Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-09-01

when in command Of the Army OF the Poto-
mac. From his opportunities OF knowing
the sentiments of the southern people, he
saw very plainly that II the policy Of that
wooden-head [laughter] that you have got
for president was adopted you would drive
that people to desperation, and that there
was no alternative but to put every one OF
them to death. 1t was under these circum-
stances that he sat down, and wrote letter
in his tent on the peninsula, to the presi-
dent, that will live when generations OF such
men as surround Lincoln are dead.
1.-THE speaker then read from General Nc
Clellans "Report" the letter to the presi-
dent, dated Headquarters Army OF the
Potomac, July 18th, 1927
Well, as said, that question was decided
wrong, and then it came to be the policy OF
the administration that they would not con-
sent TO any union, no matter what-they
would not consent TO any peace until they
could put down the institution of slavery
with it. In other words, they would not let
the southern people come back TO their ale
glance to the constitution unless they would
consent to absolve us from ours. They in
effect said to them: What is required
from you on our side, that must be enforced;
what is required from us on yours, that is to
be disregarded." Now is there any section
of the people in the Anglo Saxon race that is
going TO submit to that n Just turn it around
and suppose what might have been the case,
that the south had been numerically stronger
than ourselves, and this war had got to
going, and we found ourselves likely TO get
the worst of it, and we said to them "Let
us make peace and come back" but they
Il \ IL
and everything that makes for us in the con-
stitution shall be enforced; the moment it
makes for you, it shall be disregarded."
you stand it? No / rather think not.
When you add to that the manner in which
this war has been fought, not against the
combatants, but the government has di.
rected its strength toward unprotected women
and children, toward desolating country
where there was not any fghting-that while
we were sending there some two millions of
men, as brave men as ever lived--an army
has gone down there and laid down their
lives, and fought as never men fought be-
fore, and grateful country will never for
get those men-when they have fought as
they have for three years, yet they have
fought il vain. Here we are in this fourth
year of the war. almost as far off as we were
when we began, not quite, but almost.
We propose to do now what General Nc
Clelan proposed to do in July, 1862, in the
letter to which have called your attention
We propose to do that, and when we do il
you don't need any other assurance than
what you saw the other day by the overtures
that were made at Niagara by the half agent;
and friends of the so-called southern con
federacy. The moment you put yourselves
on this platform, then there is an end to this
war Those states come back to the ole
} union in the old way, and it is clearer thar
light, northumberland on thousand.
went on in this way. They supported thi
! administration with their votes, and thei
money, and their children, aud their blood
, and when those men were told, as they wer,
told, This u.s. after all, war for the aboli
ton Of slavery" they said, " We don't figh
for him." l happened to be in the west il
the first year of this war, and met maj
! who had left his pillow in the field an,
Joined the army. | asked him, " What ar
! you going to do?" "By God, SIR SAT-
, he, " am going to open the Mississippi
, river" Well, the way they went at it 20,
} know, as Fort Donelson and Island No. Il
: and Vicksburg attest They were not fight
= ing for the niger. They did not care any
; thing about him.
Well, now, when the thing has been brough
. to point and the question has been put
Will you take us back now on the terms O
8 the old union and the old constitution
5 that is what the American people have bee
e fighting for. What was the answer "W
e will take you back when you come connecte
; with the abolition of slavery. We wi
: take you back when you bring with 20
e on your return the abolition Of slavery i
Il those states. and we will not take you bac
, before" Now, when the time comes that tn
1 thing that we were fighting for is substal
a TALLY attained, when those men are willin
+ to come back, lay down their arms, and com
Z, into the old union on the old terms, are the
l. further, now, gentlemen. We are going |
|, abolish slavery" Is it not protected to l
l. by the constitution which you are fighting
+ maintain 2" swell, yes but that don
1t make any difference Whatever we ha,
" been fighting for before, we are fighting no
It for the abolition of slavery. We are figh
IS ing now for what no man up to two veal
d ago would have proposed, to turn loose a
n the niggers. We are fighting now for IL
4. niger, and nothing but the Niger" We
d now, gentlemen, so long as we are fghtir
e for the union, any administration cou
l. carry the people along with it, but whe
D. they reached the point where every ma
e, can see for himself that that is the object
ID the contest no longer, they have reached
lie point where, in my judgment, the most
lie this people are going to stop. You cann'
N carry them beyond that. Now, then,
d, say, not to Democrats merely, but to Repu
I, licans, men who have honestly, patriot
is ally, voted for, paid for, fought for, bled fc
10 and who have gone on thus far and support
ul this administration, but simply becau
ar they believed that the administration WI
IN contending for what was vital and dear to