Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-07-25

Democratic Meeting-GGn. Shields Speech.
Pursuant to a call which had been pub.
lished, there was mseting of the democ-
racy at the Court House in this place, on
the 18th inst. The meeting was called
to order by Robert Stevens, who nomina-
ted Col. VIM. Smith as chairman; and on
motion of w. E. Little, Bernard Ingolds.
by was appointed secretary.
1t being understood that Gen. Shields
would be present, at the appointed hour
there was larger assemblage met at the
Court House, than we ever beheld col.
lected here, on so. short notice. Every
corner of the room was literally filled, and
numbers were compelled to leave without
gaining admittance. The meeting was,
also, favored by the presence of number
Of Ladies.
General Shields was introduced by the
Chairman, and was received by the hear.
ty cheers of the assemblage. He took
the stand and interested the meeting, by
speech Of over two hours in length,
which was at intervals interrupted by the
deafening cheers of the multitude. His
descriptions fthe battles which came I'm.
der his own observation were explicit and
highly entertaining. He entered briefly
into the objects and cause ofthe war, and
completely refuted The chimeras OF the
wings on that question. He irrefntably
established the BUSINESS, necessity and
constitutionality of the war, on the part of
the United States; and administered a
scathing 1ebuke to those wing journals in
this country who espoused the cause Of
our enemies. He had been an eye wit
ness to the evil effects that the treasona-
bic course of large portion of the whig
press had produced upon the interests of
our country. The boldness and frank
ness displayed by Gen. Shields, while
speaking upon this subject, was certainly
worthy of the man and the cause be was
advocating. No one, whether democrat
or 1rhig, could have listened to his re.
remarks, without being impressed with
the truthfulness of bis developments. He
dissipated the extravagant arguments used
by the opposition against the war, and
exhibited their contemplate want of prin.
ciple and their inconsistency, in nomina.
ting and supporting man as their candi-
date for the Presidency, whose only rec.
ommendation is, that of having taken an
active part in this, as they aver, "unholy,
unjust and damnable'' war.
The tribute which Gen. Shields paid to
the democratic party, and its great and
glorious principles, lit up the countenance
of every democrat present, with entbusi.
asm. He stated that the democratic
party was emphatically national party.
To prove this, he referred to the flag Of
our country, around which our party al.
scays rally, whether in peace or in war.
he did not exclude all the wings from this
love Of national honor, but their leaders
had often shown their willingness to per-
nit our flag to be disgraced. Can this
be said of democrats His comparison
of the abilities of the candidates Of the
two parties fox the Presidency, were such
as caused democrats to be proud of their
man. He gave Gen. Taylor honor, as a
brave and able General, but exhibited
bis unftness for the station for which he
has been nominated. He urged the ne.
Cessi'y of observing strict party Organi.