Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-10-25
ocl I4lal
AN EXCELLENT SPEECH 81 GENERAL
HOOKER
W. II. Browse,
Col and Chief Disbursing Officer
For MaIylana aud Delaware.


AN EXCELLENT SPEECH 81 GENERAL
HOOKER.
Major General Joseph Hooker was given n
public reception in Chicago On Monday last, and
made the following speech;
MIR. Chairmhn Ladies and Gentlomcn-No
words Of mle can express my tlausfulness for
the generous kinducss with which slr Larned
has spoken Of He. No No;ls Of mne can ex-
press to you my gratitude for the manner in
which you have received them. They are
appreciated by me now, and they will be remem-
bered by me as long as ! live an still moro
thankful for the kind manner Ia which tae
speaker refoired to my companions They are
more dsserying OF your gratitude than aiA.--
They have been faithful, aud they nave been
devoted to the cause. II ! have been more
prominent than they, ii is for the reason that
circumstances placed me in command uf them.
They are as good as ami they have Joae their
duty, anu have done mine, 70 far rs could
Loud cheering
l enlisted i'll This rebellion for tho rebellion.
| came in at the begianing, and l expect, if nay
life is spared, 10 be in at the death. Raptur-
Gus applause | expect when it is over, in
common with all Of my companions, to claim an
honorable discharge. Cheers. intend 10
merit it. [Continued cheering, l feel from
your indulgOnt expressions tonight as though
had merted 1t up to this time. Cheers /
am us deeply, as earnestly interested ia the
result as was when took up arms at the
beginning Applause,
know that this rebellion is staggering from
its own weakness (eheers y ami if any doubt is
felt on the subject, as many newspapers seem to
! indicate, lei tbem read tue speech VI the arch
traitor Of tie world. Cheers Let them read
the speech Of jefferson Davis, whose uame, am
told, was loudly cheer ed in these streets but a
few weeks since. "Shamel shamel'1 lie
sritl haa
lated mure hearts, desoa;ed more homes, than
hae any other mortal lnau from tho beginning
OF all time loud applause / the enemy of govern
ments aud Of all manknd And what does it
mean when lie is cheered by Americans When
the enemy of enemies is cheCfed By Americans
in this magnificent metropolis what does it
mean There is something wrong. "Thars
so :" "Tfhitors at hotne'i Yes, that is the
WoId-trRiiOrs ht home. Prolonged applause
lie is directing his armies against your brothers,
against your sons, against your own blood. lie
is tue author Of il all, and yet he is cheered. |
am told, iu these sIGlts, What does il mean I
Are we not Americans? Do we cease to love q
government that has done everything for us ?
Have we git no Pride Of country remaining? Is
there any one here who deserves to belong to no
country For my part | want to belong to thu
proadest nation that exists on the globe-
Cheers want that this government should
accomplish its mission it Is a noble one, and
neithsr jeff Davis nor the copperhead tr0i'
hero can ever prevent its aocOmp plishment-
Cheers You may rs well try to stop the ear th
IN its motion around the sun as to stop this
government Applause Its destiny is moi
7 yet accomplished We have a great mission Il
perform. We have To sustain aud yindicAte the
honor Of humanity, Of right, of liberty, and We
will perform it. Applause.l
As ! shall leave this State Tomorrow morn.
, ing, would be doing injustice TO myself not ia
express my thAnkfulEess for the kind manner in
, which | was received here, and the splendid
hospitality that has overwhelmed me since
! entered your city, and the good feeling which
has been shown everywhere towards me. car
ouly tell you that will try to merit it as long
as live. IL is my desire GOw to 20 to the front
where think belong. Loud cheers may
not be able to do 1t, but whether do or not
you shall hear ffom me as ever performing my
whole dniy, whether that ho ia meeting enemic.
here or enemies in the coufederacy. Loud
d cheers. wish you nll farewell
Colonel llarmanus NeH, of Philadelphia, VIA,
also among the speakers. lie could not con
csiye Why he, stranger, should DO asked tC
adiress them, but felt that no man at the preseu
time could REUSE to speak. lie was proud /,
witness tue gathering which he saw before hin
"A gathering of patriotic men an women--ant
was proud TO sec the existence Of their nobl,
Board Of Trade. Colonel Nef concluded h,
urging them at home to support this armies il
he field