The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-07-14

| danger of being broken,-but ii is threatened"
He spoke of the advantages gained by our ar
my in their present position, and, said he, 'the
rebels admit the ingenuity of the Yankees to
be so great, that they will make the place
impregnable." He felt in regard to our army
before Richmond, that when the time arrived
in which it might be deemedproper to advance,
the army would advance. He adverted to the
climate and to the health of our troops, and
said, that where they formerly were they were
subject to the influences of deadly malaria,
and poisonous vapors, that decimated our
ranks; that now they were upon higher ground,
where could be obtained fresh and wholesome
air. In speaking of Gen Mcclellan, he contin-
ued: believe from my heart that he is worthy
TO be trusted. have seen and know him. l
knew him at West Point, / knew him at WASH
ington. and at the Peninsula, and have never
known what his politics were until was in
informed by the New York Herald Gentle
men, by the time we have shed little more
blood we shall have learned to love our coun-
try-a country that has ever supplied us with
every luxury. Said Gen. III, " do not worship
any man. do not say that Gen. Mcclellan
has no faults; ] doubt if any of our military
commanders have made no mistake. ! do not
ask you to trust him as God, but l ask you
10 trust him as General for he is worthy to
be confided in If there has been any undue
protection of rebel property, let me inform
those who may be ignorant of the rules of
warfare, that the soldier must share the spois.
We have not protected the property of the
enemy beyond the precedent established by the
armies of Wellington, or by our own in Next
co. We have protected it against marauders
only that our soldiers may return to the State
as good, morally, as when they left it.
The policy of Congress is to be more Wig
orous prosecution of the war than before;
and l am glad of it. i am in favor of en-
ploying the negro in building our fortifica-
lions, and in digging our trenches, while we
go out to do battle.
He now charged the people of Maine to fill
up the decilnated ranks of our soldiers in the
field, and said he, "lay aside all partizan
spirit, for the good and welfare of our country.
And how long shall we resist this rebellion?
we exist. Against this, only? No-but against
the whole world. Should other parties be I'M
wise enough to step in, let them come; bnt we
shall triumph for we are in the right My
mother sent two boys into the field and they
went and returned to get well and TO go again.
He besought the women of Maine to give
their energies to this great work, and, said he.
if woman can say no good, let her keep silent.
My friends" said he, in closing, t" let every
man think for himself Let him be thoughtful,
and let him come up to his duty like man."
Gen. Howard closed as he commenced, amid
a perfect storm of applause and cheers, ladies
waving their handkerchiefs, and gentlemen
swinging their hats, all perfectly frantic with
enthusiasm. The reference of the mutilated
hero to his gallant superior in command-Mc-
Clellan-was most telling in its effect, and
must have rejoiced every patriotic heart If
our men are asked to go to the battlefield to
serve under a military Captain, they need con-
fidence in that Captain-in his capacity, his
courage and his patriotism-and in an emil
nent degree did Gen. Howard inspire this
feeling in the hearts of those who listened to
him.
Mayor Thomas now introduced the Rev. Mr..
Stebbns, who was received with much APP
plause.
The remarks of this gentleman were of the
most soul-inspiring character, and as he point
ed to the hero of Fair Oaks, the compliment
which he paid General Howard elected shouts
both long and loud from the mass, showing the
zeal with which they would endorse the heart
felt testimonial of the Reverend gentleman
He spoke of the sacrifices which we were now
called upon TO make, and, added he, sacrifice
is the typical word of the divine life" As the
speaker became warmed in his subject, his
whole frame dilated with patriotic emotions,
while the eloquent words which fell from his
lips, found quick response from the hearts of his
auditors. He urged the immediate necessity
of putting our hands in our pockets with no
stinted liberality. Let us, Mr.. Mayor. and
gentlemen, said he, give twenty-five, fifty or
one hundred dollars to those who will go to
the war. And then, let us pay the bills. As
an instance Of the selfish and sordid nature to
be occasionally met with in man. he remarked,
Il waited upon a man who was asked to do
nate ten dollars to the Sanitary Fund. This
inan was in the receipt of $500 per month for
a vessel in commission, and he could not give
Inc one cent. He was,' added he, "a mean,
despicable creature. He must have been too
low in the scale of human intelligence to know
what was the matter"
The speaker referred, with peculiar anima-
ton, to the prospects of our country, to the
valor Of her sons, and so wrought upon the
patriotic feelings of the audience, that many
an eye unused to weep was sufiused with tears.
Certainly, his style of oratory was at times
bordering upon the sublime. The multitude
were swayed at intervals by love of country
by determination of vgor for the future and
by the gentle feeling Of pity, as the ora
tor depicted the sufierings of our gallant
soldiers in the field. Truly, the public of Port
land enjoyed on Saturday evening as eloquent
an address, from this gentleman, as any
ever before listened to in this city.
Judge Davis, being now introduced by His
Honor, favored the audience with some very
patriotic remarks, which were listened to
with many demonstrations of enthusiasm. He
advocated immediate and prompt action upon
the part of the people of Maine. Judge Rice
having urged the importance of saying, let us
put down this rebellion, and signified his read