The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-08-07

Mr.. Holt then took the stand amid prolonged
and deafenng cheers, and spoke as follows:
JUICE PIRrLE: beg you to be assured that
am most thankful for this distinguished and
hattering welcome, and for every one of the
kind words which have just fallen from your lips,
as am for the hearty response they have re-
ceived. Spoken by any body and anywhere,
these words would have been cherished by me,
but spoken by yourself and in the presence and
in behalf of those in whose midst commenced
the battle of life, whose friendship have ever
labOred to deserve, and in whose fortune have
felt the liveliest sympathy, they are dOubly
grateful to my feelings. | take credit to my
self for loving and being faithful TO such gov
ernment as this, or for utterng, as do, with ev-
cry throb of my existence, a prayer for its pres.
ervation. In regard to my official conduct, to
which YOU have alluded with such earnest and
generous commentator, l must say that no
merit can be accorded to me beyond that of hav.
ing humbly but sincerely struggled to perform a
public duty, amid embarrassments which the
world can never fully know. In reviewing what
is past, have and shall ever have a bitter sor-
row, that, while l was enabled to accomplish so
little in behalf of our betrayed and suffering
country, Others were enabled to accomplish so
much against it. You do me exceeding honor
in associating me in your remembrance with
| the hero of Fort Sumter. There is about his
name an atmosphere of light that can never
grow dim. Surrounded with his little band, by
batteries Of treason and by infuriated thousands
OF traitors, the fires upon the altar of patriot
| ism at which he mnstered, only waxed the
| brighter for the gloom that enveloped him, and
/ history viii never forget that il was from these
| fires that was kindied that conagratiOn that now
/ bazes throughout the len 9Th and breadth Of the
land. Brave among the bravest, incorruptiblt
and unconquerable in his loyalty, amid all the
perplexities and trials and sore humilites thai
beset him, he well deserves that exalted position
| in the affections and confidence Of the people
| that he now enioys; and while none have hat
better opportunities of knowing this than my
self, so am sure that none could have
prouder JOY in bearing testimony to it than
| have to night.
Fellow-citizens, few weeks since, in another
form, ventured freely TO express nv views upoI
| those tragic events which have brought sorrow
to every hearthstone and 20 every heart in cu
distracted country, and it is not my purpose Oh
this occasion to repeat those views, or to engag
in any extended discussion of the questions thel
examined. 1t is not necessary that should d.
so, since the argument is exhausted, and tn
popular mind is perfectly familiar with it in al
its bearings. | will, however, with your permis
sion, submit few brief observations upon tn
absorbing topics of the day, and if do so Wit
an earnestness and emphasis due alike to tn
sincerity Of my convictions AID to the magntud
OF the interests involved, il is trusted that ron
viii! be offended, not even those who may moe
widely differ from me-
Could one, an entire stranger to our history
now look down upon the South and see there
hundred or hundred and fifty thousand me
marching in hostile array, threateHing the car
ture OF the Capital, and the dismemberment {
the territory of the Republic; and could
lock again and see that this army is marshalle
and directed by officers recently occupying di.
tiuguished places in the civil and military servic
of the country, ard further, that the States frol
which this army has been drawn appear to b
one vast, seething cauldron of ferocious passion
he would very naturally conclude that the 90,
{ ernment of the United States had commitie
some great crime against its people, and thu
this uprising was in resistance to wrongs IN
outrages which had been borne until their endl