New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-30
spcech Of Gen. Hamilton.

From Our Special Correspondent
NEw.ORLEASs, Jan Is, 1909
Last evening there occurred an event which.
viewed rightly, will furnish much instruction upon
tho oueston How to deal with the Rebellion"
II Was a meeting held at Lyceum Hall. attended by
a very large audience Of men who are uncondIton'
ally for tho Unon-boua-Gde residents of Louisiana
men who took the oath of allegiance to the Gov
ernment at the very fret opportunity-and who,
moreover. voted at the Late election. The hesrty
and enthusiastic demonstrations Of applause which
eree,e ed the speakers at every telling point proved
corclusivey that they spoke the sentiments OF the
,ruly loyal people OF Louisiana, and that here al
least is a community ready 10 fally and faithfully
sustain the Government in every measure necessary
to reSs,ablish its authority and 10 remove the cause
Of evil strife. The frst speaker was Gen. a. j.
Hamilton of Texas. / give you very much con-
densed abstract of his remarks.
When reached the Hall, the General was saying
tina. of the fathers who framed the Government,
there was not one solitary man who did not believe
that the day would soon come when Slavery would
he a reproach. Well did he remember when there
vya. not a slaye-owner in his native State who
yould not 10 the presence Of all his slaves, say that
Slavery was an evil. Applause. A great, 30
c;al rolitical. moral evil; but he says, 1t IS one
for which | am not reBponsibe go far az am con-
eerned inherited it from my father; found II
here at my birth; hsve grown up with III bnt
am not competent TO the task of reversing he wrong
il wrong there be; cannot attempt 20 roll back
tho tide Of events as they roll upon me, and
upon tho history of this country. cannot controlit.
I accep, il az among the provdences Of God.
am willing to tolerate it; am willing to sustain Il,
rather than by attempting to destroy it, to disturb
the foundations of society and the Government.
Snch was the feeling Of our fathers. But you and
know that within tho past Few years, under the
manipulatons of politicians that sentiment has
been materially changed; and whereas, twenty five
years ago / nigh, have said in this presence, that
Slavery wac an niquitous wrong, and that in the
Providence Of God il was bound to be removed, the
opinion has been irdustrousy inculca;ed in the pub
lie mind, and imposed upon the people that the
mind that dared think upon this subject or TO ques-
ton one single right of the slave owner, was II
foe 10 the peculiar institution and TO be looked
upon with distrust. LApplause. And while this
change wac going on, while l could not look
down the stream Of time to catch the shadows
reflected upon it, broad and even bosom, | did
see that trouble was coming; [ did SEQ that was
ceasing to be freeman. You have seen your
neglbors the subjects of suspicion aud contunely.
You have seen self-cousttuted tribunals nquiring
into their thoughts upon the subject Of tho future OF
this country because, forsooth somebody had heard
chat they did not believe that Deity had exhausted
all His sublime attributes in tho creation o. the
institution Of Slayery-and that whatever was left
was not specially reserved to build it up, ct the
penso OF every other interest ia life. lGreat APP
pause.l have felt oil THE. have never believed
that this institution was the greatest boon
that God had conferred upon his children.
don't tonight believe il, AMI if 1 had
ever been inclined to believe it, the experience Of the
last two years would have dispelled that illusion
[Appausel. Step by step this thing deyelopes this
desire to subordinate every independent mind in the
country, and every consideration connected with the
good of society. and Of the Government, to the
upbuildng of this institution OF Slavery. Day after
day we have heard sentiments that depressed the
hearts Of those who did believe that Slavery
the greatest Of institutions; and it WAS not long
before this influence became go potent that he was
old man who dared utter sentiments adverse to
what was held to be the onccontrolIiDg interest OF
the South. On the Streets in tho pulpit, everywhere,
in the paror at the social board Slavery was pro-
nounced to be O moral, political and social good
The truth is they said, We cannot realize Tue
good Of freedom except by contrast WIN
Slavery This you have heard, and have heard
many times. This have heard in my native state
and more that the elevation Of SoSiety requires o