Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1860-08-17
The Great Meeting At Springfield.
OLD ABE PRESENT.


attended the meeting en- nsasse, forming a
procession six miles in length, and the
Railroads brought in enormous delegations
from all portions Of the Northwest The
speakers were Senators Trumbull, Doolit-
tie, Hon John Wilson, Messrs. Washburne,
Kellogg, Gillespie, Palmer, Judd, Oglesby,
Browning, and other prominent men. At
three clock Mr.. Lincoln mdae his appear
ance on the grounds, accompanied by few
friends. This was the signal for indescrib-
able uproar. Six speakers were addressing
the people at different stands when his car
riage drove in, but the people broke away
simultaneously and surrounded him by thou
sands, shouting frantieally He was taken
from the carnage and borne to the plat
form where he spoke as fellows, amid deaf
ening cheers:
"My fellow-citizens Il appear among
you on this occasion, with no intention Of
making speech. Il has been my pur-
pose since l have been placedi my present
position, to make no speeches. This as
sembly having been drawn together at
the place of my residence, it appeared to
be the wish of those constituting this vast
multitude, to see me, and it certainly is
my wish to see all of you. I appear at
this time only for the purpose of affording
myself the best opportunity of seeing you,
and enabling YOU to see me. I confess,
with gratitude be it understood, that I did
not suppose my appearance. among you
would create the tumult which l now wit
ness. I am profoundly grateful for this
manifestation of your feeling. am graft
fed because it is tribute such as can be
paid to no man as man. 1t is the evi-
dence, that four years from this time you
will give like, manifestation to the new
man who is to be the representative Of the
truth on the question that now agitates
the public mind, and it is because you will
then fight for this cause as you now do, Or
with even greater ardor than now, though
| be dead and gone. I most profoundly
and sincerely thank you. Having said
this much, allow me to say that it is my
wish that you will hear the public discus
sion by others who are present for epur-
pose of addressing you, and that you will
kindly let me be silent"
In the evening, the Wide-Awakes had a
grand torchlight procession, and there was
also brilliant display of fireworks.
Illinois will speak in November next for
Honest Old Abe" in tones that will forever
silence the slandering tongues that dare to
question her fidelity to the Republican
cause.
The special correspondent of the Press
and Tribune gives the following graphic ac-
count of this mammoth gathering:
Special Dispatch.
60 Spring feld, Aug 9.
The Republican demonstration in this
city to-day has been undoubtedly the larg-
est, most imposing and enthusiastic ever
held in the United States. A number of
reporters for the Eastern Press agree in
pronouncing it by far the greatest in num-
bers and horse power they ever witnessed.
The special train from Chicago brought be-
tween four and five thousand persons. The
train from Alton brought twenty ght hun
dred by actual count. Mclean County
sent over three thousand. The regular
train from the East, on the Great Western
Road, brought fifteen hundred, including
large number from Indiana The regu-
lar and special trains from the West, on the
same Road, brought over two thousand, in
cluding, delegation of Wide-Awakes from
Hannibal Mo.
Menard county sent a procession OF
teams a mile and a half in length, include
ing mammoth fat-boat on wheels San
canon county was literally poured into the
eity-men, women and children The town
of Williamsville sent gigantic car, drawn
by sixty oxen, with rail-cuts, mauls, wedg-
es and rail splitters. The counties Of
Macon, Montgomery, Macoupin, Morgan,
Cass and Lagat each sent long caravans
! with banners and bands of music. Cham
pain county sent one hundred and eighty
teams, with over five hundred men, who
camped two nights, for the purpose of
swelling the great procession. Christian
county sent one hundred and three wagons
and so on. There were more persons in
the city, at sunrise this morning than the
entire crowd at the Douglas demonstration
two weeks ago. There are some fifty
Wide-Awake Companies here in full uni
form. The crowd became almost unman-
ageable before the hour for forming in the
line of march, but having been at last mar
| shalcd in order THE PROCESSION OCCUPIED
THREE HOURS IN PASSING MR.. LINCOLN s
house in continual stream. It was over
ten miles long! Mr., Lincoln stood on his
porch as they passed and received the unin-
terrupted and vociferous cheers from the
multitude. The speaking took place on the
State Fair Grounds, where six platforms
were kept at work all the afternoon. Trum-
bull, Doolittle, Blair, Gillespie, Palmer,
Washburne, judd. Oglesby. Browning,
| Gen. John Wilson, Kreisman and several
others addressed the people, while two
other stands were devoted to campaign
singing.
At o'clock Mr. Lincoln appeared on
the ground in carriage with few friends.
An indescribable uproar ensued. The peo-
pie broke away from all the speakers and
rushed around the carriage en- maase, shout
ing and cheering by thousands like mad
men. 1t was feared that the carriage
would be crushed and Mr.. Lincoln, injured !;
but be was taken from the carriage and
borne by the crowd to one of the platforms,
rbora bo andaavora6 tn cnnaly In tho audi