The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-09

be impossible for General Mcclellan to render any
sons, and many warnings given me which could not
neglect. l ordered report of the force
left to defend Washington. 1t was reported
/ by the commander to be less than 10000 raw re-
cruts, with not single organized brigade. dash
like that made short time before at Winchester
would at any time take the capital OF the Nation The
of the force left defend Washington and the
order of the President were referred to
Hitchcock and Adjutant general Thomas to report:
piled with; second whether the force left to defend
| the city of Washington was sufficient
They reported in the negative both points These
reports submitted to the President who also
suited General Totten, General Taylor, General Megs
and General Ripley They agreed in the opinion that
the capital not safe The President then directed
to detan of the army corps for the defense of
Washing on--eirher Summers McDowelrs. As part
of Sum ners corps had already embarked, directed
Mcdowell to remain with his command and the rea
| son was approved by the President. Down to this
difference between General Mcclellan and my
/ SELF 1t is true [ thought his plan of op-
erations Objectionable, the most expensive, the
most hazardous and the most protracted that could
while he was in command would not interfere with
his plan and gave him every aid to execute it. But
when the had ed the form it had done by
his disregard of the Presidents orders, and by leav
ing the capital exposed to capture by the enemy,
was bound to act if had not been required
by the specific written order OF the President. Will
| any question that such was my dutyg When
this order communicated to General Mcclellan, it,
of course provoked his wrath and the wrath of his
because
of execution If the force had gone forward. az he
designated, I believe that Washington, this day.
would be in the hands of the rebels. Down to this
point moreover, there had never been the slightest
difference between the President and myself. But the
entreaties of General Mcclellan induced the Pres
ident to modify his orders to the extent
Dowelps corps that had been retained,
detached and forwarded by water. This was
orcs Of kcpowe should kept together and sens
forward by land the shortest route to Richmond
thus aiding Mcclellan and at the time covering
and protecting Washington by keeping his force be-
era Hitchcock, General Meigs, and Acknowledgement
Thomas agreed But the President was so anxious
plant that he ordered the force to be sent by water
although that route then threatened by the Mer
rmac- yielded my opinion to the Presidents order
but between him and me there has never been the
slightest shadow since l entered the Cabinet,
and except the retention of the force under General
Mcdowell by the Presidents d, orders for the reason
quest expressed wish that had not been promptly
complied with, if in the power of the government. To
me- personally, he has repeatedly expressed his
dence and his thanks in the dispatches sent me- but
not one word as to political motives. What motives
can 1 have to thwart General McClellana am not
now, nor never have been, candidate for
the request of the President, who knew person
ally but to whom l had spoken from the 4th of
March, 1861, until the day he sent me my commits
sion. knew that everything | cherished and held
dear would be sacrificed by accepting the Office but
thought | might help to save the country, and for
that willing to perish. IL wanted to be poll
tcian, candidate for any Office, would stand be-
tween the Treasury and the robbers who bowling
around mel Would provoke and stand against the
whole newspaper gang in the country of every party
who, to sell news, would imperl battles
taken for fool. but there would be greater
madness for man to encounter what do for
anythins than motives that overleap time and
look forward to eternity believe that God Almighty
founded the government and for acts in the effort
to maintain it expect to stand before Him in judg
ment. You will. of course, regard this explanation
being in the srictest confidence designed only for
your information upon matters where you have ex
pressed concern for me.
Truly yours. EDWIN NJ. STANTON.
The conclusion of the letter was received with
loud applause the Republican side.
did that letter, written under such circum-
stances, need confederation" continued Mr..
Kelley. against these midnight slanderers2 No;
| yet it should have confirmation, and it should
have it from one of the men to whom garbled
quotations or false phrases were attributed in
| the course of this villainous diatribe."
He then read short extract from letter of
General Grant to show the high opinion that Of
| 6csr held of Stantons character, and he ex
pressed his surprise that the rattiLg Of the bones
of u. s. Grant had not distur bed the conspira-
tors who had claimed to have the power to give
unanimous consent TO the setting aside Of the
special order last Friday night. He asked the
House to vindicate its orders to protect them
| against this constant deliberate. persistent in
vasion. 1t must be a modification to every hon
orable man who knew Stanton that there should
| be possibility of posterity believing that
member of Congress had sat quietly by and lis
tened TO the member from the Eighth district of
Alabama make his speech on Edwin NJ Stanton.
| Applause on the Republican side
| Mr.. Wheeler rose to a question of privilege.
| He had been charged with having perverted the
orders of the House and with having slandered q
man who was dead. The caption of the speech
had not been put on by him or by the official re-
porter. 1t had been put on by the Public Print
err without his authority or sanction. He re-
| gretted to see that the caption Edwin M.
Stanton" was placed upon his speech.
Mr.. Anderson. of Kansas, denied that there
had been anything of conspiracy about the
| transaction. The gentleman from Alabama had
been accorded the floor in execution of an agree
ment made in good faith among gentlemen on
both sides, and for any gentleman to attempt to
place on the members who were present at the
Friday night session the brand of ''conspirators,'
was something which struck him being quite
reprehensiLle and quite uncalled for. Applause
on the Democratic side.
Mr. Morrison, of Illinois, then cut short fur
Their discussion by moving to refer Mr.. Keley's
| resolution to the committee on rules. Agreed to
IL to SO.