Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-02
Gen. Burnside I'm ChIcago-What he S,v,
about Order No. 81.

Gen BURNSIDE was in Chicago last Satur.
day on his way to the scene of active duty
and was received by the Board of trade. II
the evening he spoke at Bryan Hall, where be
was welcomed in speech by Dr. BRAIyARn
who thus alluded to the Generals famous q,
der SURPRISING the Chicago Times:
1t has been your fortune in the DISCHARGE
of your public duties to incur the displeasr99os
of some who under the pretence of liberty &c
speech and liberty of the press have given aid
comfort to the enemy Prolonged eheerino
For your conduct, sir, with reference to sIetI
we offer you our hearty thanks rDeafenin-,,
cheers. And We cannot but believe thar ba9
the order you issued for the suppression of :
certain paper in this city been insisted -,
it would have resulted in change Of toro
and conduct highly beneficial to the count,
and her cause. long continued CHEERING /
p In his responge4G Gen. BURNsIBE gave Fl.
own views on the subject which, ARE intere.r.
ing, asIthe first expression made by him pub.
licly in reference to the order and its revoe,.
ton by the President. He said:rAs
have never felt that there was apvtbin.
wrong done byme, unless felt that / had
neglected TO do something l ought to bave
done rand Inevef afterwards feit thai I baS
done wrong when / felt satisfied at tn tima
that l had done what was right fC aeers
Our friend had an occasion to refer to an ,.i
Of mine which affected this community to
considerable extent, and had the appearsnca
at the time of an attempt to stife the libertr
of speech, and the liberty of the press I
am as much an advocate for the liberty &c
speech and of the press as any man on the
face of the globe can be, but when am sent
INTO a department to command soldiers Who
are to fight the enemies ofSmy, Country and
who should be strengthened in all possible
ways by giving them encouragement, and h.
giving them cloths to wear, andlfood to ca;
and recruits to fill up their ranks when
find men in that department opposing an
these means of strengthening the soldiers
in the army will strike these men in pre.
cisely the same way that would an enemy
in arms against them Applause which contin.
ued for some minutes.) 1t is my duty to nv
country and my duty to my God, to strength
en- these men, who have daily for years. en-.
dangered their lives in the presence Of the
enemy. / would fail in my duty if did not
risk all 1 have in this world in the way Of rem
utatiOn or position or even life itself 10 de.
fend and strengthen these poor soldiers who
are in the field risking their lives in defense
of their country loud cheers) That is all
l have to say in reference to this order which
issued, and which was rescinded. am
and | hope to continue to be only subordin-
ate to the President, of the United States
and could not possibly do anything II at would
withdraw from him my entire support, in anv
act he may order for the good of his country.
because believe him to be an honest and
true man. Loud applause That he has
made mistakes there can be no doubt; We
have all made mistakes. But to say that he
has made mistake and have not would Be
very silly, that is it would be very insuborlin-
ate-certainly. [Laughter.] I have no dispo-
sition to say anything more of the matter |
entirely acquiesce in all he has done, aad
feel now this night just as felt the moment
| issued that order which was rescinded Il
was issued as 1 thought for the good Of the
soldiers in the field, but feel now Just as |
felt then, that the President is doing all be
can to sustain the Government of this coun-
try, to preserve its liberties and establish
peace throughout all its borders, over every
inch of its territory. [Cheers.