The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-09-02
Mcclellan Meeting in Biddeford.

Our enterprising friends on the other side
of the house have been al!o,ing for great
tempus, and have made every exertion Tor an
enthusiastic and immense meeting, hut the
people don't come. That is the only draw
back to the affair. We nre obliged to close
this account ut noon Thursday, and the turn.
out in the afternoon may bo larger, but thus
far the gathering is a miserable failure. The
people that have come are well enough, only
there IRE few of them. Flags are flying and
drums beating. but not 300 persons, beside
our citizens, aro here. The "immense mass"
of four hundred living, moving and breath
Ing human beings that assembled at III o'clock
On the delta in the rear of City Building.
were called to order By j. NJ. Goodwin, Esq.
who introduced young man by the name of
Clay, of Gardiner, whose duty it was to en-
terrain the "immcnse mass" until some one
should arrive. Mr.. Clay is young man OF
prepossessing exterior, who speaks with the
good old Bullockite tone, and this was evil
IDENTIFY his first attcmp. at public speaking
We have room for only part of his speech,
which was substantially rs follows:
These great outpourings of the people mean
something fellow citi,eus--and what do they
mean, Ifyou hadn't all assembled here to-day,
doubt very much whether some OF you would
not be absent. (Applausc These are momen-
tous times, fellow citizens-inuch more momen-
tous than times which have not been 50 mpor-
tant. The great issue is upon us. and We can.
not escape il except by getting away from 1t.
(Applause.l II is constitutional liberty on the
one hand, aud on the other also. lAppiausc.
You are called upon 10 decide whether you viii
have free speech, frcepress and free Government
or whether you will submit TO something else
not quite 80 good Our fathers handed this
down 10 us, and told us to pass II round to our
posterity, IL VIC had any. lCries OF "Hurrali
Tor posterity."1 They gave us the Constitution,
and told US to hang on to IT,, like grim death to
| n dead Niger, and now these Aboltionists
come along and want to take away our Consli.
tuition, and leave US nothing but by laws to run
on. But they cant come IL. fellow citizens,
we'll elect Mcclellan or burst eatapp!ause.
These Abolitionists have suspended the writ
Of habeas corpus that great charter OF the
al.biri's rights. Aud now, my fellow citizens.
suppose one of you should accidentally steal
something, rs all men are apt to do, or sup.
pose, in the exercise OF your rights, you should
inattentiyely garrote man, how are you DING
to get out of Jail, rs long rs the Abolitionists
choose to keep you locked up! You can't Ito
il, fellow citizens, and these usurpers at WASH
ington simply say to the people, by suspending
the writ of habsas corpus, that they shall be
tyranicaliy tried for Insignificant capital oifen-
ses
Lastly, my fellow citizens. let me call your
attention to the fact that there is more noise in
the present day about one thing and another
than there is about anyth ~ else. tApplaussl
And say to you here, rs u freeman OF Maine.
that if this Infamous Administration is not
changed, it will remain pretty much rs 1t is.
But must give way 10 some individual bet
ter than myself, or rather, somebody that is
no worse. (Applause.l As contemplate the
momentOus issue before you. (and, as for that,
il is also before me). | can but close with the
immortal Millions Apostrophc to Liberty:
"As 1 was going along, long. long,
A singing comical song, song, song,
The lane that went was so long, long, long,
And 80 went singing along"
Threat applause1