The Portland daily press., 1862-08-23

Nobly was the call of the young men of
Portland responded to yesterday by the peo-
pie of the city. 1t was worthy of the proud
reputation of our citizens. At 1-2 O'Clock
the bells commenced to ring out their invit-
ing peals, and at the end of half an hour the
spacious hall, in all its parts, passages and
ante-rooms, was crowded to repletion, the la
dies filling the gallery, and portions of the stage
andof the area in front. f# f*5~
Mayor Thomas presided, and called upon
Rev. DIR. Bosworth to offer prayer, who did so
in fervent and most appropriate manner
After some patriotic remarks from the Mayor,
in which he referred to the enlistments in the
city for the navy, and in which he expressed
the fullest confidence that Portland would
be found true to herself and true to the de-
mands Of duty, he introduced Hon. Josiah H.
Drummond as the first speaker.
Mr.. Drummond addressed the audience for
half an hour in his usually forcible style, dur
ing which he unfurled and exhibited Con-
federate flag-a trophy of the Maine 18TH
taken with five 32-pounders at Pass Manchac,
and he read letter from Major Hastings, late
of the "12th," to the Hon. Ether Shepley-
in whose custody the flag is placed in trust for
the misunderstanding the taking of the
flag, and also Mr.. Shepley's reply.
Rev. Mr.. Walker Of State Street Church,
followed and his remarks, as were those of the
preceding speaker, were received with the
most enthusiastic applause. While Mr.. w.
was speaking be gave way for the Mayor to
announce that thousand persons were out
side, not able TO gain admission, and TO call for
some one to volunteer to address them. Geo.
+. Emery, Esq, volunteered, saying he was
ready to perform any service for his flag and
his country, and he left the hall for that pur-
pose amid enthusiastic applause.
The speech of the cccasion-we feel sure we
shall excite no jealousies by saying so-was that
of Mr.. Geo. T. Child of Massachusetts, young
man Of Is years, who was in the battle of
Bull Run, and had since been ten months in
rebel prison at Richmond. He said he should
be ashamed to stand before such an audience
and urge others to go to the war, were he not
forbidden by sacred parole of honor TO 60
himself His remarks were received with the
widest enthusiasm, and as his rotund form
dilated, and his manly voice filed the hall in
accents of the most loyal patriotism, we could
but think of the young orators of the revolu-
tion, who stirred the hearts of the multitude,
and awakened the people to sense of their
dangers and their duties. Mr.. Child was loud
ly called for again before the meeting closed
and briefly responded.
We have not time to follow the other speak
ers, nor is it desirable that we should do so.
1t is impossible TO transfer to paper the burn
ing. words which were spoken, or to awaken
the enthusiasm which responded to the heart
utterances OF the various speakers.
Following Mr.. Child with brief speeches,
all, or nearly all, received with the most gen.
erous applause, were Messrs. VIM. NJ Wiswell,
Nicholas L. Boyd, Geo. III. Abbott, j. T. Gil
man, Geo. w. Parker, +. X. Harris, J. Jewett,
Frank l.. Jones, John +. Rich, John Neal, f.
Case, John b. Brown, Eaton Shaw, and Rev.
,Drs. Chickering, Bosworth and Carruthers,
and Rev. Cyril Pearl. Perhaps there were
Others, but if so, we lost their names in the
excitement of the hour. Mr. Brown had
taken occasion during a spare hour of the day
to see some Of the business men, and the re-
suit was pledges of $500 to be distributed
among the volunteers-enough to raise the
$40 expected to be paid by the city, TO $50