The Portland daily press., 1862-07-07
war; have won for themselves undying glory.

| green and young ladies, Ia m ,st happy CON-
bination,) pleased the lovers of the romantic
and beautiful
The noble appearance of our hardy and sin
envy truckmen cannot be too highly spoken Of
A dashing charge made by these men as cav
airy, would be most efficient in case of riot
for what crowd could Withstand the battle
shock of a strong truck horse, when bestrode
by their sturdier masters?
The exercises at the City Hall were opened
| by a select piece of music by the 18th regiment
band, after which prayer was offered by Rev.
William r. Clark, in which Divine help was in
voked for the success of arms at the present
crisis Of our country
Nathan Webb, ESQ, read the Declaration Of
Independence in his accustomed forcible and
happy manner, Immediately after which the
band of the 18th regiment struck up the thrill
ing air of the Star Spangled Banner.
Mr.. Drummond was then introduced. The
following is an abstract of his remarks
SPEECH OF HON. J. H. DRUMMoND.
Mr.. President, Ladies and Fello,c Citizens
-Eighty-six years ago to-day, the fathers of
the republic enunciated, in the language to
which you have Just listened, the doctrine that
all men are created equal, and have the right
to liberty and that the source of all govern
ment, is in the people. To maintain this doc
trine, they waged a long and bloody war, some-
times defeated, oftener victorious, till at length
they founded government having for its cor
ner stone, the equality of mankind. At first
the friends of freedom throughout the world
looked upon them with fear. and foes, in scorn.
But fear was soon lost in joy, and scorn turned
into wonder. Under the government thus es-
tablished, the nation prospered beyond the
hopes Of the most sanguine. 1t increased rap
idly in population. werlth, and all the resources
that make a powerful nation, till in our day,
not only had each of those thirteen weak colo
MES become mighty Empire, but new en-
pires had sprung up where before was an I'M
broken forest. and our flag floated from the
Lakes to the Cults. from the Atlantic to the Pa
cific. That flag was known and honored
throughout the whole EARTH The words :" l
am an American citizen,' were a talisman in
every land. But while we were thinking that
we should hold the position of the most power
full nation on earth, as long as time should en-
dure, suddenly dark clouds lowered in the
Southern sky
"They yelled the stars, one after ONE
and the thunderbolt of civil war was launched
among us. This is the very trial our enemies
predicted for us: and with the wish farther
to the thought, they predicted it would re-
suit in our destruction as nation, and that
popular government would be forever buried
In the ruins.
Tho revolut;on which ;n,ugurated our nov
ernmeut was of The HIGHEST importance to the
country and TO the world. But the contest
in which we are engaged is vastly more inn
portant. Not only the existence of the Union
Of which so much has been said, and written,
but nonular coveyrment- rou,er If nc
peorie to govern MISUNDERSTANDING the
world. and for aces to come is in issue
For If we. with all the advantages of civiliza-
ton. education and Christianity. cannot sup-
port selfgovernmept. what nation on earth
can? Thus the destiny of free government
not only in this country but in ali the earth
and for ages TO come. hangs on the issue of
this contest. The despots of the old world SO
understand it. One year ago. before the con-
test hardly commenced. there came across the
water the exultant shout" The bubble has
burst.-popular government is failurer'
But they knew not the resources Of free
people. As If by magic, an immense army
sprang into existence with all the appointments
of war. But they still supposed they held the
purse strings for the whole world-and in ex-
pectancy of our asking their aid, shut their
purses and coolly advised us to submit But
with yigor that surprised not only them but
ourselves, men, munitions. and the sinews of
war were amply provided by ourselves. And
we sent back the answer, I've achieved our
independence against you: we can sustain it
tcithom your
III our fathers had failed TO establish free
government, il would have retarded the pro-
gress of free institutions but for time But
if we lose the legacy they left us, and suffer
traitors TO write for our government the Epi-
Il. -