Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-08-30
From the Louseille Journal, July Is.
SPEECH OF
HON. JOSEPH HOLT.
At Louisville, KY, July 18th.

AZ LOUISVILLE, ny, July Aotu'
We have never witnessed popular ovation to
public man that could have proved more gratifying
the recipient than the demonstration at Masonic
Temple, on Saturday evening last, on the occasion
Of the reception Of the Hon. Joseph Holt. The
Temple was rowdeG with citizens Of both sexes
who met spontaneously t. do honor TO the gallant
Kentuckian, who, as the citizen and Statesman,
had the manness, the courage and the patriotism
to resist the iniquitous influence brought to bear
upon him daring the late administration bringing
all his great ability and the mighty weight of his
influence to the support of the government whose
existence he had sworn to maintain.
Mr.. Holt was introduced to the audience by the
Hon. Henry Pirtle, in the following eloquent
.eFms
Mr. HoLr: You are welcome TO Kentucky, your
native State, you are welcome to Louisville. We
are proud to shake the hand of a man who has
been 50 faithful 70 his public trust-who has done
honor to his State and honor to the nation
Out Of Congress (there we had true men) it did
hearts good to look towards two Kentuckians
10 the service OF the great public, ia the trying
times of last winter and spring Holt at Washing
ingoH (where fraud and treachery ragged all arouLd)
almost alone, with firmneSs, eapability, and
patriotism that challenged the attention and the
Judgment of Christendoms and Anderson, left by
himself, surrounded by enemies in the Bay of
Charleston, whose fame shall live when the waves
of ages shall have worn away the granite of Sum-
Ter and it shall fall undistinguished in the sea.
know you feel yourself honored to have his name
mentioned now. 1t was You who would have re
lieyed him, and helped him to maintain the banner
Of the Union.
When you came to the relief of tha country you
infused life into the almost dying State treason
commenced scattering from Washington, and the
people of this country began TO have confidence
that the Executive branch of tine Government was
again true to them and the Constitution. Your
administration Of the most important division of
the Executive Department at the time, was under
the most embarrassing circumstances ever seen IN
this country. Your ministry was short, and after
harm jFretfievable had come; States were marched
out II they not States, but helpless band
under the domination OF mob. and under the
iroiie Of the drum and fife but History will place
youI name in honor when she writes of this epoch
of Generalization, of war, and the woes of war
O may she soon be able to write for us page Of
peace aud Unions
Mr.. Holt then took the stand amid prolonged
and deafening cheers, and spoke as follows
JUDGE PIRTLE; beg ycu to be assured that
am most thankful for this distinguished and fat
terng welcome, and for every of the kind
words which have fallen from your lips, as | am
for the hearty response they have received
Spoken by anybody and anywhere, these words
would have been cherished by me, but spoken by
yourself in and the presence and Jon behalf ot those
IN whose midst / commenced the battle of life,
whose friendship have ever labOred to deserve,
and in whose fortunes have ever felt the liveiest
sympathy, they doubly grateful to my feelings.
/ take no credit to myself for loving and being
faithful to such government this, or for utter
ing, as | do, with every throb Of my existence, a
prayer for its preservation. Ia regard to my of
deial conduct, which you have alluded with such
earnest and generous commendation, / must say
that no merit can be accorded to me beyond that
Of having hnaably but sincerely struggled TO per-
form public duty, amid embarressments which
the world can never fully know. In reviewing
what is past, baye and shall ever have a bitter
sorrow, that, while was enabled to accomplish so
hatr
try, Others enabled TO accomplish SO much
against it. You do me exceeding honor in as
sociating me in your remem brance With the hero of
Fort Sumpter. There is about his name an atrnos-
phere of light that can never grow DIM Sur
rounded with his little band, by batteries OF trea-
son and by nfuriated thousands, of traitors the
tires upon the alter of patriotism at which he min
isered only waxed the brighter for the gloom that
enyeloped him. and history will forget that it
was from the Sc fires that was kndled that con1a-
grafton that now blazes throughout the length and
breadth of the Iand. Brave amongst the hravest,
incorruptable and uneonquerable in his LOYALTY,
amid all the perpexites and trials and sore humili-
ations that beset him, he we'll deserves that exalted
position in the affections and confidence of the
people that he now enjoys; and while none have
had better opportunities of knowing this than my
self, so ! am sure that none could have pr0uder
10Y in bearing testimony 10 it than have tonight.
FELLOW CITIZENS few weeks since, in an :
other form, Yentured freely to express my view S
upon those tragic events which have brought sor-
row in every hearthstone and every heart IN our
distracted country, and it is not my purpose on
this occasion to repeat these views, or to engage
in any extended discussion of the questions then
examined 1t is not necessary that should do so,
since the argument is exhausted, and the poplar
mind is perfectly familiar with it in al its bearings
i will, however, with your permission, submit q
few brief observations upon the absorbing topics of
the day, and il l do so with an earnestness and
emphasis due alike to the sincerity of my conyic-
tions and to the magnitude OF the interests inyo-
we'd, it is trusted that none will be offended not
even those who may most widely differ IRON me-
Could one, an entire stranger tO our histo-
Ey, now look down upon the South and see
shere hundred or husdred an4 fifty thous-
and men matching in hostile asray; threatening
she capture Of the Capitol, and the dismemDer-
ment of the territory Of the Republic and
could be look again and see that this army ia
anarshalled and directed by officers recently oc-
cupyiug distinguished places In the civil aud
military service of the country, and further,
that the States from which this army has been
drawn appear TO be one vast, seethiog cauldron
OF ferocious passion, be would very naturally
conclude that the Government Of the United
States had committed some great crime agsinst
lts people, and that this uprising was IN resis'
taaee 70 wrong and outrages which had been
Ouihe u1ti tnslr tbuutauSe Whs no Iobgef pos0
sible. Aud yet, no cenclusiOn could be furth-
er from the truth than this, The Government
of the United States has been faithful to all
its constitutional obligations. For eighty
years it has maintained the national honor Ar
home aud abroad, and BY It's prowess, its wis
dom and IFS justice has given 10 the title of an
American citizen an elevation among the ma
lions of the earth which the citizens Of nc
republic have enjoyed since Rome was mistress
OF The world. Under It's administration the