The Portland daily press., 1862-08-22
Gen. Corcoran at Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA, August 81.
On arrival of General Corcoran at Indepen-
dence Hall, he was received by Mayor Hen
ry in patriotic speech, to which the General
replied, saying:
Permit me to express my heartfelt thanks
for this kind and hospitable reception, which
is itself sufficient to repay years of suffering.
Here in this hall, where birth was given TO the
declaration of Independence, surrounded by
effigies of past statesmen, can hardly con-
ceive how the degenerate sons of those men
should endeaver to drag down the edifice for
which they gave their lives to the country
An effort is being made to trample under foot
all the liberty which we enjoy This demon
stration has filled me with joy beyond men,
ton and has made me strong enough to fill
the promise / made in the South, that within
twenty-four hours after l arrived home
should commence TO organize body of men
all could gather around me-and go at them
again. / am proud to be able TO say that my
countrymen are doing their share and are ever
willing to do their share, and l may say here
to Americans, look out for your laurels, or the
Irishmen may pluck them away from you.-
For myself l am determined to seek no rest
until we have restored the Union just as it
was. i believe the authorities have now de-
termined to prosecute the war with vgor, and
l am with them. l wish to take but few
days to recruit and do not intend to wear my
uniform in any other place than on the battle
field.
The General was then introduced to num-
Der of citizens. Re-entering his carriage he
proceeded to the Continental Hotel where an
immense assemblage was gathered. In COM
pliance with their urgent entreaties, Gen. Cor
coran appeared on the balcony, and said he
was not vain enough to consider this demon
straton personal compliment, but only an
evidence of the devotion to the noble institu-
tions under which they live and for which they
believe he had suffered. You have turned out
to show your appreciation for my efforts to
sustain the Constitution from fate that
threatens to engulf it. although was not sue
cessful, but soon fell a victim. You would
make me believe that the fittest place for a
man to die is where he dies for man. When
l have been tried and convicted felon, these
convictions have cheered me- loud applause.)
L suppose you are here to hear my opinions?
tCries of "That so.') will give them very
briefly, as soldiers ought to do. The Southern
States have made up their minds not only to
take all the territory they now claim to pos
sess, but the whole country If you viii permit
them. Now you have made up your minds
not to let them have a foot unless it is under
the protection of the old flag. Now these are
my views. / have entered into this fight for
the maintenance of the laws and the Constitu-
ton, and am going into the fight again. l
am going again to aid in restoring the Consti-
tuition, and l would say, gentlemen, that we
should allow no iniringements on the Consti-
tuition, unless such as are necnssary. / am in
favor of the President of these United States,
for the time being, invested with the fullest
authority, and If he encroaches upon the Con-
stitution and make tare in it, will not say
word now, but will wait until the war is over
and then put patch on it. (Cries of Good"
"Capital."l Citizens, it would be insulting for
one like me to presume to dictates TO you what
course you should pursue. There is not a
man in this city or State who has not made up
his mind what he shall do. Shall this glorious
country be destroyed by a set of fanatics?
Never Immense enthusasm.)
Gen. Corcoran then created intense enthusi-
asm by expressing his determination to raise a
brigade, and received the hearty assurance that
he should have a regiment from this city. He
said if he had known that this war was going
TO last so long, he would at the commence
ment have entered into a contract to have il
put down by the Irish alone: and he believed
they would have been successful, as they would
have had enough men to crush the rebels at
Manassas, and 4 victory there would have set
tied the war.
l ought perhaps to express myself on one
point, and that Is, that have ever been low
er of liberty all the world over, and a hater of
despotsm, and say now that l would not give
the southerners the pleasure of hearing me
say, when l was among them, that if your
government had infringed on any of the rights
OF the South, as guaranteed by the Constitu-
ton. would have been the first to have gone
with them. He declared himself Democrat,
but he wonld not allow partizanship to inter-
tere with his patriotism. He would clasp the
hand of any Know-Nothing or Abolitionist
who would stand shoulder to shoulder with
him in the fight.
His remarks were received with the great
est enthusiasm. He was followed in his speech
by Mr.. O'Gorman, after which he retired to
his rooms. This evening he is receiving the
visits of a large number of his countrymen,
and citizens generally. He will depart at ten
O'Clock tomorrow morning for New York.