The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-10-14
A Letter from PENNSYLVANIA.
PoTTsvILLE, PA, Oct. 7. Is

ALLh. d, wv. .. lCJp.
To the Editor OF Tire Press:
Perhaps few lines referring to public events
in this State may be interesting to your read
ers. The enrolment and draft, which caused
much excitement and many threats of resis-
tance on the part of the copperheads herea-
bouts, have been peaceably effected, and in q
few days, the conseripts from this district will
be en- route to the seat Of war.
Political matters connected with the coming
state election mainly engross the public atten-
tention just now. Mass meetings of the Re-
publicans are being holden daily in every
County, equalling in interest and enthusiasm
those of any past state or Presidential cam
paign. Many of the most eminent speakers in
the country are laboring for the success Of the
Union ticket, and the friends of Gov. Curtin
are very sanguine that he will be elected by
handsome majority. Not the least among the
advocates Of Curtin and the Union is a little
unostentatious lady from Philadelphia, whom
some of the lovers of free speech in Portland
have heard think-Miss Annie L. Dickinson.
She deals heavy blows at treason and has
happy faculty of calling things by their right
names which she uses with admirable fearless
ness. She came here last night to speak on
the current political issues. Her friends wish
ed 20 obtain the use of the Courthouse, it
being more commodious than any other build
Ing, but the county commissioners prohibited
the use of the house for that purpose and
caused the doors TO be barricaded, so that the
('Omp1it an Vvar hlc IN OH in al
Consequently the meeting was held in the
Town hall, a small ill-ventilated room, built
upon the principle somewhat of the saaman-
der safe--a place not unlike Deering Hall in
your city where i, with thousands of others
have so many times sweltered and painted for
breath OF air. Poorly ventilated halls ought
to be literally "blown up" They are public
nuisances. But to return to the subject of the
meeting. Miss ID. was listened to by about
thousand persons who were delighted with her
address and gave her rapturous applause.
A coult-martial is in session here, engaged
In the trial of soldier belonging to the 10th
n. j. vols, for Notwithstanding citizen in
the street. The affair causes much feeling
among the citizens. This is the second case of
death by shooting in an affrsy within few
WEEKS past. lDerc are numDef OF rOWQlcS
here who improve every occasion to insult
and abuse Union soldiers, though the public
generally are remarkably kind to us. Whis-
ky and lager beer are at the bottom of all the
trouble and strife among soldiers as well as in
civil life, and there is more drinking and
drunkenness in this town than ever saw i'm
one of the same size. There is more drunk
enness in one day in this little town of less
than 10000 Inhabitants, than there is In a
month in Portland, which confirms my opiu-
ion as to the great benefits OF the Maine Law,
the assertions OF rum advocates and Maine
Law opposers to the contrary notwithstand-
ing. You can form some idea of the amount
of ale and similar drinks consumed by these
people, when l tell you upon the authority of
a gentleman connected with the collection of
the internal revenue, that one mandatory of
lager beer, ale, DC, pays nearly 1900 into
the revenue Office here, as tax upon manu-
featured liquors. And this is only one of sew
eral like establishments in this vicinity. Now
. consider the number Of such manufactures
and the amount of Monongahela and Old Rye
whiskey distilled and consumed in this great
State, and it assumes a most appalling aspect.
Pennsylvania needs renovation and expurga-
ton not only OF copperheads, but distillers,
brewers and liquor dealers.
The result Of the Maine election was re-
ceived by the Unionists of this section with
great delight, but the copperheads didn't quite
see any cause for jollifcation in said result
The cause is going forward and next week
will answer back with cheering news from the
Keystone State. MILES.