Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-09-11
A Great Mass Meeting at Springfield
Illinois.

The grent Union mass meeting of Illinois. at
which the Presidents letter was read amid thun-
ders Of cheering, was held on the 30 inst ut
Springfield. The Chicago Tribune describes il
as one OF the greatest popular assomblages in
Tue history of the country
within circle Of sixiy-fye miles of Spring
held the farmers and settlers turned out by thou
sands, in teams drawn by two, and often by four
hourses, each wagon containing not less than
eight, nor more, that we saw, than ten persous,
male, female, and neuter babies. All along the
chicago and Alton line, even 30 eATly as We'd
nesuay afternoon, tue country people were AS
sembled at tho various stations in scores and
hundreds, to cheer the pilgrims OH the way to
the political shrine OF Springfield In such
masses had they poured iuto Sringfeld during
Wednesday, that ut clock in the evening
there was not sleeping room in the whole city,
neither in the hotels nor the private houses to
accommodate the camOrous and expectani visitors.
Thousands slept that night ms we heard, in the
streets, III wagons mud in the adjacent woods
Daylight Ind scarcely dawned OH Thursday he
Tore the already crowded streets aud thorough
fares were jammed up with the incoming vehicles.
II was late before the regular mt citing began, aud
long before the procession made its appearance
the covered seats in the ampelheatre nnd the
stands were crowded, aud upwards of dozen
speeches had been made to the multitude, who
in the printed programme.
Some there were, and those, too, who were
accustomed TO attend aud address large meet
lngs who estimated il Mt l26, 900 others again
striking nj more medium figures put il down ut
1000 and this Was tho lowest estimate which
we heard any one make Of this extraordinary
gathering.
We are inclined, however, 10 think that from
fifty TO seventy five thousand was the full extent
Of the meeting aud we took considerable pains
TO make sure Of a reasonable judgement in this
respect, by estimating the number which the
ampetheatre would hOld and comparing the
ground which il covered with the space occupied
by the vast concourses of people within aud
arOuud the circle. There might, however, have
been l25 600 in the city, for, when the fair
ground was full almost to suilocatiOn, the Streets
anu the roads leading TO them from the outskirts
OF the city, were literally crowded with passen-
gers on foot and in vehicles Of all sorts, Sizes
and descriptions
We have attended many political meetings,
but we never saw one before which evinced go
much determination, oarnestness, sincerity, man
Illness, and nnmstaknble patriotic feeling. There
we're no party demonstrations or feelings mani
Tested Ii was MS ii an assembly OF the nation
sat there TO decide the fate of the Republic.
There was no leyity anywherc-but d Hebrew
sOlemnty. Around the stand where we stood
we observed, whilst Governor Yntes was speak.
ing OF the priceless value of our liberties, and OF
the great sacrifices that had been made in every
home in Illinois to defend them, we observed
scores of old and m1de-aged men weeping like
little children No doubt they had lost some one,
or more, Of their children, aud understood all
too well, Ihe touching paihos Of the words.