The Portland daily press., 1864-01-02

FELLOW CITIZENS accept the position
to which l have been invited by the committee
of arrangements, not as an honor to myself,
though for that am grateful; but accept it,
as know il must have been intended. as a
tribute to the anti-slavery cause.
do not claim the honor, though should
rejoice il ] could, Of having been one of those
who, thirty years ago, laid the foundations OF
this great movement. was then but q boy,
taking no part in public affairs. But it is now
more than twenty years since | became con-
nected with it. Three years of my life were
devoted to it exclusively, SO that there Is
scarcely a city or large town IN the State III
which have not had the privilege OF pleading
the cause of the oppressed, when that cause
was despised, and apparently hopeless. Ana
as look back over those years to-day, can
not find words to express the feelings of my
heart. So sudden, and SO great is the change,
that it seems more like dream, than reali-
ty; as II it were some great drama and the
curtain had just risen upon new scene. L can
hardly realize, as look upon it, that am in
the same country, and that the same men are
on the stage.
l look for the Slave Power, that great polit-
ical abomination Of desolation, that has so long
stood supreme in our national temple, and
see it broken into fragments,-the prestige OF
its aristocracy overthrown and destroyed.
see slavery abolished in the District of Column
bia / see one half of Old Virginia free
State. see Missouri, that but yesterday sent
forth her hordes TO ensave Kansas, now stand
Ing beside her sister State, clothed in the gar
ments of Freedom. see Maryland practically
free; and Baltimore, the stones of whose
streets are still wet with the blood OF the first
martyrs In our present struggle, now welcom-
ing emancipation, and sending an abolltionist
to Congress. see tens of thousands of col
ored men, from all parts of the country, train
ed to arms, standing side by side with US In
defending the old flag, now their flag as well as
s.,rs. And more than all, because encourage
iug and lining all Other measures, see the
Presidents Proclamation OF EMANCIPATION
gradually undermining and overturnlng TINS
great system of wrong, SO tnas coon tnere snaii
not be left one stone Of 1t upon another.
And yet, amid all these great changes, moth
ing is more marvellous than the change IN
public sentiment among ourselves. SUCH
unanimily of feeling, who Of us could have
anticipated? All former distinctions Of party,
all acrimonies of old political contests, are
forever buried out of sight,
was not surprised that the Proclamation
excited no more public attention when 1t was
issued. Great epochs in the worlds history
are seldom noticed until they are passed.
There was once humble birth, in an obscure
Manager In Bethlehem, over which there were
angel hallelujahs in the skies, but of which the
proud rulers of the Roman empire had no
knowledge; and had they known it it would
have been but to despise. But after eighteen
hundred years, while most Of their names and
their deeds are alike forgotten, the return OF
Christmas day is greeted on every continent,
in every tongue.
The authors of the Declaration of lndepen-
dence had no conception OF the Importance
which posterity would attach to that act.
They knew it sealed their doom unless they
should succeed. But to their minds, 1t was
far more likely that their children would, with
annual reoicings, remember Concord, or Bun
ker Hill, than Independence Hall, and the i'm
mortal charter of Liberty there first promul-
gated.
And so, when the Emancipation Proclama-
ton was issued, though 1t had been prayed for,
aud was expected by many waiting thousands,
especially among the colored people, the coun-
try little understood its importance. Many
LOYAL men were afraid Of it. Many disloyal
derided 1t. But 1t is already beginning to be
recognized as the great event Of the war; 1t
has not only prevented foreign Intervention
it is the mortal blow struck home to the heart
of the rebellion. Slavery has been the great
disturber Of our peace ever since our govern
ment was organized. 1t has sought 10 destroy
our national life. 1t has taken the sword.
And this proclamation of the President Is but
the voice Of the people, saying-by the sword
let it perish.
But the importance of this measure. cannot
even vet be understood. None OF US can UNI
derstand 1t until we look back upon Il, from the
higher SUBMITS and the purer air Of the future,
after the smoke and dust OF battle have passed
away.
have recently, with few friends, visited
the highest mountain in our State. AS we ap-
lal haea fIar IVA
nearer at hand, sometimes hiding il from our
view, that seemed to rival it in beauty or gran
deur, claiming share in our admiration. But
when we had passed by and looked back from
a distance-thirty, forty, fifty mies-its COM
panions had sunk out Of sight, and Katahdin
stood alone, lifting its rocky summit In sublime
majesty against the sky. So, as the years roll
on, when Port Hudson, Gettysburg and Chat-
tanooga shall have become invisible In the dim
distance, this Proclamation OF Freedom will
stand distinct and peerless above the horizon,
10 cheer the hearts OF all who love mankind,
down to the latest ages Of time.
Since Il was issued, the earth has swept
around through its annual circuit, until II has
reached again the same point in the heavens.
Here. al this place, one year ago, we emerged
from the darkness of slavery into the pure
light OF liberty. Here, with the opening morn
ing of the new year, the nations voice OF
freedom was uttered. We celebrate its return
to-day. The Fourth of July, that has glad
dened our days Of peace for three quarters OF
a century, was born amid the storms OF war.
Let us be grateful to God, who brlngeth good
out of evil, and maketh the wrath OF man TO
praise Him, that out of this time OF our civil
strife another day has arisen, like
Another morn
Risen on midnoon,"
whose anniversary will be celebrated, when
these troublous years Of war are over, SO long
as our country shall have name and place
among the nations of the earth.
The address was received with marked APP
plause.
The Band then performed, in good style.
voluntary.
A fervcnt and appropriate prayer was
offered by Rev. DIR. Dwight.
The Battle Cry Of Freedom" was then
sung with great effect by the Select Choir.
Rev. Dr. Bosworth read, in distinct and
clear manner, the Presidents Emancipation
Proclamation, which was greeted with much
applause.
"The Battle Hymn of the Republic was
then sung by the Choir, the. whole audience
joining in the chorus. 1t is as follows:
Mine eyes have seen the glory Of the coming of the
Lord:
lie Ia trampng out the vintage where the grapes Of
wrath are stored;
L. "A. - - -. IL. M