The Portland daily press., 1863-03-02
Gen. WOODS visit to Portland.

Boston in the 2.30 train Saturday afternoon.
They were accompanied by Aldermen LARA
bee, Shurteff, Putnam and Webster, and ar
rived here about halfpast o'clock in the
evening. A committee of the City Council,
of which Henry Fox, ESQ.,, President of the
Common Council, was Chairman, met them at
the depot, and, in behalf of the City Govern
ment, rendered the General and his suite the
Inequalities of the city. They were then
taken in carriages to the Mayors room, where
supper had been provided for them. On ar
irving at the City Government building,
Chambers Band, which was on the balcony,
played "Hail to the hero" The General and
his suite then entered the Mayors room amid
the cheers Of the crowd assembled.
Information had been given in the Evening
Courier, and by notice placed on our bulle-
tin board, that the General would meet the
citizens at the City Hall at o'clock in the
evening. At that hour the hall was crowded
with citizens, men and women, wedged in as
tightly as they could be, while hundreds were
on the outside. Soon after o'clock the Mayor
and City Council, accompanied by Rev. Mr..
Stebbins, entered the hall and took seats upon
the platform. In short time Gen. Wool and
his suite entered, and the old veteran was re-
ceived with deafening applause. Mr. Fox in
troduced him to the Mayor, and the Mayor in
a few complimentary remarks rendered Gen.
Wool the Inequalities of our city. His name,
he said, was as familiar to our citizens as
household words.
Gen. Wool briefly replied. He said he ac-
cepted with great pleasure the inequalities
proffered. He came here as business man,
on business, and he had no idea of such re-
ception. Tremendous applause followed, and
the Band played the "Star spangled Banner"
Rev. Horatio Stebbins then made some re-
marks upon the time-honored custom Of pay
ing homage to our gallant men. He alluded
to the services of the venerable General, his
devotion to his country, which was lifelong,
and closed his remarks as follows :-"Generall
Venerable man. War-worn patriot Behold
the people who have come out to greet you. y
The remarks of Mr.. Stebbins were frequently
interrupted with great applause.
Mayor Thomas then introduced the General
TO the vast audience, and cheer upon cheer
schc"Su nS nc AocC W hidht oUint ItutTkc.
He expressed his qualification at witnessing
such a sea of faces, all of them, no doubt,
heartily in favor Of the loyal sentiments so
eloquently expressed by the Reverend gentle
man. They were for their country, their
whole country, and nothing but their country.
He alluded to the growth of our country and
the blessings which had been showered upon
it No portion Of it, said he, has been more
favored than the South. And what has the
North done or the East done or the West done
that this war should be thrust upon us? Moth
ingl Nothing! 1t has been produced by I'M
holy AMBITION AND SLAVERY. (Applause.l
He was opposed to anything and everything,
any man and every man, who would stop this
war until it had crushed this unnatural rebel
lion. Tremendous applause.) He was OPP
posed to all compromises and lines of demarca-
ton. He had no doubt all the men he saw
there were true to their country, and all the
ladies too, for he had not seen one of the farer
sex In the North or In the West who was a
traitor II the Government is forced to make
peace, said he, it will only entail upon us
eternal war, for, in such a case, we shall place
1t In the power of the rebels forever to harrass
us, and we shall leave to our children the
legacy of perpetual war.
Tremendous applause followed the remarks
of Gen. Wool, of which the above is but
brief abstract He spoke so low at times that
1t was difficult TO hear him; but though Il
years of age, the fire of youth and patriotism
was in his heart, and he was bold enough to
speak of things as they are. No one could for
moment doubt his patriotism, or that he be-
lieved the words he uttered.
After music from the band. three cheers
were given with will for the General.
Lieut. Col. Howe, Agent of the New Eng
land Association in New York, was then in
troduced to the audience, and was received
with much applause. He gave some account
OF the doings OF the Association, and stated
that for eleven months they had received. ON
an average, IS soldiers per day. There were
the names Of 625 sick and wounded soldiers
from Maine borne on the books of the Associ-
alton, who had been assisted by them. in the
various hospitals in and about New York city.
Their books bore the names of 1900 New
England men, who had received relief from
the Association. He appealed to the audience
to examine their closets, and see if they had
not some cast of garments which would help
some poor sick or wounded soldiers. He al
luded to the sight before him, and TO the re-
ception they had met with, and then to his
own dress The was in his top boots), and made
some humorous remarks upon the matter.
saying, that If such reception could be got
up in two hours, hereafter, If he had occasion
to travel in the suite of General Wool. he
should be for giving Portlanders only five
minutes notice. Col. Howes remarks were
much ap. Landed.
Mr.. Stebbins said that after such patriotic
speech from the General, to which every one
present, who had heel, cane, or pair of
hands, had responded, he was not prepared to
believe there were any traitors among us.
The demonstration before him contradlcted
such presumption, and as he would like to
know whether his views in this regard were
borne out by public sentiment, he hoped to
hear from the public press, and therefore he
would call upon Mr.. Gilman, the editor of the
Daily Press, whom he saw before him.
Mr.. G. asked to be excused, but the Mavor
said no excuses were allowable Mr.. G. went
upon the stand and made few remarks. ex-
pressing his sense Of utter littleness in the