The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-07-10
Speech of Gen. Dana in Philadel-
phia.

A week ago last Monday was an event
full period in the history of Philadelphia.
News was received that the enemy was
marching on the city. The greatest ex-
element prevailed, citizens met at differ
ent places and commenced organizing;
stores were closed, and business generally
suspended. Even a number of the princi-
pal churches were open, and everywhere
the congregations assembled and delibera-
ted upon the best plan to be pursued In
response to call of the Mayor, citizens
met at the various police stations, and sew
eral thousand marched to Independence
Square. Mayor HENRY, and Mayor Gen
eral DANA, made their appearance upon
the steps at The rear of Independence
Hall.
Mayor HENRY, when order was restored,
said that he did not appear to make
speech, but merely to introduce Major
General DANA, who had been appointed
to the command of the defences of Phila-
delphia. He then paid high compliment
to the soldiery abilities of the General, and
said that he was leader in whom every
body could have confidence. He next
called upon the citizens to turn out at once,
telling them that as sure as God reigns
Il IL
to be lost.
Cheers were then given for the Mayor
and Major General DANA:
General Dana remarked that he never made
speech, and did not know that he could make
one now. He. knew how to talk to soldiers.
He had no doubt that he had been wrong be-
fore and expected that he might be wrong
again, but he had the satisfaction of knowing
| when he was wrong he had striven to do right.
| He had been placed here. not by his own re-
| quest but he should be faithful to the trust
| committed to him to the extent of his ability
! He was unable to express himself as he would
| like to- as he had not time to think what to
| say. He took it for granted that every ma n
| present was loyal man. If any man there was
| not loyal, he had no apology for the bate which
| he bore him, nor the utter scOrn which he had
for him.
| He had feeling of hatred against the South,
and thought that any man who did not hold a
hatred against the Southern gentlemen, as they
call themselves, was not fiji to be called an
American. Have you, said he. forgotten the
opening of this rebellion, even if you have for
gotten the thirty years preparation made for it?
Have you forgotten the stripes upon the backs
of the men and women, too, who have been
sent down there to educate the ignorant? Is
there no one here who footed it with bloody
feet from Bull Run to Richmond? Is there no
l>o1
from Bull Run to Richmond, and there thrown
into dungeon, with their bread and meat al
| ready rotten, pitched into them upon dirty
floor: Philadelphia was also represented at
Balls Bluff, where great cruelty was practiced
upon our soldiers. Have you been told of fifty
coOred men who were employed as Transfers
| by General ROsecrans at the battle of Stone
river. who had their thtoats cut, simply to init
midate us: Can men who do such deeds as that
| frighten anybody:
| The General then referred to the services of
| the black regiments at Port Hudson where
numbers of them had been butchered after be-
| ing taken prisoners He said that he was no
Abolitionist, and never had any sympathy with
those who had designed taking away any of
| the rights of any citizen; but the Southerners
had thrown away their rights.
He did not propose to say a word about Phil
adelphia being III danger. If there was any
loyal man who could not appreciate the dan
| If any man of intellect could not see the dan
ger, he was traitor, and he would not hest
tate to call him one. Cheers. Such man
had other views about Philadelphia, and de-
sired another flag, not the one we have all been
| living under, to float over the city,
There are three classes of men needed now
and called for. One was for the defence of the
| city-thOse whose means and ability would not
| permit them to leave These should be called
Minute.Men At least 20, 600 of such ought to
be raised. These should be organized into
! companies, with three officers, and report to
| the Mayor, besides meeting every day for drill.
Another class is the three months men called
| for by the proclamation Of the Governor
These he has no authority to supply with equip
| mentS. These must be mustered in by an Off
| Ger OF the State appointed for that purpose.
| He would say to such as desire to enlist in the
State service, however at once to go forward
and take such arms and equipments as Gov
ernOr Curtin can give them, If they are mus
tered into the United States service he wOnld
| take the liberty to muster them in for three
| months. He then had the authority to arm
and equip them, and would then send them to
camp. They would then be subject to the Or
ders of the Commanding General Their field
of operations would lie, first, between here
and the Susquehannah; but, in case of defeat
of the rebel army, they would be compelled to
| pursue and discOmfit the enemy as much as
| possible, That would not be very hard work.
| Laughter and cheers.
The easiest way to organize is to form CON-
panies in accordance with his circular publish
| ed in the papers. Come forward as fast as Won
can; be mustered in, and go to camp to await
orders.
This concluded the Generals speech, and he
was loudly cheered.
Mayor Henry then requested those present
to return to their original place of rendezvous
and organize into companies for city defence.
| enroll their names and rendezvous, and direct
the officers to report the fact to him, that he
| might let General Dana know what number of
men are ready for immediate action.
General Dana then said that he had forgotten
to say anything about the Notifications. He
had now five corps out making recOhnois-
sance, and men would probably be put to work
in the evening. He would want thousands of
laborers, and he hoped to obtain them through
the patriotism of our citizens.
In speaking of martial law, he said that he
did not know exactly what it meant, or didn't
believe anybody else did. 1t was generally used
where the civil power is not sufficient to en-
force law. When he undertook to enforce the
law. either military or CIVIL or to enforce any
orders of the Government, every obstacle must