The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-10-21
MATTERS ABOUT TOWN.
Gen. Dix In Portland.


According to arrangements previously made,
Major General Dix, with his suite, accompa-
MED by Gov Coburn and his staff, visited the
Notifications in our harbor yesterday forenoon,
and examined their condition thoroughly, re-
turning to the city at noon.
A large number Of persons assembled at City
hall at three o'clock yesterday afternoon to
give Gen. Dix formal reception. The gale
ries were well filed with ladies and the body
of the hall with men. Gen. Dix and staff were
escorted to the hall by the Newburyport Vet
eran corps, accompanied by their band. Upon
the platform were Gov. Coburn and Aids,
Adjt Gen. Hodsdon and other distinguished
men of the State. The meeting was called to
order by Mayor Mcclellan, who, in few very
pertinent remarks, introduced Gen. Dix to the
audience. He was received with enthusiastic
cheers and spoke as follows:
Mr.. Mdyor anil Gentlemen
beg you to accept my sincere thanks for
the kind reception with when you nave hon
ored me- l came here TO perform q military
duty: to look into the condition OF the fortif-
cations i'm your harbor; TO see whether ade-
ouate provision had been made for the protec-
ton of the many important interests OF which
your city is the centre. i desired to perform
this duty without attracting public observa-
ton, and to return at the end of the limited
time at my disposal, to my headquarters in
New York. was therefore quite unprepared
for this demonstration of your friendly regard.
and 1 accept 1t with grateful sense of your
kindness, trusting to you to excuse the imper-
feet manner and the few words in which l ac
Knowledge il.
will only add, in regard to the duty have
discharged to-day, that L have inspected the
Notifications which defend your magnificent
harbor; and may say to you confidently that
you may dismiss all apprehensiors that it will
be entered by hostile vessel, either for insult
or serious attack.
1t has been our fortune, whether good or i'll
the end must determine, to be involved in the
severest trial to which our political system can
ever be subiected-a trial Of which the issue
il to be decisive Of our destinies as united
people. Ii we triumph, We shall establish the
government on a basis which can never again
be 50 rudely shaken. If we fail, no foresight
can measure the extent of the calalnilies
which will be in reserve for us. In a conflict
thus vital to the stability of the government
the precursor Of larger progress, if it shall
be successfully terminated, or of incalculable
disgrace and disaster, il the peridy in which
1t originated shall succeed in its criminal pur-
poses-no one should entertain for a moment
. doubt in regard 10 the result. TO doubt
would be to impeach the steadiness, the per-
severance and the patriotism of the people OF
the North.
1t is certainly deeply to be regretted that all
parties could not have laid aside their disa-
greements and have united as one man i'm Civ
ing to the government, while its existence is
in peril, an earnest and an unqualified support.
But the clear mind and the uneonquerable
heart of the people are both right.
They will not consent to try this mhmen-
tous question of the national life on inferior
issues. And whenever the appeal is directly
made to them their verdict will be, that the
Government must be sustained, that the
Union must be preserved unbroken, and that
the vigor of our preparations must never be
relaxed till the public authority is firmly es-
tablished over every State Ia rebellion. l
have never for a moment despaired of the re-
suit. My confidence is still mistaken. 1t is
true the despotic power welded by the au-
thorities at Richmond gives them great Ca
pacity for endurance; they impress men with
out form Of law; they seize supplies without
compensation; aud the only question is, how
long this tyranny will be endured by those
over whom 1t is exercised? In any event, if
we are true to ourselves, they must at no dis
tant day, even without decisive victories on
our part, perish through the exhaustion of
their transferring population, by the con-
aR4a.ao processes OF war. We have but to
pa 80 our triumph will be certain.
kaag STATE a hlv indicated its patriot
tn. cad sb 9ga defa'' Governors, by a
Errss eeHef Il the gov