Year: 1862

properly employed man to purchase ships;
yet the House Of Representatives voted
down resolution to censuve him by about
the same vote that they censured me for
having secured the services Of an employ
ee Mr. WeIes obtained the assistance re-
ferred to long after the excitement and
confusion attending tie commencement of
the rebellion had ceased. did SO at a
time when tie country was almost totally
bereft of a government, and when we did
not know whom to trust.


Now gentlemen, could narrate to you
in this way many incidents Of official con-
nection with the War Department. Were
it necessary | would give you some partic-
u!ars connected with the history of this
man Dawes, who appears to be most ac-
tive in the persecution against me. | un-
derstand he is little prosecuting attorney
living somewhere in Massachusetts,. am
well aware of the real cause of his enmi-
ty. and will briefly state it. Some peo-
pie OF Massachusetts,, especially about the
good city of Boston, own nearly all the
stock in the Wilmington and BaltimoNe
Railroad. Notwithstanding that road has
accumulated more money on account Of
this war. by the transportion of troops
aud war material than it ever did before in
double the length Of time, (Which fact was
chiefly owing to the confidence | enter
tained in its Presldent,) yet the manage
ment Of the road were displeased because
certain portion Of the troops were order
ed to Washington via Harrisburg and Bal
timore. When the bridges on the VIII
mingtoa and Baltimore road were burned,
it became absolutely necessary to construct
new line of travel to Washington. BY
my direction, the President of the Penn
sylyania railroad, Mr.. Thompson, in con-
necton with the Wilmington road made
arrangements to run line OF boats from
PerrysYille to Annapolis, and succeeded in
getting the project into successful opera
ton. This new route was used until the
Baltimore and Ohio read was taken pos
session @ f by ME for the Government, and
until the bridges of the Wilmington road
were rebuilt. In the meantime, an ar
rangement was made by the Harris
burg. Reading and New Jersey roads, to
reduce the fare from six to four dollars
from New York to Baltimore, per soldier
But my action in this matter took money
out Of the purses Of gentlemen in Boston.
and Mr.. Dawes, who appeared to represent
the interests affected, became my enemy.


This is the only reason for his opposition
Of which am aware | do not know him
further than that he was frequently hang
ing about the War Department in COM
mon with ether applicants for special fa-
vOrs. Having my whole time occupied in
preparing an army out of raw and undis-
ciplined soldiers. of course I may have run
counter to the desires of such gentlemen,
and consequently they new return the dis
favor.


The theme is by no means pleasant
one for me but after the recent wrong
done me. l felt that when talking to my old
friends and neighbors, I would do myself
the simple justice to speak plainly. 1t
would be needless for me to attempt to
convince you Of my honesty Of purpose and
intentionin every official act of my life
am known to you personally, ard I feel
willing to abide by. and will fully appreei-
ate your decision upon my character as
your fellow-citizen, [Grcat applause ]


leave you with great reluctance. It
has been the dream of my life to go abroad
in some position that would enable me to
catch a proper glimpse of the beauty and
grandeur of the old world; and as the time
draws near when shall bid you parting
adieu I approach it with pain caused by
/ the separation from old and dear friends


Perhaps I have said enough-it may be
too much. | desire to state TO you, how
ever, that my relations with the President
have always been those of the highest re-
spect for that distinguished gentleman
entertain as great respect for him as
for any one with whom have ever, been as
8ociated. He is al honest, high-mipded
gentleman, as we'll as a faithful public Off
Ger. Applausc.]


This rebellion will be ended after while
and with it we will end the cause Of this
and all future internal strife, as | hope
[Great applause. | have never been an
abolitionist. am not one now. Bat if
/ had the power, | would call into the
/ fold every man able to shoulder a musket,
/ whether white or black, that this war may
| be brought to a speedy and certain close
And believe that it will come to that
DO not believe that, after while, when
,hc hot Southern climate is killing our SOL
diers who are fighting for the Government,
our people will be content to sec their sons
and brothers die, when men acclimated to
the South are able to defend the country,