Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-10-31
OF. AN ELOQUENT
81 FRESHMAN. n
spee oh of Thomas E,ranCis HLenEheriat
tho Rntincation Meeting in Brook


speech of Thomas Ierancis HLenEheriat
tho RatifcatIon Meeting in Brook
[ lyme e.
Observation-Disclosures by saying that
I'm couipliancetwith avery comp IImentatE
request, am here to participate with you,
aud so far as am able to ratify the nomi-
nations of the people. After the lengthy
discourse we have listened to, feel that il
ia unnecessary for me to say that am
heart and soul, not only with the objects,
but with the spirit of this meeting. 1t is
the first occasion on which have attended
ratification; l have not done so because
the nominations did not proceed from the
people, but from some hole or corner,
which corrupted tue dignity of the people.
This should be reversed, and instead OF
the people accenting nominations from Oh
scure politicians, the obscure politicians
should accept the nominations from the
people. The speaker referred to Lamar
tines words on the occasion of the French
revolution, that We must lack to the peo-
pie for the shaping the destiuies OF the ma
ton. The principle of this movement is
devotion to the Government in this its holy
hour of peril, and u prosecution of this
holy war. This being so, sustain it with
heart, brain and arms. Not here merely,
but upon the still deadlier scenes which
await me in the future. Applause. This
is sacred and just war, because this is
the supremest nation the sun everO shone
upon. It is necessary war, because its
property has been wlested in u nearious
manner by the rebellious subjects. The
history of this war is familiar to the
whole people, and it is unnecessary for me
to glance ut it. But the Government
would be sacriegiously unmindtul of its
bonds TO the past, or its duty to the future,
if it did not seek to sustain itself. If this
Government did not stand out against this
rebellion. it deserved to go under Who
cry out for peace2 War is indeed II dread
full visitation; it has been painted by the
ATTEST and the poet: but war has its udvan-
tares and its lessons. The speaker refer
red TO English wars, and said they had
been source of strength to Englund.-
Germany has had her thirty years war,
and she stands in prominent position
France has had her revolutions, and has
come out of them with renewed benuty.-
Spain has also had her wars, aud no coun-
try to-day is rising with more energy than
she is. Here the war has had its good ct
feet. 1t has brought ont patriotism and
energy, which had been dulled by the tor
pid touch of sordid politicians. l should
| DO derelict if did not call upon my coun-
| trvmen to sustain this Government with
ali the nerve of the Irish arm and with all
the warmth of the Irish heart. Cheer
! ing Politicians say, why don't you leave
! the Americans to fight out this war? We
( lrishmen who are here are all Americans
| Renewed cheering. Between the adopt
| ell and the native born citizen there is no
| difference, except the privilege OF Presi-
| dcncy. This is ny home, this is my flag,
and feel that would be unworthy of the
! welcome tcmG cred to me here, if did not,
with all the energy of my arm, stand By
| that flag in life and in death. But they
say, why are you not in favor of this at
| tempt Mt independence on the part Of the
! South since you advocated Il similar one
! in Ireland? l tell you plainly, if Irelend
/ was an independent nation, and were Can
! n;Hlght to rise up and secede, would stand
IN in the Irish Senate and vote supplies to
! put down that rebellion. Whatever oath
! TIE citizens Of the States may have taken,
we Irish emigrauts took IN oath OF ailegt-
auce To the whole and undivided country,
and as that oath should be perfect, so
should the country be indissoublc and per-
feet. With regard to the triumph which
this movement has achieved in bring.
ing the people Into one compact
mass, + may refer 20 81 similar movement
in Ireland The Catholics and Protestants
were divided, and the Catholics were dis
frunchised. In 1882 the Irish Catholics
and Protestants stood together, and fought
side by side. This example would have
followed in this country. III referring 10
Mr.. buchanan, Mr.. Meaghcr stigmatized
him us the greatest criminal in this strug-
gle. Not alone upon these high grounds
do stand here with you, but upon that
ticket are names which will stand in COM
petition with any i'll the country. 1t is
enough for me to remind You that it is
beaded by Daniel S. Dickinson. APP
plause. Mr.. Meaghcr mentioned the
names of some of the other candidates,
passing high culogies upon them. Such
being the considerations which this meet
ing is called upon to attend to, that the
American Government will be borne
through the present struggles, this meet
ing receives my most hearty support.
renew my acquaintance with the citizens
of Brooklyn. it being there that, ten years
ago, was first received by them. This
circumstance gives me hope, while it adj
munishcs me of the peril of the Govern
ment. Sustained by the hearts and arms
OF those around me, believe this Govern
lnent will come triumphnntly out of this
struggle. believe the rebellion will be
put down without compromise. l am re-
minded that these are the scenes of yOHr
forefathers' disasters and if, ngainst al
formidable foe, those infant Colonies were
victorious, 1t is not profane for me to say
that God will stand by that flag until it
shall float above a united and an iISeparn-
Bile people. [Great NpplauSe.]