The Portland daily press., 1863-03-28

ASreeaUsy W ZIG chit siBueu Oy ue mer
chants and business men Of this city, the citi
zens assembled at the new City Hall last
evening to express their opinion upon the
necessity Of vigorous prosecution of the wal
for the purpose OF putting down the unholy
rebellion.
Long before the hour Of calling the meeting
to order, the hall was completely packed in
every part. The proscenium was crowded with
ladies, and the floor of the hall, the ante-rooms
and the vestibule were slowed with gentlemen
as closely as they could be crowded together
The Portland Band, led by Chandler, occu.
pied the orchestral gallery, and discoursed
some Of their best music.
At half past seven o'clock the signers to the
call entered the hall, and took seats on the
platform.
At o'clock the Committee of Arrange
ments, accompanied by Major w. l.. Burt and
Captain Herbert, U. S. A, Of the staff Of Gen.
Hamilton, and Prof Patterson of Dartmouth
College entered the hall, amid the applause OF
the audience.
Jonas h. Perley, Esq, called the meeting
to order, and nominated T. c. Hersey, ESQ.,,
for Chairman, and the nomination was ratified
by the meeting.
Mr.. Jersey, after reading the call for the
meeting, addressed the audience on the i'm
purtance Of the issue before the country. The
meeting was called without distinction of
party, and Ia this war party should not be
known. We must stand together In putting
he and
are carrying on the war. We must fight under
the leaders, ,choerer they may be. (Applause.)
1t makes no difference whether Abraham Lin
coin or any other man is our commander. we
must support him. fApplause.j We must
put down the rebellion, and the thing that
caused it. II slavery caused the rebellion, it
must fall with it. tApplause.) We must fight
for the glorious old flag, and not let star or
q stripe be erased.
Franklin Crawford and r. c. Moody were
chosen Secretaries.
Capt Herbert was the first speaker intro
duced, and as he rose he was received with great
applause. He said that he was for the war, and
akilling wal, until this rebellion and everything
that caused it was put down. He said that he
was born and brought up within four miles of
the residence of vallandgham, and that VAL
landigham's father-who would blush for the
conduct Of his son were he alive--taught him
the Assembly Catechism.
He apologized for the non-appearance of
Gen. Hamilton Of Texas, who had been invit-
ed to address this meeting, but who was COM
PEELED to decline on account of his engagements
in Connecticut, where he was doing good SER
vice in the cause Of the Union.
He read series Of resolutions which were
passed at = Vallandigham meeting, and COM
mented upon them in severe terms. Presi-
dent Lincoln, In one of them, was styled the
Nero of America. The clergy of the present
day were stigmatized in another with appro-
brious epithets. In another the Government
of this country was declared TO be democrat
ic machine, and that none but vallandigham
democrat could run 1t. In the course of his
remarks he asked what rights JEFF. Davis had
None, said he, except to be hung as a traitor
He scorned those who talk peace compro-
mise and an arrnistice, and remarked that when
men we're heard talking in such style they
AiSnt barely DC SCI uOWu Us lTtlLOIS.
He paid merited compliment to Gen. But
Ter, and also to Andrew johnson of Tennes-
see. He said he was willing to arm the ne
groes or any thing else that would fight
An attempt was made by some persons to
interrupt Captain Herbert in his remarks, but
the overwhelming sense of the audience soon
put down the disturbance. Capt II. quietly
remarked that he generally said what he had
got to say, and should do so on the present &C.
casion.
At she conclusion of Capt. Herbert's re-
marks, the band played The Star Spangled
Banner
Professor Patterson, of Dartmouth College,
recently elected to Congress In the Sd New
Hampshire district, was introduced as the
next speaker. He came, he said, not to speak
as a politician, but to speak in favor Of restor-
ing the country to its original purity, in all its
parts. He did not desire to see the war con-
tinued, but desired peace, just as soon as it
could be procured in stable and honorable
terms for the prosperity of the whole country.
He spoke Of the first outbreak in the Con-
gress Of 1881, tracing 1t down to the time
when the first protective tariff was established
under the auspices of member of Congress
from South Carolina. Coming down to the
events Of 1880 when the great contest between
Webster and Hayne occurred in the Senate.
and the subsequent attempt Of South Carolina
TO nullify, he spoke Of the indomitable spirit of
Gen. Jackson, who put his heel upon the mon
ster-and who threatened to make some of the
Southern traitors swing, if they pushed these
measures any further.
Professor p. said he was for the Constitu-
tion as 1t was framed by our fathers. In al
luding to the complaints made against the
Administration, he remarked that Government
had probably done some things which were
injudicious. But II Gabriel himself were
President, and every member of the Cabinet
an Angel, in such an unheard of war as the
present, their would some things occur which
would not be exactly in conformity with the
minds Of every one. 1t must be considered
that the present Administration came into
power when the affairs of the country were in
more complicated state than they had ever
been before. We must beware, said he. how
we give ourselves to discomfort, or we shall
be borne down in that maelstrom which will
lead to death and despair.
The great amount of our national debt had
been harped upon, and that was assigned as