Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-03-12

TEE MrETISe LAST ETESEe.-Brainard's
Hall was ven filed last evening to hear Da-
vid Paul Brown, Esq, Of Philadelphia, speak
upon the present National Crisis. Mr.. Brown
is one Of the members of the Quaker City
Bar, whose learning and acuteness gave rise
to the proverb-" sharp as Philadelphia
lawyer" He is well preserved gentleman
Of about sixty, of dignifed and commanding
figure and an easy and graceful address. He
addressed our citizens last night upon the
momentuous topic of the day, in compliance
with the request of several members of the
Cleveland Bar, some of whom occupied seats
upon the stage during his address.
His opening was unique. He said it was
frequently the custom for a speaker to pre-.
face his remarks with apologies. He was
unaccustomed to public speaking; or, be was
unexpectedly called upon; or he was labor
ing under some physical infrmity, such as
bad cold. The speaker said be had no such
excuses to make. He was not unaeeustomed
to public speaking he was not unexpectedly
called upon, and he knew Of no mental or
physical infrmity to interfere with his de-
livery. In crisis like this, he said, the
dumb should speak. He then went lOn in a
clear and succinet manner to trace the infu-
euees that had conspired to bring about the
rebellion, and the motives which setuated
the leaders in it. He showed the South
had no cause ofcomplsint-on of the contrary,
had had everything their own way. He
believed that these men and their posterity
we're forever prescribed, and could never
again hope to be even admitted into decent
society, to say nothing of trusted with office,
On the contrary, those who had gallantly
gone forward to uphold the Government
would receive the honor Of their cOtsmpora-
ries and the gratitude of generations to come.
He spoke in glowing terms of Mr.. Lincoln.
He believed he would stand at least second
in the pages of the nations history. The
most magnanimous act recorded anywhere in
the worlds history, [the proclamation of
emancipation traced its authority to him.
There were those who had objections to him,
but be had yet to find one who could point to
a single fault he had committed who could
point to a single act of his administration
that was not justified by prudence, good
judgment and sound policy. No President
not even WsshingtOn-had been beset by so
many periIs as Mr.. Lincoln, and none had
net them more successfully. Every opera
ton of the Government he dictated, uncon-
trolied by any Secretary, or ether person.
He had thus made himself part of the Gov
ornment, and would pass into history as one
of the most illustrious men of the nation.
There need be no apprehension that we would
not succeed. We possessed all the means
necessary to success, and blessed with the
smile Of God, we must inevitably crush out
what now looks so formidable. He spoke
Of home traitors, saying their
names should be handed down in disgrace to
postority, while they met the seOTn and con
tempt of their contemporaries. There might !
be an excuse for the traitors of the South,
but there could be none for those who " bit
the hand that fed them"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Browns remarks, !
which were listened to With undivided atten-
ton, and were well worthy of it, Judge Til
den moved a vote of thanks to the distin-
guished speaker, which was most heartily |
given by the audience. There was much |
food for thought in what Mr.. Brown said,
and his speech cannot but prove profitable to /
tbo5e who were sO fortuuate as tO hear If