Year: 1862

President Lincoln was greeted with great
enthusiasm when he appeared upon the
platform at the immense war meeting
held in front of the Capitol on the 9th.
After the band had played Hail to the
Chief the President, in response to i'm
patient calls, advanced to the front of the
platform and spoke as follows:


Fellow citizens-I believe there is no
precedent for my appearing before you
ON this occasion. (Applause.) But it is
also true that there is no precedent for
you being here yourselves Applause and
laughterJ, and off er in justification Of
myself and you, that upon examination
have found nothing in the Constitution
against II. Renewed applause.) have,
however, an impression that there are
younger gentlemen who will entertain
you better-(V Voices-No, no-none can
DO better than yourself. Go on)-aud
better 81 lress your understanding than
Will or cvlld, and therefore propose tc
detain -ou but moment longer. lCr;e:
go OIL Tar and feather the rebels"


| am very little inclined on any occasion
TO say anything, unless hope to produce
some good by it. A voice You dc
that Go on


There has been u very widespread at
tempt to have quarrel between Gen
Mcclellan and the Secretary of War
Now, l occupy position that enables me
to believe, at least, these two gentlemen
are not nearly so deep in the quarrel a:
some presuming to be their friends (Crie:
Of good


Gen. McClellan's attitude is such that
in the very selishness of his nature, he
cannot but wish to be successful, and ]
hope he will. and the Secretary of War is
precisely in the same situation. If the
Military Commander in the field cannot
be successful, not only the Secretary ot
War, but myself, for the time being the
master of them both, cannot be but fail
ures. daughter and applause) l know
Gen. Mcclellan wishes to be successful
and know that he does not wish it any
more than the Secretary of War for him;
and both Of them together no more than
| wishit. (Applause and cries of good. -,


Some times we have dispute about
how many men Mcclellan has had. and
those who would disparage him say he
has had very large number. and those
who would disparage the Secretary OF
War. insist that Mcclellan has had very
small number. The basis of this is, there
is always wide difference. and on this
occasion perhaps wider one, between
the grand total on McClellan's rolls and
the men actually. fit for duty, and those
who would disparage him talk of the
grand total on paper, and those who would
disparage the Secretary of War. talk OF
those mt present fit for duty.


Gen. Mcclellan has sometimes asked
for things that the Secretary of War did
not give him Gen Mcclellan is not to
blame for asking for what he wanted and
needed, and the Secretary of War is not
to blame for not giving where he had none
to give. Applause and laughter, and cries
of good, good, ~ and | say here, so far
as know, the Secretary of War has with
held no one thing at any time in my pow
er to give him. wild applause, and a
voice give him enough now | have
no accusation against him. | believe he
is a brave and able man, (applause) and
staud here. as .iustic requires me, to take
upon myself what has been charged upon
the Secretary of War, as Withholding from
him. have talked longer than expect
ed to, (cries of mo, no, go on, and now
avail myself of my privilege Of saving
no more