Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1860-08-18
From the Milwaukee Sentinel.
Great Aeeting at Springfield.
OLD ABE PRESENT.


OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ever Witnessed
IN Illinois. The peoble from the neigh
| boring country turned out en- 7qassc,
forming procession si.c miles in length,
and the railroads brought in enormous
delegations from all portions Of the
Northwest. The speakers were Sens-
tors Trumbull, DooIittle, Hon. John
Wilson, Messrs. Washbun, Kellogg,
GlIlepsle, Palmer, Judd, Oglesby,
browning, and other prominent men.
At three o'clock Mr. Lincoln made his
appearance on the grounds, accompani-
eddy a few friends. This W as the SIGNAL
for indescribable uproar. Six speakers
were addressing the people at different
stands when his carriage drove in, but
the people broke away simultaneously
and surrounded him by thousands.
shouting frantically. He was taken
from the carriage and borne to the
platform where he spoke as follows,
amid deafening cheers:
"AlY FELLOW ITIzENs:-I appear
among you on this occasion, with no
intention Of making 4 speech. It has
been my purpose since | have been
placed IN my present position, to make
no speeches. This assembly 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 af-
tordlng myself the best opportunity Of
seeing you, and enabling you to see
me. | confess, with gratitude be it
understood, that did not suppose that
my appearance among you would ere
ate the tumult which I now Witness
| am gratlhed for this manifestation
Of your feeling. I am gra,ilied because
It is 4 tribute such as can be paid to no
man as aman. It is the evidence. that
four years from this time YOU will Give
a like manifestation to the new man
who is to be the representative of the
truth on the question that now agitates
the public lnind, and it is because Won
will then tight 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 discussion by 9th
ers who are present for the purpose Of
addressing you, and that YOU will kind
~ let me be silent"
In the evening, the Wide-Awakes
had o grand torch!ight procession, and
there was also brilliant display Of FIRE
works.
Illinois will speak in November next
for Honest Old Abe" in tones that
will forever silence the sanderinr
tongues that dare to question her fidel-
ity to the Republican cause.
The special correspondent Of the
Press and Tribune gives the following
graphic account Of the mammoth gath
eElng:
SpccjuI despatch to the Press d Tribune.
GPRISGFIELD, Aug. 8.
The Republican demonstration in
this city to-day has been undoubtedly
the largest, mostil imposing and enthusi-
astic ever held in the United States
A number Of reporters for the Eastern
Press agree in pronounciEg it by far
the greatest lii numbers and horse-pow-
er they ever witnessed. The special
train from Chicago brought between
four and five thousand persons. The
train from Alton brought twenty-eighs
hundred, by actual count Mclean
county sent over three thousand. The
regular train from the East, on the
Great Western Road, brought fifteen
hundred, including q large number
from Indiana. The regular and spe
cial trains from the West, on the same
road, brought over two thousand, in
! Guiding q delegation of Wide Awakes
from No.
Menard county sent procession Of
teams q mile and half in length, in
Guiding q mammoth fiat boat On wheels.
Sangamon county was literally pour
ed into the city-nen, women and chill
dren. The town Of WiIIiamsyille sent
a gigantic car, drawn by sixty oxen,
with rail cuts, mauls, wedges and rail
Sphtters. The counties OF Macomb,
Montgomery, Macoupin, Morgan, Cass
and Logan, each sent long caravans
with banners and bands Of music
CAampain county sent one hundred
and eighty teams, with over five hun
drcd men who encamped 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,
Gals morning at sunrise than the entire
crowd at the Douglas demonstration
two weeks ago. There were some fif-
.tE Nlde-Awake companies here in full
uniform.
The crowd became almost unman-
agcable before the hour for forming in
the line Of march. but hov;1o hnon Of