The Portland daily press., 1862-07-07
James Mann, Esq, County Treasurer, was
introduced by the Mayor, and addressed the
audience as follows: =

James Mann, ESQ.,, County Treasurer, was
introduced by the Mayor, and addressed the
audience as follows
SPEECH OF JAMES MANN. ESQ.
Mr.. Mayor and Feilotc Citizens: l would
not presume to respond to your call-fattering,
indeed as it is, in the presence of this inteli-
gent audience, at the feet of many of whom l
might sit and learn wisdom-were it not, that on
this glorious day, and in these pregnant times,
silence might be construed into indifference and
GOODNESS. No man, however humble and in
significant he may be, should hesitate to speak,
and utter his voice aloud, if occasion require,
even if he has only the ability to say, My
country, one and indirisibte, first, last and
.forerer.
These, sir, are indeed glorious times. We
have thought, and read, and believed, that the
| events of the Revolution were events that
conld not be surpassed in their importance
and magnitude, by any that should succeed
them. They set feeble band of people free,
and planted them upon that highway of truth
and right, into which all people, from all quar-
tiers of the world, might find the road to con-
tentment and success.
They were great events. The page of his
tory was never Illuminated by those involving
| greater consequences. But, sir, the epoch has
arrived in which those events are being re-en-
acted, for the self-same purpose. Re-enacted,
too, with grandeur of means and force, be-
fore which the feeble efforts of our Revolution
airy fathers, mighty as they were in resolution
and purpose, pale and flicker as the feeblest
rays of the taper.
The battles now being fought in defence of
| our country's honor are for the world. Short
| sighted, indeed, are those who say the Union
men are fighting for the rights and liberties of
this country alone. 1t is for the world. There
are as unquiet souls, thousands of miles re-
4 vod h..ra all ,l.a
! tening as anxionsly for the news and success
| of this great battle for human rights, as wait
and listen in any hamlet and city of our own
| land. 1t is indeed for the world! The spec
tacle assumes more and more grandeur as the
| cause advances. Thank Heaven, 1t does adj
| vance, with the stride of giant. Desperation
and despair may well be said to be rulers in
the breasts of the leaders of this unholy re-
| bellion. The bow of promise rests not. on all
| their traitorous soil. They covet death rather
than the kindness of their outraged govern
| ment and seek the "last ditch" with the deyo-
| ton of martyrs in holy cause.
Well may we celebrate, sir, with zeal and
unbounded joy, the 4th of July, 1862. New
| er before has the loyal heart of this nation
beat with such emotions, and never before was
the traitor to his country looked upon with SO
| deep disdain and contempt.
To-day, sir, tells of more than the past
though that were indeed sufficient to draw all
our souls into the enjoyment of the day. 1t
tells of the future. We have the promise to-
day, as clear as the heavens over our head
that this country of ours is to endure Its no
BILE President and his cabinet-its glorious ar
my and navy-have worked out that problem
in the last twelve months.
True, many of the noble sons of Maine and
other States have sealed the problem with their
blood. But nober death can no man die
than to perish in defence of his country. And
when he falls in defence of such a country as
this, with its free principles and equal rights,
he fills grave as honorable as that of any he
no of ancient or modern times. Nomonument
in Westminster Abbey" rests its head over
nobler souls than lie unmarked with head
stone on our battle fields.
We are justified, on this day, in looking for
ward as well as backward. The retrospect is
all glorious. And what is the prospect? Clear
as the sun above our head this day. Treason
defeated-the rebellion suppressed-the coun-
try restored to peace and quietness-restored
as a unit-the leaders in this awful ruin and
desolation driven from the country or swing
ing in the wind, as a lesson and terror. The
vista in the future, lifts such scenes as these
with the presage of truth.
No temporary reyerses can retard the on
progress of our free institutions.
The fourth of July one year ago found us
with war just commenced, and the temper Of
our young men, as soldiers. in a good measure
untried. To-day finds the country on the full
tide of successful march towards the consum-
nation of the wishes and hopes of all loyal
hearts-the preservation of its unity and its
nationality; its soldiers tried in many bloody
field, and found as brave and steady under fire
as any in the known world.
What may we not hope of the fourth of Ju-
ly, 1858? How will that day, by the blessing
OF God, dawn upon US? Can we doubt that il
will be with treason subdued? Can we doubt
that the patriotism, seli-devotion and love of
national liberty of twenty millions of people
will be triumphantly indicated in one year
from this? The grand drama which has been
enaeting for these latter months will have
closed with result whose splendor will reflect
upon the centuries yet to float on the tide of
time-a result told in words to be set in gold
forever-our country in its integrity strength
ened, purified, sdced.
John I. Gilman, Esq, one of the editors of
the PORTLAND DAILY PRESS, was then intro
duced to the audience and made short adj
dress.
SPEECH OF JOHN t. GILMAN, ESQ.
Mr.. President, and Jfello,c citizens:
am aware that there is another person pres
ent from whom you are all waiting anxious
ly TO hear, and have too high sense of the
prophecies of the occasion to trespass long up
on time which you wish to employ in listening
to him.
If the present struggle has accomplished
nothing else for us, il is no small thing as l
have thought while witnessing the displays of
this occasion, that it has redeemed or nation
al annversary-our 4th of July-from the
lower depth" TO which it had sunken, and at
least measurably restored it TO something of
its former significance and uses. 1t is no long
er day for spread-eagle oratory--a safety
valve through which pent-up patriotism may
vent itself without shock to anything but the
patience. possibly the good sense, of those
whom custom required to listen no day for
flnnng the expiring embers of ancient hate
no longer day for cultvating ill-wll towards
the home of our ancestors; no longer made
an occasion for grand national cock-fght.
when the American eagle was let loose TO pick
the eyes of the British lion; but it has become
a season for close, searching, determination,
and allow me to say that it requires courage
and nerve in a nation, as in an individual. to
look squarely into itself when conscious that
it has been cherishing great evils.
This day is one of rejoicing, but sadness
mingles with our festivities. Till hast year
American Independence had been celebrated
by an united nation, and the Stars and Stripes.
the symbols of our freedom, had proudly float
ed from ocean to ocean, and from the Great
time, 10 power on earth had presumed to offer
indignity to that banner, whose every stripe is
history, whose stars are but our family reg
to the common family.
t...rr, cnt1 HAT. efrt. r. 49, a.