The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-04-24
yf(istella1leolls.
The Sumter Anniversary.

On Saturday, tho llth inst, being the
anniversary of tho assault on Fort Sumter,
there was grand rally at Union Square. OF
the Union people of tho Empire City. Six
stands were erected and immense audiences
assembled around each, to listen TO speeches
delivered by various gentlemen. Of these
speeches VIC give tho following:
SPEECH OF TIE hon. HENRY WILSON OF MAS.
sACllUsETTs.
Mr.. Chairman and FelloiO. Citiscns OF
Netp York: The banners OF more than u
thousand regiments Of loyal men OF our coun-
try are to-day waying in the beams OF yonder
rolling sun in the land of Rebellion. Three
quarters of million of our countrymen, of
our neighbors, of our friends, are bearing the
banners of their country to-day on the coil
OF the Rebel States. They are around Charles
ton [checrsl on the shores of North Caro-
lima with Banks near the mouth of the Mis-.
sissippi with Grant around Vicksburg with
Rosecrans around tho immortal field of Muir.
frcesboro [loud cheers (; with Fighting Joc
Hooker on the banks of the Rappahannock.
Young voices, the beating of your loyal hearts,
will reach them and as they look the foes
of their country in the face, they will be
stronger because the men of Now-York are
behind them. Cheers. Our brave soldiers
In the field in the campaign OF Gen. Stone-
man, one of our bravest and trucst soldiers,
say that while they hate the Rebel in front,
they dcspise the traitor in tho rear [checrs],
and they would delight to hang the one MS
well rs TO shoot the other. That Is tho scn-
timcnts of three-iourths OF n million Of brave
men who nrc bearing the banners OF the Re-
public. The gentleman who preceded me
said to you, and he said truly. that tho hopes
of the Rebel chiefs wcrc in the division of
the people of the loyal States. 1t was my
fortune-my sad iortuno-to sit with those
Rebel leaders in the session of GO and '6l.
Then they were preparing tho country for
Revolution. Day after day we sat in tho
Senate of the United Statcs-in the House OF
Reprcsentatives--ands saw these Rebel leaders
plot for the overthrow of the Republic and
say to you to-day, gentlemen. that their
hopes rested upon two things-one, tho in.
tcrvcnton OF England or France through the
power of Cotton, and the other. division in
the Northern States. They believed that the
City of New.York would raise tho cry of
"brcad or blood"-thoy believed that the
loyal men fastening to the defense Of tho
menaced capital, would he smittcn down on
the pavements of the City of Ncw-York.
Jefferson Davis, in the session of 1850, said
to inc on the floor of the Senate that he was
assured, in the language ot one of his friends
In the North, that If this contest came to
blows they would throttle US in our tracks
But, gentlemen, you all remember that when,
two years ago, the banners of our country
went down beneath the consuming fires OF
the batteries upon Fort Sumter, that the peo.
pie rose in their majesty, ~ one man. for the
support of the country. [Cheers. ]But you
remember also with what amazement tho
Rebel chiefs received the intelligence OF that
uprising of the freemen of the North. Rus.
sell tells US, in his Diary, that he found every.
where in the South the greatest amazemcnt
that the people of the North were united to
uphold tho cause Of four country. But, gentle
men, We know while the people of this coun.
try, the masses, rose to sustain their Govern.
mcnt to sustain the cause of human liberty
in the Western World. that there were men
who bowed to public opinion, but whose
hearts were black with sympathy with trai.
tors. "That's So" Misfortunes came
upon us, death entered almost all our dwell
ings, our brave men were smitten down on
many battle-felds, trials came upon the peo-
pie, our hearts throbbed sadly and heavily,
and then 1t was that those men tho Rebel
chiefs relied upon to come to the rescue and
save them-to bathe our streets in blood and
overthrow the Government of the country
began to demand peace that was to blot
this nation forever from the annals OF man.
kind. But. gentlemen thanks to God, thanks
to the people of this country they are rising
again, and Copperheadism is Sinking away.
The heel of the American people is pressing
that serpcnt's head. And now, gentlemen,
[ say to you tonight that while the Robcl
chiefs give up the cause Of foreign intcrven.
ton, they yet rely on the secret orders of tho
Knights Of the Golden Circle; they rely
upon men who preach peace, when there can
be no more peace. with the salvation OF our
country. Cheers. But. gentleman. my
faith is strong-strong in the people OF the
Unitsd States. strong in the progress of
human events. strong in Domocratic institu.
tions, and strong in that God that rules over
the affairs Of men. Cheers. The cause
in which we are engaged is tho cause Of na-
tional unity, and tho liIc of this nation. tho
existence OF this North American Republic.
i, Mt issue and that is not all : the cause Of
human liberty in America is at issue-thc
cause of toilng millions Of the North Ameri-
can Republic. There is an influence on
earth that cleyates and adorns human char
acter that is with us and fighting for US in
this great battle in which We arc engaged.
There is not man who cannot take the cause
of our country homo with him tonight and
read his Bible. and on his bended knees in
woke the blessing Of Almighty God upon the
cause OF our common country. Ii is cause
that a man may be proud to toll for. labor