The Portland daily press., 1863-04-06

We do not deem it necessary TO say word
to secure crowd this (Monday) evening, that
shall fill the New City Hall in the most COM
pact manner. The name of Gen. ANDREW
JACKSON HAMILTON, the distinguished Tex
an Refugee, is enough to arouse an interest in
Portland that will make her loyal heart throb
to Its Utmost core. Gen. Hamilton's story is
not entirely unknown, but we have not had it
in this state from his own mouth. He will, no
doubt, tonight give a graphic though truth
full statement OF the horrible cruelties practic-
ed upon the Union men of his State by muir
derous traitors; he will show how liberty and
law, and all the blessings OF free government
are trampled out by the iron heel of despot-
ism; how the accursed system of negro slave
ry has led to the rebellion, and how important
1t is, in order TO secure to the Union men of
the South their constitutional rights, to send
protecting force among them that will Wig
orously use all the agencies that God and ma
ture may put in their way to crush out this
unhoiy rebellion.
Gen. Hamilton is no fanatic, no "long-heel,"
no "sore-head," but he is an old aud lifelong
Democrat, a native of Alabama, g citizen of
Texas by adoption, representative of that
State in the Federal Congress, where he bat
tied against secession and in favor of the old
flag. He was a Democrat of so much impor-
lance and of so high party standing that he
was brought forward as a candidate for Speak
er, in opposition to John Sherman, because it
was thought he would command the united
Democratic and South American votes in the
House. Such is the character, such the past
position OF the man who is to speak at the
City Hall. We are told that he is very able,
impressive and interesting speaker, and will
command the most profound attention of those
who hear him. The hall will doubtless be
packed. Go early to secure seats. The pros
cenium Is reserved for ladies. The Portland
Band will furnish patriotic music for the occa-
sion.
In this connection we can do our city read
ers no more acceptable service than to copy
from the New York Independent, an article
which appeared in that paper at the time Gen.
Hamilton, refugee from the State of his
adoption, first set foot in the commercial
metropolis of the new world Hunted from
his home, compelled to hide for weeks in the
mountains and thickets, and to make his way
furtireiy 10 the Rio Grande, and thence to
Matamoras and New Orleans, he found his
way TO New York, to lay the cause of his suf-
fering fellow Union men before the Govern
ment at Washington, and to ask the needful
aid To enable his fellow-sufferers TO crush out
their oppressors, and TO restore their State to
freedom and to the Union.
Elected to Congress as a Unionist Mr..
Hamilton did not, like John Bell, betray the
cause that had honored him. When, in the
early part OF 1861, his colleague, John III. Rea-
gan, now a member of the Confederate Cabi-
net, rose to declare his own adhesion and that
OF his State to the Confederacy, Mr.. Hamilton
listened till he had concluded, and then said:
al care not for myself | made up my mind
Mt the beginning of this trouble never to pause
In any exertions because of the condition in
which it would place me for the time being, eth
err here or at home. have not allowed one sin
gle motive of sefIshness, if / know my own
heart, ever TO interfere with the exercise of what
little judgement have been able TO bring 10
bear upon these great questions. am solemn
ly impressed, however. MIR. Speaker, with the
condition in which actually find myself In
travelling hither from my home, more than two
thousand miles distant from this Capital, for
the discharge of public duty. my foot pressed