The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-09-14

b. Smith, Esq, who stated that according to
the term of agreement, Hon. Manasseh H
Smith would preside while Mr.. Blaine was
speaking, and Nathan Webb. ESQ., while Mr.
Sweat was speaking. He then introduced
Hon. M. II. Smith to the audience.
The chairman read the terms which had
been agreed upon for conducting the discus
sion, and requested, as the wish of both of the
disputants, that there should be no tokens Of
appreciation or disapprobation expressed dur
ing the discussion.
While the chairman was reading the terms
OF agreement, Major General Benz f. Butler
accompanied by the Mayor of the city, entered
the hall. As he stepped upon the platform lie
was greeted with tremendous applause, which
he acknowledged by bowling to the audience
Mr.. Smith then introduced Mr.. Blaine to the
audience. Mr.. Blaine commenced his remarks
by saying that he was here to accept challenge
thrown out by his honorable friend to discuss
champion of the Union, and it was painful to
him to find that gentleman, who, two years
ago, in the Legislature of this State, stood
side by side with him in the support of the
administration, now in opposition to it, and
the representative OF party, who in an enor-
mously long platform, could not say one single
word in relation to the splendid series OF
battles which have been gained over the rebels
during the past season.
Mr.. B. then went on and alluded to the Union
victories, and the silence of the Democratic
Convention in relation to them. In none of
the conventions held by that party had there
been any mention of Rosecrans or Grant, or
any of the Generals or soldiers who have been
engaged in well fought and victorious battles !;
but the moment the name of cashiered officer,
| like Fitz John Porter, is named, it is crowned
with applause.
Mr. b. inquired what solitary act of the ad-
ministlation had been declared unconstitu-
tional by any legal tribunal. Jadge McCunn,
of New York, who had been kicked out of the
army in disgrace, had declared the conscript
law unconstitutional, but Judge Cadwalader,
U. S. Judge in Pennsylvania, had decided that
it was constitutional-so had the Judges of
the Supreme Court in this State, upon an in
ClueHtdi question suoihitteu W tiltiH lor tuelr
decision.
He alluded to the arrest of Vallandigham
and justified it. Quoted from Douglas speech
in defence of Gen. Jackson for proclaiming
martial law in New Orleans. To the assertion
that democrats were not opposed TO the Gov
eminent but only to the administration, he
asked, if they Frustrated the latter, what would
become of the former.
The State election, he said, would have a
bearing upon the question whether there should
be another draft. He charged that Mr.. Sweat
and those with whom he acted were response
Bile for the present draft, and Tor the slaughter
of all the men from this State since last Au-
tumn, in consequence of their opposition to
the enlisting of negroes. II Bradbury is cleo
ted, he is pledged, according to the speeches
of some of his supporters to give no aid to the
Government in the raising of troops while if
Cony is elected system of volunteering will
be pushed.
He feared Sweat would go to Congress and
endeavor to drag Maine in the train of Fer
nando Wood AMI hoped if the LIST district gave
an emphatic majority for the administration,
he would have the grace to obey the voice, or
resign his seat.
He spoke of the anxiety in Richmond and
the South as to the result of the election in
this State, and quoted from Richmond and
Mobile papers, Compared the Hartford Con-
vention resolutions of 1914 with those of the
Democratic State Convention, and pointed out
the similarity between them.
He took up the statement that the demo-
cratic party was opposed to continuing the
war, because, as they say, it is entirely to lib
crate the slaves, and quoted from the Presi-
dents recent letter.
Opposition to the administration, as defined
by Hon. f. o. J. Smith. consisted in refusing
TO let the President have either men or money
to carry on the war, and he remarked that if
Sweat consorted with Fernando Wood in the
next Congress, he would vote against all APP
preparations to carry on the war
In closing he remarked that the National
Administration had got eighteen months lon
ger to exist, and in that time the Union would
either be lost or saved.
Mr. Blaine then sat down, having spoken one
hour and twenty minutes.
Nathan Webb, Esq, then took the chair, and
introduced Hon. l.. d. NJ. Sweat to the audi
ence, remarking that he hoped they would
give him the same attention they had to Mr..
Blaine.
Mr.. Sweat, in opening his address, remarked
that he thought the occasion did not require
a two-hours speech from him. 1t would not
be so difficult job as he had anticipated, and
he should not, probably, occupy the time al
lotted to him. He supposed the challenge
came from Mr.. b. rather than from himself.
Mr. Sweat appeared very sensitive upon the
charge of Mr.. Blaine, that he had changed his
position. He denied it, and avowed that he
was consistent, and read some extracts from
his speech in the Senate, and said he was ready
now, as he was then, to support the National
Administration in all its legal measures to put
down the rebellion, and to bring back the Sc
ceding States to their allegiance and to their
rights in the Union.
He made few remarks in reply to the
charge of Mr.. Blaine, that the democratic
meetings had no words of Qualification Tor our
successes at Gettysburg. Vicksburg, &C., but
they did not touch the point made by Mr. b.
He also made some personal illusions to Mai
Gen. Butler, who was on the platform, and,