Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-08-21

bic proportions and promises to be beau
tiful and impressive structure, and Pro-
fsssOr Dascomb's house, upon the hill, still
shows most plainly the traces of the fire
which had nearly swept it away, but tOther-
wise the town is the same quiet, white
housed New EngIand-like village that my
eyes looked on six months ago.
But to-day the town wears brighter
and buster aspect than of yOre. For to-
day the people of Lorsin, her tOwnsmen
and her farmers, came up by thousands to
listen to words Of counsel, encouragement
and good-oheer from their chosen friends.
All the morning vehicles Of every descrip-
tion came from each quarter Of the hori-
EOn, laden with living freight, and when
at ten o'clock, the meeting was called to
order in the big church at Oberlin, it was
filed to overlooking by an audience of
three or four thousand peOple,-and q
more intelligent and appreciating audi
ence is seldom gathered The meeting was
organized by the selection of the follow
ing officers
President, Samuel Plumb, of Oberlin;
Vice Presidents, Hon. N. D. Gates, Of
Elyria, Hon. s. s. Warner, Of Huntington,
Hon H. G. Little, of Oberlin, Hon. N. P.
Johnston, Of Lagrange, Mr.. Goss, of
Brighton, Mr. Swift, of Brownhelm, Mr..
Stowell Dudley, Henrietta, Mr.. Geo. G.
Washburne, of Elyris, Mr.. J. II. Dickson,
of Wellington, Mr.. Conrad Reed, Of Black
River.
The meeting was opened fitly by pray
er of thanksgiving and supplicatiOn offer
ed by the Rev. Mr.. Owen, of 0berlin, af-
ter which the President, of the day Mr..
Samuel Plumb addressed the audience in
brief and effective speech Of welcome
congratulating them on the auspicious cir
cumstsnces under which we meet.
The first speaker of the day was Cap
tain Howe, of q think the 35th Illinois
regiment, who, although, as he said, hsv-
ing come without expecting to speak, and
prepared rather to listen," addressed 10
the audience a speech so earnest, logical
and eloquent as to enehain their atten-
ton for more than an hour.
Captain Howe is a Democrat, a true
Democrat, aud Copper heads of the Val
landigham stripe find no favor at his
bands. We regret our inability to give a
full report Of his speech. Ho said we are
in the midst Of a rebellion Even if the
Republicans did cause il, and they did not,
that is no reason for not putting it down.
We cannot stop the war by concessions.
They wont accept them. The only alter
native is to conquer them by force or to see
the Government destroyed. This is the
issue: Democrats as yol used to be, traitors
IS you are Vallsndigham Democrats of
Ohio. Applause.
The eloquent officer concluded with a
stirring appeal TO all to stand by the Gov
ernment which had given us all that we
were more than savsges, and which till
now, had never called on us for aid, and,
as We would preserve ourselves, our chill
dren, our country and our State from in
fanny, to do all we could to defeat Vallau-
digham at the coming election. The
speech commanded the closest attention of
the audience from beginning to end. At
its close the audience adjourned for dinner,
and at one o'clock met again.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The meeting was called to order by the
President who introduced TO the audience
the Hon. JOSEPH NJ RooT, Of Sandusky.
As the old champion of Freedom came tor
ward he was greeted with well-merited ap-
plause. He spoke for nearly two hours in
q manner that showed that he had lost
none Of the eloquenee, earnestness and
sturdy power that in old days had made
him so prominent in the cause Of Liberty.
SPEECH OF HON. J. N. Root.
Mr.. Root began by saying that he felt ct
home in addressing an 0berlin audience
He had stood there before, and felt free to
speak the truth with the bark on it, for he
was speaking to men who spoke the truth
themselves.
Let us inquire the occasion of the war.
It was begun by rebels, avowedly to be-
come separate people. There never was
a time when we could compromise. They
have never made complaint; they never
had grievance. They only asked to be
let alone. Vallsndigham says they want
us to stop, and they'll negotiate 0fcourae
they'll negotiate. Like the boy whose
father was whipping him {" Stop dad let's
argy." But our only way to bring them |
back is to subjugate them.
Let us take higher view. Let US look |
up to God. Itdon't require faith, it hqrdly |
requires com mon sense to see the hand Of |
God in all this. For two centuries the ne |
groes have sent their prayers continually, |
night and day, to a prayer-hearing and a |
GOd-to their God and |
ours, to be delivered. Think you he has
not heard or answered them. He is now /
doing it. Did we win a fight until the |
right existed. Standing here more than
= year ago I declared that Jehovah never
meant to let us conquer until we made up
Dur minds to do justice TO the blacks. /
Applause. No substantial success was
gained until the Presidents Proclamation
Jane. Some prophecy a new policy-that
If re-construction-which means simply
IN abrOgatiOn Of the Proclamation. 1 |
Know that as surely as we recede in this
respect the tide Of battle will turn against
IS. 1t is our great peril. I believe we
hall overcome IL; if not we shall perish.
Listen to no more talk Of reconstruction.
Conquest and submission are the only
words we can bear. Such rebels as sub-
nit may c3me within the reach Of human
mercy; such as do not-let them ask par
Ion Of God. Applause
Now, am going to make confession.
don't love the negro; n, yer did. Ipity
lim. When | see him struggling I want
o help him. Iwant him happy; butI want
him happy by himself.
A voice, /" Hasn't he 3 right to go where
le pleases?''] .
No, my friend, for you and havn't
hat right. don't believe in carrying
lim across the ocean, but in putting him
y himself here. He'll have sense enough
o know where he viii do best. In the eve
IT the law he should be equal. But law
md common sense will sometimes older.
Mr.. Root paid high compliment to John