mcclellan started for Richmond. he had
with him three corps d'armee. They were taken
from him from time to time during the campaign.
The corps were Wool's, Blenker's and McDowell's
and the last was taken from him in the very act
of battle with the enemy. on the way to Richmond.
In defiance of this. he came nearer TO Richmond
in July, 1862, than Grant is tonight. Cheers.
Or. to use IA stronger simile, he was IS near as
Lee was To Washington during the summer. Re
Dthitu tHttics
Now, this was done somewhat for a dread of
the sacredness of the Presidents own person
which he supposed to be in some terrible jeopardy
at the capital, as IL the rebels had not sense
enough To never take him while he could be so
useful To them where he was loud laughter),
and partly because Gen. McClellan's popularity
With the people was such that Abraham's lease
for four wears more was in danger. The Admin
i~stration has done another thing. IL has kept up
a steady trade in swapping horses. Laughter.
The President tells Us that il is not a good time
10 swap horses. TO use his own elegant Ian
guags. we are now in the stream, and we had
better hold on 70 him than run the risk of getting
a worse-a better person by letting him 60.
Great laughter. He has done nothing but
swap. He snapped Mcclellan for Pope. aud the
bloody battle of Bull Run followed. He swap
ped Pope for Mcclellan, and the splendid victory
OF Antietam was the result three cheers for An
tietam and that was the only commendable
swap be ever made. he swapped Mcclellan for
Burnside. and the terrible reverse of Fredericks
burg followed. lie snapped Burnside for Hook
er. aud Charlottesville showed the wisdom OF
the act. He snapped Hooker for Meade, and
Meade for Grant. Nor has the swapping been
confined to the army. He has snapped away his
administration Laughter He snapped Chase
for Fessenden. and Blair for Dennison. bis let
ter to Blair was a funny one. tie said Blair was
the truest friend that he possessed that he was
the only man in the Cabinet against whom a
word OF complaint bad never been uttered. One
would think that after this he would retain him
forever, but he writes, ut would be a relief TO
me TO see you go" Great laughter Public