, 1864-10-24
speech Of MuJ. Gen. Hooker at Spring.

| Ae10e
Mej. Gen. Hooker received magnificent
Weicoae at Springfield on Thursday even.
i1g last and made the following brief but
ringing 1esporse:
Nr. Chairman, Ladies and Geakemen: am
mere Tonight in compliance With iostruc-
tors from my Gotetnment. Whatever is
dune ehau look to Jon for it. hope moth
iEg will be required to be done; but still II
ts not necessary for me to know whether It
WIl be SO or not NY own opinion fs
that the complexion ofeverythine has chang.
ed veIy much within the past two weeks,
have have to tight are already fought [Tremen.
The election early next mouth will pass off
successfully. .[Re1ewed cheers.] Tue vic.
tory ct the ballot trpox will be in vindicA alton
OF thls Union and OF our authority. 1t will
be In support Of Jour armies In the field, and
It Ill be In support Of the honor of the ma
uon. lApp]ause.1 THAT yindi cation will be
far hey ond what the most sangnine who arc
here anticipate It Will be more than
Waterloo defeat to those who are a11ayed
against onr country. lLoug continued ap.
plause.l 1t will be almost i death blow; it
will be staggering blow to the rebels that
re have been fighting in the-war In which
ycur brothers and your sons have been en-.
gagged Tor the last three Years and q halt; It
will be whitening bio = to them and it viii
would not tor the world say anything to
excite hopes that may not be realized; but
will cay this, thatit Is the opinion Of those
who have much better opportunity Of
knowing than have, that in the next elec-
ton We will achieve the greatest victory
tbat has been won from the beginning Of
this rebellion to the present time, It will
be TWO. edged sword, Cutting both Rays.
North and Sonth- [Cheers.] 1 state this
confidently, believing from those who have
much better opportunities Of kno wing tha1
have, that every single State In the Union
will cast its vote for Abraham Lincoln.
loud applause aid cries Of "That's SOIL
Gentlemen, am only amazed when rode
through this conhtr5-it Is tHentg years
tluce hare Known anythi2g Of fit-North-I
can be found to take sides against our cou1-
try IN Its present crisis. I should say, did
not know to the contrary. that that person
was insane. am amazed that any member
Of that paIty IN which I have ever
belonged, which Was the Democratic party.
! was gteat a a5mlrer o. that son Of yours: 1
was great admtrer Of Stephen A. Douglas,
and would Lave followed him everywhere.
[Cheers and tell you it he had lived, he
y ould not lave recognized as an act OF the
Democratic party anything which would
hare been against his cnustry; he would
never have recognized any body as patriot
who would take sides against his country In
Stephen A Dou2las-[Applauscl should be
found a1rayed against bis Government
Gentlemen, when came into this Ill
felt myself too hoarse to ta1k, but ii was
ten times more 60 than am, could not be
lnsenslble to the kind manner In whica You
have received me among you. am deeply
sensible Of It,. and wish that deserved it
mere. I shall here, as have eSerywhere-
for have no desire beyond the sucse=s Of
our cause in this rebe1iion-I shall, III my
present Situation, do everything In my pow
er to accomplish Whatl hare been striving to
do, and what an Tour friends in the amy
have been striving to do in the field. Ishall
strive to do it here; and assure yon, I shall
shrink from no sponslbility. | know no
fatigue I know no labor In the discharge Of
ny duty in this matter, and trust will
know Lone.
Twas early in the rebellion, and I expect
to be late in It. [Cheers.] I have saan its
birth and itR progress, and intend to be
present at it's death aud burial Loud con-
t1nued applause1