Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-07-08
U. S. MIssIssIpPI SQUADRON,

ing dispatch has just been received in Wash
ington -
U. S. MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON,
Flagship Black Hawk, July 4, 1868. :
To Hon Gideon Welles, Secretary of the
Nayy.-Sir | have the honor to inform you
that Vcksburg has surrendered to the United
States forces on this 4th of July. Very re-
specially, your obedient servant,
d. ID. PORTER, Acting Rear Admiral.
WASHINGTON, July THE brief telegram
to the secretary Of the navy, from Admiral
Porter, announcing the surrender of Vicks-
burg on the 4th of July, was received a few
minutes before o'clock this afternoon. The
news spreadwith astonishing rapidty through
out Washington, exciting the most marked
and expressive enthusiasm. The intelligence
was at once communicated to the president,
by secretary Welles in person.
CAIRO, ILL, July THE dispatch boat has
| just arrived here from Vicksburg She left
at 10 o'clock Sunday morning. The passen-
gers announce that General Pemberton sent
flag Of truce on the morning of the 4th of July
and offered to surrender if his men were al
| lowed to march out. Gen. Grant is reported
to have replied that no man should leave ex-
cept as prisoner of war. Gen. Pemberton
then, after consultation with his commanders,
Internationally surrendered. This news is
perfectly reliable.
| SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT.
WASHINGTON, July IA procession with
bands of music proceeded to the executive
mansion this evening. The crowd became
immense, and there were in addition to the
patriotic strains OF music, repeated cheers for
! the president, Gems. Meade and Rosecrans.
| The president appeared at an upper window,
and spoke in substance as follows:
'Fellow citizens,-I am very glad indeed
TO see you tonight, and yet l cannot
say l thank you for this call But l
| do most sincerely thank the Almighty God
for the occasion on which you have called
(cheerS.) How long ago is it-eighty odd
years-since on the 4th of July for the first
time in the history of the world a nation by
its representatives declared that all men were
equal. That was the birthday of the United
States of America. Since then the fourth of
July has had very peculiar recoguitions. The
two most distinguished men in the framing
| and support of the declaration were Thomas
| Jefferson and John Adams; the one having
| penned it, and the other sustained it the
most forcibly in debate.
Precisely fifty years after they put their
hands to the paper, it pleased Almighty God
to take both from this stage of action. This
was indeed an extraordinary and remarkable
event in our history. Another president five
years after was called from this state of exist
ence on the same day and month of the year;
and now in this last 4th of July just passed,
when we have gigantic rebellion, at the bot
tom of which is an effort to overthrow the
| the surrender of most powerful position and
army on that very day. (cheers) and not only
so, but in succession of battles in Pennsyl-
vania near to us, so rapidly fought that they
might be called one great battle, on the LIST,
| I'd, and Sd of July, and on the 4th the cohorts
of those who opposed the declaration that all
men are created equal, turned tail and run.
| Qong and continued cheers.) Gentlemen,
this is glorious theme, and the occasion for
speech, but am not prepared to make one
worthy ofthe occasion. Iwould like to speak in
terms of praise due to the many brave officers
and soldiers who have fought in the
cause of the Union and liberties of their
country from the beginning of the war. |
dislike to mention the name of one single Off
Ger, lest might do wrong to those might
forget. present events bring up glorious
names, and particularly prominent ones, but
|
much, will now hear the music" Three
| cheers were given, and after the music, the
| larger part of the crowd proceeded to the
war department. Loud cheers were given for
secretary Stanton, who returned thanks for
the compliment, and spoke in high eulogy of
the recent deeds of the army of the Potomac,
and the success resulting in the fall of Vicks-
burg. He expressed his confidence in the
early crushing out of the rebellion, and am
ticibated that successes would follow sue
cesses; and claimed we had achieved great
victories over the rebels and oopperheads.
Gen. Halleck briefly addressed the multitude.
He remarked that it had boen nearly two
years since he took command of the army of
the west. Gen. Grant was under his COM
mand and had fought fifteen battles, and won
fifteen victories. Now he is three-fourths of
the way down the Mississippi, and today or
tomorrow he WiU be in Port Hudson.
Secretary Stanton proposed three cheers for
Gen. Meade, three for Gen. Grant, three for
Gen. Halleck, and nine for the Union, which
were enthusiastically given, and the band
struck up a lively air. Senators Sumner,
| Wilkinson, and Lane of Kansas, and repre-
sentatves Washburn and Arnold of Illinois,
also made speeches, which were frequently
interrupted by applause.
A large number of persons proceededto the
| reSluenCe OF secretary OeWaru. ne sdlull Tue
beginning he was against this war, he desired
to putt off if possible. If that were weak
ness, there was warrant for it in him who
died to save the world. He desired the cup
to pass from him if his heavenly father
please, if not then he would acceptedit. He
was waited until the war was made, not by us
again our brethren of the south, but by our
brethren of the south against us. Selt-de-
| fence, he argued, was the best cause on earth.
With this no nation could perish. He waited
to receive the war, not make it. No nation
could be saved without sacrifice. If he conld
not save the country, he was here at the ex-
pense of all he held dear to be buried in its
ruins.
He spoke somewhat at length, and hopeful
| ly as to the future, previously remarking =
''If fall, let me fall in the streets and be
buried under the pavement, and let the assas-
sins of my country's liberty tread upon me
until there arises from my grave some aven-
ger to restore the liberty Of my native land"
Vice President Hamlin, and senators Fes-
| sender, and Morrell of Maine, together with
senator Wilson of Mass, had conference
with the government authorities to-day, which
resulted in the ordering of five vessels topro-
tect the entire coast from Nantucket to Ca
lais.
New HAVEN, July There is great re-