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subtract to or from the principles or general purposes stated and
expressed in those documents。
The last ray of hope for preserving the Union peaceably expired at
the assault upon Fort Sumter； and a general review of what has
occurred since may not be unprofitable。 What was painfully uncertain
then is much better defined and more distinct now； and the progress
of events is plainly in the right direction。 The insurgents
confidently claimed a strong support from north of Mason and Dixon's
line； and the friends of the Union were not free from apprehension on
the point。 This； however； was soon settled definitely； and on the
right side。 South of the line noble little Delaware led off right
from the first。 Maryland was made to seem against the Union。 Our
soldiers were assaulted； bridges were burned； and railroads torn up
within her limits； and we were many days at one time without the
ability to bring a single regiment over her soil to the capital。 Now
her bridges and railroads are repaired and open to the government；
she already gives seven regiments to the cause of the Union； and none
to the enemy； and her people； at a regular election； have sustained
the Union by a larger majority and a larger aggregate vote than they
ever before gave to any candidate or any question。 Kentucky； too；
for some time in doubt； is now decidedly and； I think； unchangeably
ranged on the side of the Union。 Missouri is comparatively quiet；
and； I believe； can； not again be overrun by the insurrectionists。
These three States of Maryland； Kentucky； and Missouri； neither of
which would promise a single soldier at first； have now an aggregate
of not less than forty thousand in the field for the Union； while of
their citizens certainly not more than a third of that number； and
they of doubtful whereabouts and doubtful existence； are in arms
against us。 After a somewhat bloody struggle of months； winter
closes on the Union people of western Virginia； leaving them masters
of their own country。
An insurgent force of about fifteen hundred； for months dominating
the narrow peninsular region constituting the counties of Accomac and
Northampton； and known as Eastern Shore of Virginia； together with
some contiguous parts of Maryland； have laid down their arms； and the
people there have renewed their allegiance to and accepted the
protection of the old flag。 This leaves no armed insurrectionist
north of the Potomac or east of the Chesapeake。
Also we have obtained a footing at each of the isolated points on the
southern coast of Hatteras； Port Royal； Tybee Island （near Savannah）；
and Ship Island； and we likewise have some general accounts of
popular movements in behalf of the Union in North Carolina and
Tennessee。
These things demonstrate that the cause of the Union is advancing
steadily and certainly southward。
Since your last adjournment Lieutenant…General Scott has retired from
the head of the army。 During his long life the nation has not been
unmindful of his merit； yet on calling to mind how faithfully； ably；
and brilliantly he has served the country； from a time far back in
our history； when few of the now living had been born； and
thenceforward continually； I cannot but think we are still his
debtors。 I submit； therefore； for your consideration what further
mark of recognition is due to him； and to ourselves as a grateful
people。
With the retirement of General Scott came the Executive duty of
appointing in his stead a general…in…chief of the army。 It is a
fortunate circumstance that neither in council nor country was there；
so far as I know； any difference of opinion as to the proper person
to be selected。 The retiring chief repeatedly expressed his judgment
in favor of General McClellan for the position； and in this the
nation seemed to give a unanimous concurrence。 The designation of
General McClellan is therefore in considerable degree the selection
of the country as well as of the Executive； and hence there is better
reason to hope there will be given him the confidence and cordial
support thus by fair implication promised； and without which he
cannot with so full efficiency serve the country。
It has been said that one bad general is better than two good ones；
and the saying is true if taken to mean no more than that an army is
better directed by a single mind； though inferior； than by two
superior ones at variance and cross…purposes with each other。
And the same is true in all joint operations wherein those engaged
can have none but a common end in view and can differ only as to the
choice of means。 In a storm at sea no one on hoard can wish the ship
to sink； and yet not unfrequently all go down together because too
many will direct and no single mind can be allowed to control。
It continues to develop that the insurrection is largely； if not
exclusively； a war upon the first principle of popular government
the rights of the people。 Conclusive evidence of this is found in
the most grave and maturely considered public documents； as well as
in the general tone of the insurgents。 In those documents we find
the abridgment of the existing right of suffrage and the denial to
the people of all right to participate in the selection of public
officers except the legislative boldly advocated； with labored
arguments to prove that large control of the people in government is
the source of all political evil。 Monarchy itself is sometimes
hinted at as a possible refuge from the power of the people。
In my present position I could scarcely be justified were I to omit
raising a warning voice against this approach of returning despotism。
It is not needed nor fitting here that a general argument should be
made in favor of popular institutions； but there is one point； with
its connections； not so hackneyed as most others； to which I ask a
brief attention。 It is the effort to place capital on an equal
footing with； if not above； labor in the structure of government。 It
is assumed that labor is available only in connection with capital；
that nobody labors unless somebody else； owning capital； somehow by
the use of it induces him to labor。 This assumed； it is next
considered whether it is best that capital shall hire laborers； and
thus induce them to work by their own consent； or buy them and drive
them to it without their consent。 Having proceeded so far； it is
naturally concluded that all laborers are either hired laborers or
what we call slaves。 And further； it is assumed that whoever is once
a hired laborer is fixed in that condition for life。
Now there is no such relation between capital and labor as assumed；
nor is there any such thing as a free man being fixed for life in the
condition of a hired laborer。 Both these assumptions are false； and
all inferences from them are groundless。
Labor is prior to and independent of capital。 Capital is only the
fruit of labor； and could never have existed if labor had not first
existed。 Labor is the superior of capital； and deserves much the
higher consideration。 Capital has its rights； which are as worthy of
protection as any other rights。 Nor is it denied that there is； and
probably always will be； a relation between labor and capital
producing mutual benefits。 The error is in assuming that the whole
labor of community exists within that relation。 A few men own
capital； and that few avoid labor themselves； and with their capital
hire or buy another few to labor for them。 A large majority belong
to neither classneither work for others nor have others working for
them。 In most of the Southern States a majority of the whole people
of all colors are neither slaves nor masters； while in the Northern a
large majority are neither hirers nor hired。 Men； with their
familieswives； sons； and daughters；work for themselves on their
farms； in their houses； and in their shops； taking the whole product
to themselves； and asking no favors of capital on the one hand nor of
hired laborers or slaves on the other。 It is not forgotten that a
considerable number of persons mingle their own labor with capital；
that is； they labor with their own hands and also buy or hire others
to labor for them； but this is only a mixed and not a distinct class。
No principle stated is disturbed by the existence of this mixed
class。
Again； as has already been said； there is not of necessity any such
thing as the free hired laborer being fixed to that condition for
life。 Many independent men everywhere in these States a few years
back in their lives were hired laborers。 The prudent； penniless
beginner in the world labors for wages awhile； saves a surplus with
which to buy tools or land for himself； then labors on his own
account another while； and at length hires another new beginner to
help him。 This is the just and generous and prosperous system which
opens the way to all； gives hope to all； a