Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-09-10
Mass Meeting at Mechanics, Ha11.

There was a large meeting at Mechanics
Hall last evening, composed of citizens and
delegates, filling the large hall to its utmost
capacity. Mr.. John McCombe called the
meeting to order, and Hon. w. W. Rice pre-
sided, with the following vice presidents and
secretaries =
VICE PREsIDRNTs.-Gerry W. Cochran of Me
| thuen, j Jonathan ID. Wheeler of Grafton, Robert G.
| Ptman of New Bedford, Charles Adams Jr. of
| North Brookiield, Francis W Bird of WalpOle, o.
| w. Albee of Marlboro, j. Vincent Brown Of Sa-
| lem, Charles Field of Athol, Eliphalet Trask of
| Springfield. Henry l. Sabin OF Williamsown, L
| Z. Sherman OF Plymouth, 5. St0ckwell of BOs-
ton, X. IA. Darrah of Boston, Walter G. Durfee of
Fall River, Marshall S. Scuddel OF Needham, ohm
Milton Earle and j. d. Baldwin of WoTccster, Vel
Urus Taft OF Upton
SECRETARIEs.-Wm S. Robinson of Maiden, ID.
A. Goddard of Worcester, Albert u. Brown of Sa'
lem.
After remarks from the chair, Hon. Thos.
d. Eliot, member Of congress from New Bed
ford, was introduced, and made an able
speech, earnestly calling upon the president
for the manifestation OF a more decisive policy
IN the conduct Of the war. 1t shouldbe pros
| ecuted for the subjugation OF the rebels by
the entire extinction of the great cause of the
rebellion, slavery itself. All the means
which God and nature have put into our
hands should be used until it shall be utterly
crushed, SO that it may never raise its head
again. The time had come for Massachu-
| sets to declare what was her desire in this
matter, and he trusted it would be done on
the morrow, by declaration not to be mis-
| understood. The commentator Of sena-
fnr /;
! as embodying, pre-eminenty, the views and
feelings of Massachusetts in this crisis, was
received with the most enthusiastic applause,
often repeated, and indicating, Enthusiastically,
the general unanimity in favor of his re-elec-
ton. Similar references to Gov. Andrew and
enator Wilsonwere received with equal favor
The sentiment fayoring the denomination of
Gov. Andrew, by reclamation, was particu-
larly unanimous, eliciting oft-repeated APP
plause. The speaker closed by saying that
this terrible war was the great fact of the 10Th
century-the continent was in travail for the
birth of human freedom. Let US do all we
can, and call upon the president to come to
the aid of the people who are anxious for the
TO aid him.
| While Mr.. Eliot was speaking, the compa-
ny Of men exempt from draft, over As, drill
ing in this city, entered the hall, l20 in num-
Der, under the marshalship of Col Ivers Phil
lips, and elected much applause. They were
appropriately addressed by Mr.. Eliot.
| Charles G. Davis, Esq, of Plymouth, was
| the next speaker. He made an eloquent and
urgent appeal for the pursuance of the right
policy, by the national administration, as the
only means of quelling this mighty rebellion,
and forever eXterminating its cause,-human
slavery. He said we must recognize the
idea that this war is not rebellion, but u
reyolutlon-it was contest between the two
great antagonistic ideas, freedom and slavery,
which both Lincoln and Seward had said
could not live together in this country-it
must be all free or all slave The war should
be conducted on an aggressive, not a defensive
policy. Liberty must necessarily be ag-
gressve-nothing could be accomplished by
going on Bonded knee, merely on the defen-
sive. Mr.. Davis closed by saying that the
voice Of the convention should embody the
voice of the people of Massachusetts,, whose
conviction it is that this is final contest be-
tween slavery and freedom for the mastery
on this continent. The issue should be set
tied now, once for all time, and the govern
ment should use every possible available
means to that end 1t could not be done until
the great cancer which had been so long eat
ing into the vitals of the peoples liberties,
was cut out, root and branch.
Hon. f. w. Bird of Walpole, who had
been originally selected president of the
meeting, but was unable then to be present,
made his appearance, and took the chair.
AFTER some remarks, he introduced John S.
Eldridge, Esq, whose earnest speech, urg-
ing more vigorous action by the government,
Tor the putting down the rebellion, and the
annihilatioh of its cause, closed the exercises
Of the evening.
d. H. A. Griffin, Esq., was expected to adj
ureSS the meeting, but he was too IN IN he
present. much to the disappointment of the
audience.