The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-09-07
The Great Demonstration of the
Season.
THE PEOPLE IN COUNCIL.

Never la our experience have we witnessed
demonstration TO compare with that at the
City Hall last evening. At an early hour ev-
cry square inch OF space on the floor, In the
galleries and ON the stage, was crowded with
humanity, the mass-ioI we know of no other
word sufficient 10 express the density of the
house-all pulsatlng as with one heart aud
that heart beating in unison with the great
throbbing heart of the country.
Alter music by the band the meeting was
organized by calling Hon. Charles Holden TO
the chair, who, with appropriate words, intro
duced Hon. JOHN A. PETERS OF Bangor. AS
the first speaker Of the evening. MIR. Peters
did not disappoint expectation. and that is as
high praise as we are capable of bestowing.-
Mr. Peters spoke for an hour and half, and
his speech, while it was based on substantial
sub-stratum OF solid argument and inconies-
tiole facts, making up sketch of the causes
and consequences and miserable prospects OF
the rebellion, sparkled all over with flashes Of
wit, scaihllg sarcasms, biting irony, and was
conceived in that spirit of inimitable humor,
In the display OF which Mr.. Peters has few ri
walls. To say that 1t was received with enthu-
s:astic cheers would be tame; 1t was often in
tarrupted by long continued and Wild applause.
His respects we're paid to Messrs. Sweat and
Howard In graceful manner though they
we're made to appear in an attitude represents
ed by this term graceful with a monosylabc
prefix.
Mr.Peters was followed BY COL CARPENTER
Of Kentucky, stranger in this city, here on
brief mission of loyalty, but man who is
no longer a stranger TO that vast audience
For over an hour that large house seemed
perfectly entranced. Col. Carpenter, who
knows all about The rebellion, who has been in
Il but never Of IT.; who has suffered loss Of
property 10 a large extent, Is one Of the best
speakers we have ever listened 10. He deals
with this thing of rebellion and its twin.sls,er.
apprehension, with no gloved hands, bat calls
things BY their right names. Before his terri
ple denanclallons the bastard Democracy of
the hour withers like the blasted fig tree. No
words Of ours can do justice TO either his
manner, his language or his argument. He
Is perfect mastered the stump. He has been
lifelong Democrat OF the Jacksonlan school.
This evening be speaks In Bruins wick, and our
friends there win not fail to crowd any place
In which he may speak, No speech could be
more rapturously applsuied.
At the close OF Col. Carpenters speech an
episode took place OF an extraordinary hut
piost Interesting character. Some 200 return
cd soldiers from the convalescent hospitals,
having arrived BY the evening train, marched
TO the hall, escorted by the band of the 18th
US. Infantry, and filed the extended stage,
which wac cleared for the purpose. Such
storm Of applause waving of handkerchief
By the ladies, and cheering as greeted them,
We have n9yer before witnessed. II was
sight to do the patriotic heart good. They
were cioqaently addressed by Col Carpenter
and Rev. DIR. Carruthers, when with rousing
cheers By the audience, responded TO by cheers
from the soldier boys, the meeting adjourn
90 al eleYen O'Clock.
We should have mentioned the excellent pat
riotie song sung during the meeting by Mr..
Shaw's quartette club,
fhe next meeting win be on Thursday even
Ing; speech by Hon Mr.. Gooch of Mass.