The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-09

| slow, but they were at the bottom of the hill
and could see only one side, while the com.
mandants were at the top, and could survey
the whole field. When Gen. Scott was be.
fore the city of Mexico, his young officers and
troops were anxious to advance and storm
the city. Gen. Scott admitted that he could
take the city by storm at once, but said wait
few days, and we will take it without loss
Of life. So the event proved. So it was now.
The government waited so that it could finish
the war at one blow, and with comparatively
small loss of life. This was gigantic en-
terprise. The people Of the South believed
they were right, and were putting forth all
their strength to resist what they mistakenly
held to be an invasion of their rights. He
complimented the President, whom he knew
well, and believed to be an honest man, and
devoted to his country, as were the Cabinet,
and, indeed, all the officers. There were none
of them who did not deserve public conf
dence. He continued at considerable length,
advocating the Union cause.
There were then calls for Montgomery"
+" Montgomery"
Gen. Montgomery said that, were he ever
so competent to make an eloquent address,
he had not come for that purpose. lie was
not prepared to make speech. and be would
not do it. The speech of Col. Freese re-
quired neither his praise nor censure, but he
rose for the purpose of correcting his histor-
cal statement relative to the capture of the
city of Mexico When Gen. Scott first APP
preached the city of Mexico, it could have
been taken easily with little or no loss of life.
He did not enter at once because he did not
wish to destroy the Mexican government,
'ut to conclude treaty of peace with them.
n this he did not succeed and he did at last
torn the city, and so captured it. This was
IL he wished to say. Applause
Calls for various persons followed, among
hem some for Richmond"
MIR. Richmond opened with an abstract of :
he progress of civil government. From the
lme of Nimrod until a colony of exiles from
he east formed the democratic republics Of
'reece,. the people were little cared for in
onstructing governments, and, after war and i
mbitious leaders had wrecked Grecian free
ON, darkness was well nigh over all until
lartn Luther gave the first impulse to free
ON, which led to the obtaining of Magma
harta. and at last to the founding of a free
mpire on these shores. He alluded to the
oble MEG Of Virginia-W ashington, Jeffer-
On and Randol ph--and declared that Vir- i
mia had proved recreant to their teachings.
lie attributed to the institution of slavery the
lct that Alexandria was not now a vast city.
eclaring that Gods cause rested upon walls
here men had been bound for no crime save
ignorance, and upon streets where human
esh had been brought to market Some
light say this was abolitionism. Well, so
might be; but it was the doctrine of Wash
gton and Of the Bible. He said that the !.
resent position of Virginia proved her de-
and concluded with a panegyric !,
BON the Union. Applause.
Loud calls for mckenzie" followed.
Mr.. Mckenzie wished to say but a few I
ords. There had been much talk as to G
no brought these soldiers here. He would {
y the secessionists brought them. They v
ere responsible for it all. He was glad to s
'ar the last speaker-was glad the day had
ssed by, when no man was heard who did b
It believe slavery was Divine Insti ution. a
II himself, while he did not believe that b
e Fedora! army came here to interfere with il
r servants--he was ready to say if Liber- II
or Slavery was to tall-let slavery go. h
oud applause. He doubted if Governor
rcher was at heart secessionist, vet ?
md it hard to believe he was a hypocrite r
alluded to the large majority for the Union G.
Alexandria in the winter of 1861; said
at the State had been lost by the hollow
artedness of the Union men--thought that
0 U. S. government had bungled in the -
anagement of the war--believed the ex- o
nditures were too great-said that the
IT must conclude before 1868, or the peo-
, could not stand the taxes, and concluded "
declaring that he had nothing to take ',
ck--no apologies to make, he was for the
,rs and StrjppS AnnlouSa y