The national Republican., 1861-07-03
From our Second Edition OF yesterday
IMPORTANT SPEECHES,
IvNEDIA TIE ACTION DEMANDED.
All Compromisers Traitors.
VIEWS OF BLAIR, HICKMAN, AND OTHERS.

VIEWS OF BLAIR, HICKMAN, AND OrhEkS.
Last evening about nine o'clock, notwith.
standing the unfavorable state Of the weather,
n large crowd assembled in front Of Willards'
Hotel, when, accompanied BY Dodworths ex.
cellent band, they proceeded to the residence
of the Hon. Montgomery Blair, Postmaster
General, where Q serenade was rendered the Hon.
r. P. Blair, of Missouri.
After one or two national airs from the band,
one of the flags Of the F'eeborn, Of thirteen
stars, Was exhibited from the steps, which elic-
tied immense cheering from the assemblage in
front.
The " Star Spangled Banner" was then per.
formed by the band, when calls we're made for
Colonel Blair, when he appeared and spoke as
follows:
SPEECH OF COLONEL BLAIR.
Gentlemen and friends: extend to you my
sincere acknowledgements for the undeserved
compliment you have bestowed on me this even.
ing. The only subject now, presume, about
which one is allowed to speak, is that which 80
prominently occupies the thoughts Of all our
people everywhere. | refer to that of the pres.
ent distracted condition Of the country--the
question of the war. AS 10 what has been done,
or ought to be done, to meet the requirements
ofthis monentous period in our national history,
do not feel myself competent to pass upon.
But do feel myself able, with others Of my
fellow.citizens, and entitled, too, to express an
opinion as to the Justice Of this war, and the
propriety OF conducting 1t with vigor. Ap-
plause.] In that respect my friends, claim
.1r Nf pbD
here tonight to hear me.
A Voice. You are doing it right. You are
the man.
Mr.. Blair. Not In that respect, ny friend.
did not allude to sns,hiug of that kind, but
simply to the fact that live, and have always
lived, in one Of those slaveholding Statesj and
therefore am we'll acquainted With the senti.
msnts OF the people In those States. As ons
living in chat section, assure you, that the
majority Of the people in the slaveholding
States are opposed to this rebellion ["Good,"
and applause but they are held down by an
intoerable tyranny--the tyranny Of an armed
minority in the Southern Ststes--a minority
armed by G corrupt and imbscile Administra.
ton. ("Good," and applause. A minority
who took the arms belonging to the Govern
ment, placed in their hands by the most corrupt
and treacherous administration that ever existed
friends, they have put down and trodden under
foot the majority Of the people in the Southern
States. Applause. Aad now, when the ques.
ton, Shall we prosecute this war to upheld the
| Constitution, and maintain the integrity Of the
| country, is put to US, shall we hesitate2 No!
| We must continue this contest, in order to de.
! liver the people Of the South from their oppres-
sors. "Thst's so," and loud applause.1 I
wish to put it in one aspect to you here tonight.
Look at East Tennessee, surrounded on all
sides by the armed myrmidons of JEFF. Davis.
There was 10000 majority cast at the recent
election in Eastern Tennessee, for the Union,
and yet ahe is controlled by the hostile forces
of the enemy. Ought not this Govern nent to
send to these men relief
A Voice. Yes, imnediately.1
Should We not send our armies there, ana
should we not also send arms with which these
people might strike down THAR enemies 1t is
Just as proper that that should be done, my
friends, as that we should send relief to any Of
our beleaguered fortresses. They require and
depsnd instant relief lspplauss,] a, much SO
as did those at Fort Sumter as much so as it
did in the case Of Pickens as much so as it
did at any place where our soldiers are be.
leagured and surrounded by hostile foe 1t
is the duty of the Government to send this re.
lief to the Union men of the South, environed,
oppressed, and put down, as they are, By mi.
nority armed with weapons stolen FROM this
Government. ("Good," and applause. Aud
why should we hesitate upon the brink here7
Why should we hesitate to tread upsn the soil
the sacred soil, as they call it--of these rebel.
lious States Why should there be any hest.
tation at all7 Why should we not plunge into
the thicket-into the midst of them--to give
deliverance to the men who are standing there
unarmsd, but still upholding the glorious aag
of our country. ] know, my friends, the truth
of the things that l assert here tonight. Take,
for instance, the little State of Maryland, upon
which we border here. 1t has not been two
weeks since the people of Maryland, by IN al
most unanin ous vote, declared themselves in
favor of the uron; and yet that little nest Of
eopperheaded Maryland Legislators is still sit.
ting there plotting treason. Good" and ap.
and the rebels in the dens of Baltimore, are
still endeavoring to assassinate the loyal sol.
diers of the Republic. That's SO.
A voice. Not now.
They will do it any time in the dark, when
your back is turned. They are of that breed.
They do not rise even to the dignity of the
rattlesnake, for they don't give notice, but
strike unawares. Applause. And that, my
friends, is characteristic of this rebellion.
These people call themselves "the chivalry"
So far, since this war commenced, they have
distinguished themselves by nothing except it
be in an attempt to shoot down the pckets and
assassinate the people who have conquered
them. Loud applause. That is the chivalry
of the South, my friends That is the false
chivslry; but there is real chivalry in the
South, and it will yet assert itself.
voice. You are one of them
What have said of the Union sentiment Of
the people In the South generally, is especially
true as regards Missouri. 1t has always been
80. Nine out Of ten of the men of Missouri are
Union men, and Jet, Notwithstanding this, the