The Portland daily press., 1863-11-17

LEWIS BARKER, ESQ, of Stetson-a young
lawyer who, till the present year has always
acted with the Democratic party, though nev
er with the copperhead wing of that party
after doing an immense amount Of service, or,
as he would express it, "breaking large
amount of Democratic crockery" in the cam
paign in our State, was invited to spend few
weeks in New York by the Union Central
Committee of that State. He went there, and
commenced in some of the interior towns, but
before he left he spoke in several of the cities,
among the rest in Troy, Brooklyn, and in
Cooper Institute. His success and the way
Ia which he was appreciated is best shown by
a few extracts cut from the papers in the
places he visited.
The Otsego Republican, published at
Cooperstown = the home of j. Fennimore
Cooper - thus refers to his speech in that
place:
Mr.. Barker is an unpretentious man. Orig
mating frsm the People he understands we'll
how to touch the popular heart. Ever Dem
ocrat, and yet never an aspirant for political
honors and emolument, he is familiar with the
principles, policy and career of Democracy
when honorable concessions failed to satisfy
Slavery's greed and its vengeful hand lit
wars torch upon battered Sumter, he shook
off party utilization and devoted himself to his
country's honor. An honest man, he dare
look the issues of the hour in the face, repell-
ing treason whether found in the open foeman
upon Southern fields or wrapped in copper
head swaddling- clothes amid the free air of
the North
He abounds in anecdote; and, by we'll
timed yet humorous story, he convulses and
convinces. Altogether, he is remarkable
man in the field to which his duty prompts
him and the State Central Committee has as
signed him. His abilities, conjoned to his
success In swaying audiences, indicate his
adaptedness for more extended service, which
We doubt not the future has reserved for him.
The Owego Times refers to his speech
In that place as follows:
We cannot attempt to give even an outline
of Mr.. Barker's speech, but it is unanimously
acknowledged to have been the most mastery
and convincing, as well as interesting and en-
tertaining, of any ever listened to in Owego
He seemed to hold each one of his vast audi
ence by aseparate magic cord. He is no sur
face worker, but finds his way at once into the
innermost recesses of the human heart and
while he stirs the soul he convinces the judg-
ment. We saw eyes, on this occasion, with
whom we supposed tears had long been stran-
gers, moistened more than once with the biiny
dew. Mr.. Barker will ever, hereafter, find
home in the hearts of the loyal people of the
county Of Tioga.
In Troy Mr.. Barker spoke with Col Forney,
and 1t is no ordinary men who can command
the undivided attention OF an audience which
Col F. has addressed. But Mr. Barker, I'M
heralded as he was, seems to have taken Troy
by the simple force Of his logic, his infinite
fund of humor and the good common sense
which enables him to use his batteries of wit,
logic and satire to the best advantage. The
following are extracts from the Troy Daily
Times the next morning after the meeting:
OF Mr.. Barker we cannot speak too highly
He took his audience fairly by storm and held
them spell-bound. In his ringing eloquence,
his whitening sarcasm, his telling argument
aud his matchless fund of humor, we have
never heard him equalled by any political
speaker in Troy. He addressed his audience
as Democrat, and maintained his position on
that platform during the entire course of his
remarks; but he is such Democrat as are
Dix and Butler, Dickinson and Andy johnson
patriots, not partisans. Mr. Barker has won
a reputation among our citizens in single
night such as few speakers have attained by
years Of oratorical service. He touched the
key note of the popular heart at once, and it
responded 'like the rushing of many waters
The good effect of this grand speech cannot
be overestimated. 1t will be felt next Tues
day.
Col. Forney justified the anticpations en-
tertained, but who was Mr. Barker that was
the question asked before the meeting organ
lied. The gentleman answered it for him.
self long before his remarks had been, 10 spite
OF the cry of the audience for "more," brought
TO close. 1t was without exception, the
best campaign speech ever made in Troy.
His argument was so richly illustrated with
eloquent digressions and humorous anecdotes
at times keeping the audiencs in broad
bursts Of laughter, and then dimming every
eye with tear-that the enumeration of the
mere point or line of thought, seems barren
and does injustice to the gentleman who
welded in SO potent and fascinating manner
the gifts Of oratory.
Mr.. Barker is "a member elect of the next
Legislature, and we have no doubt he will
make his mark before the close of the session.