Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-11-02

The Church of the Puritans, Union square.
New York City, was filed to ogerAowing,
Wednesday evening last, to listen to Gerrit
Smith on the Estate and Needs Of the Coun.
try" The Tribune reports him as follows:
The opening part Of the address presented
nothing special, though occasionally Mr..
Smiths remarks elected the applause of the
audience. The first manifestations of dis.
sent and disapprovsl were called forth when
be coDtrasted the proclamation of General
Fremont with that Of the proclamatio of
the President. That Of FremOuts he said
was glorious-in tone with the temper of the
people, and called for by the necessities of
the times. That of the Presidents was a
step against freedom-that of Fremonts a
step against slavery. Applause and hisses.l
1t might be said that the President, as Com
mander-in Chief of the army, was not to be
controlled at all times by the Constitution,
and he would add, neither was Fremont con-
fined to the letter of the law, as a military
commander, within his own district, and,
therefore, Fremont was justified in issuing
hisses.1
But why should the President have Fre-
mont, in season and out Of season, 80 scrupu-
lousy subservient to Congressional law,
while he forgot the declaration of the popu-
lar branch Of Congress last season, setting
forth that it was no part Of the duty of the
military to capture or return fugitive slaves7
Why, then, should the law be quoted in favor
of the President and against Fremont2 Buy.
ing and returning runaway slaves was giving
aid and comfort to the enemy, and kno wing
this, we were justified in condemnIng the
action Of the President and sustaining that
| of Fremont. [Applause and hisses.1 The war
| would never be brought to speedy and sue
| cessful close till the Indians were employed
| hv thu Cnuarn In AafapA;nc,
| which was rs much theirs as ours. The Gov
eTDment was too merciful to the rebels to ac-
| cept such effective and terrible fighters Iu-
dsDs may fight, but not against rebels. All
their fighting must be against us. Again,
the negroes Of the North had asked for arms
| and employment in the army; but no, the
Government was too dainty and select to ac-
| cept Of such vulgar and unpublished aid. If
| the nation should perish in this war, it might
| be tTuthfully inscribed upon its monument
| Died of excessive, and excessive refine
ment." [Laughter.l
He was not only in favor of employing
| negroes and Indians against the rebels
rebels, as they were, of the worst type--but
| he would make the devil himself fight for us
| if be conld only succeed in throwing harness
upon the back of the old fellow. Laughter. |
The old rascal, if never before in his life well
employed, would then surely be for once.
| [COntiuued laughter. They had better
altogether retire from the war, or else go in
to conquer the South in earnest, with all the
means God left at their disposal. Wnen
| FIemonts proclamation made its appearance
he lived, but when that of the Presidents
| appeared he died. His heart sunk in de-
spair, never to rally until the Government
shall cease its madness and folly, and deter
mine to conquer the enemy by any and all
the means in its power. If the war was not
speedily brought to a close France and Eng
land would unite in breaking the sham
blockade against the Southern ports. This
might be expected, and none could wonder
at it. When he counseled conquest and
subjugation of the South he did not speak as
an Abolitionist, but as one who fervently
loved his country, and as one anxious for its
salvation in this its hour of peril and dan
ger.