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Speech Of President Lincoln

Speech Of President Lincoln image
Parent Issue
Day
15
Month
August
Year
1862
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Tbreé cheers wero giren lor tbe President ; and, after tho band had played " Hail to the Cliief," the President in response to impatient calis, advanced to the front of the platform, and spoke as follows : Fellow-Citize.vs- I believe there is co precdont for my appcaring before you on this occasion [apphiuse] but it is also true that there is uo precedent for your being hore yourselves [applause and j laugbter] and Í offer in jastification of myself and of you that, upon examination, I have found uothing iu the constitution againstit. f Renewed applause.] I, however, have au unpressjoii that there are younger gentlemen who will eutertain you better [voices - ''Nono; none can do botter thau yourself ; go nu'1] and botter address your anderstandiog than I will oí' could, and therefore I propose but to detain you a moment longer. - f Cries - " Go on ! Tar and foather the rebels !"] I am very üttle inclincd on any oceiision to say anything unless I hope to produce some good by it. [A voice - " You do that. Go on."] The ou!y thing I tliink oí' just now not likely to be botter said by son:a one else is a matter in whioh wo havo heard some other persons blained for what I dia myself. [Voice- " What is it ?'!] There has been a very widespread atterr.pt to have a quarre! between General MuUlelluu and the Seeretary of War. Now, I occupy a poiilion that enables mo to believe at least these two gentlemen are not nearly so deep in the quarrel as some assuming to be ibeir friends. [Cries of "Good."] General JIcCleilan's attitude is such that in the veryelfisbn8sa of his nature he cannot but wiíh to be sucecssful - and I hope he will- -ad the Seeretary of War is precisely iu the same iituatioD, If the military coinmanders in the field cannrit b successfu!, tiot only the fc'ecretary of War, but mysolr', for the timo being master of thom botb, camiot be but failures. [Laughter and applauae.] I kuow General McClollan wishes tu bo suceessful, aud I knovv he does net ish it auy mora than the Secrotary of War fur hini, aud both of them togethcr no more th:iu I wish it. [Applause and ei es of " Good.'!] Sometimos we have a dispute about how many men General Meülellun ha3 had, and tliose who would disparage hiun say he bas had a very large uumber, and those who wou'.d disparago tho Seeretary of War Dsist thdt General McClellan bas had a very small number. The basis for this is, there is always a wider difï'er enco, and, on ihis occasion, perhaps a widc onu between the grand total on McClellan's rolk and tlje men actually fit for duty ; and those who would disparage the Seeretary of War talk of those at present fit for duty. Gen. McGlel laa is nut to biame for asking for what ho wanted and necded, ard the Sopretaiy of War is aot to blame for not giving when he had none to give. [Applause, laughter and cries of " good, good."] - Aiul I say here, so far as I know, the Secretary of War has vvifhhtíld üo one thing at auy timo iu my powfir to givc him. [Wild applause, and a voieo - Give him ei.ough now."] I h.ive no accusation against him. I belicve he is a bave and able man [applausejand I stand here, as justice requires me lo do, to take upon myself what has been cbarged on the Secretary of War as withholding from him. I have talked longer thau I espected to do [oriea of '■ No, no, go on'] and now I avail myself of my privilege of saying no more. jfcrigr Sorne yearn igo á veóiog Now found himself n thu back paris of Penmtylvaaio, ashore as to the nieans ot' living. In this straight he apphod to a wualthy Quaker in the rteighborhnod for worl?. "I wil] furnish thee vvith work and will pay thee for it, friend" eaid the Quaker, " but it is not my custora to iva alms o ope vvho is obla to labor like thee." " VVell, thafs nl I want" pnid the Yankee, H t)f course I am wilüng to work." ' Wliat can thee do( friend ?' 'I will do anything to gut u little ruoney to lielp me out pf ipy diffic.ulüee.' ' Woll, tbere is a log yonder, and mere is an axe. i nee muy pouna on the lo: with the head of the ise, and I theo is diligent and fuilhfoJ, I will give thee u cloll.lt" ft day.' 'l'd as soon do thut as anything else' And the yon'.h ivont to woi k and pounded lustily witb the head of the nxe, upnn tho log. Áfter u time hu pau sed to take breath thon he bogan again. 13 ut alter half an hour ho stoppcd, threw down the axo, impaiieritly, and wa'ked away Baring, " I 11 be hanged if I'll out woo'l without seeihg the chips fly." 71'L" Biddy is a nativa of the Eme raid islo, lm partcok of her meals so'.ilary and aione. One morning the iixther rang his bell, the well known tir.kle ot whiuh caused his domestic to appear irnmediritoly. " Biddy, bring me sorne salt." " Sure and I will, your riverencc." Forthwiih re nppenred Biddy with the article in her 'hand. y.iid the futher, in an nngry tone : " Never ag.'iin bring me anything in vour hand. You should havo brought it on a plato." The ayenfng meal being over, the heil w;.s ag;iïn Hing, and the faithful domestie instftntly rtpyiparec!. " I wünt niy BlijwerPj'f .Bhi-ly went, and returned henring in her hund n plats, upop w hich ware tho priest's slipptirs. 3" If füte designs a man to teach, she cotnpels him to lawu - bitter Ipssons, too, whether ho will or not. jg2L Te aro told to havo hopo and ' j trus', but what's a poor lellow to d.o wheq he can do Jonger get any trust? '

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Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus