Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-05-11
speech by Ex-President Pierce
--MOb Spirst ReprOved.
from the New Hampshire Patriot. J

| From the New Hampshire Patriot
We are extremely sorry to perceive that
the people ofConcord have 80 soon forgotten,
or concluded to violate their solemn pledge
to the State, to enforce the laws protect in
dvldual rights. and put down the mobspirt
among themselves. That pledge alone pre-
vented the removal of the capital its vio-
lation, if persisted in will surely effect its
removal, no matter how much Concord may
expend upon the State House. We are
sorry, also, on all accounts, that the mob
spirit still exists here, and is encouraged by
men of influence and property. But argu-
ment with them is useless, and we shall not
now seek to convince them that they are
digging a pit into which they may them
selves fall. We propose only to notice
briefly the disgracctul doings of Saturday
evening, Aprill7 Between and 10 o clock
on that evening mob numbering at various
times from three hundred to six hundred
men and boys, visited the residences and
places of business of seven or eight of our
citizens, behaving in most disorderly man
ner, uttoring threats of violence and outrage
to persons and property; in some places
insisting upon searching dwellings where
there were only women and children, and
thereby literally driving old ladies from their
houses, in Il dark and stormy night to seek
protection elsewhere. The purpose of these
disgraceful proceedings was declared to be
to make the persons visited "hang out a
flag" Thus it seems that we are all to re-
joice or mourn at the dictation Of a mob ;
and the city authorities look on approving
! ly, or at least take no efficient measure to
put stop to such outragcs Comment is
unnecessary; we record the fact for the con-
sideration of right minded people. At
about nine o'clock, this mob, numbering
then from two hundred to four hundred
appeared about the door of the residence Of
General Pierce and surprised him by vocifcr-
Gus calls. Immediately the door was thrown
! open, and in the blaze of the entry light the
Ex- President appeared upon the steps and
addressed to the assembage the remarks
which follow. 1t is due to the crowd to say
that the moment our distinguished fellow
citizen appeared and uttered one or two
sentences, with the exception of occasional
rcmark Ks, such as that so, " that good, ="
that's true" absolute quiet and silence
prevailed while General Pierce was speak
ing Wen he uttered his "good night, "
they responded with hearty good night
and three cheers for the General, and retired
as quietly as though there had been no scene
Of excitement in the city. This, at least,
was creditablc.
SPEECH OF GENERAL PIERCE.
FELLOW TowNsMEN: | come to ascer-
tain the motives of this call What is your
desire?
Some person in the crowd replied: "Wc
wish to hear some words from you on this
said OCCASION" General Pierce responded
| wish | could address to you words OF
solace. But that can hardly be done. The
magnitude of the calamity, in all its aspects,
is overwhelming. If your hearts are op
pressed by events more calculated to awaker
profound sorrow and regret than any which
have hitherto occurred in our history, minC
mingles its deepest regrets and sorrow with
yours. 1t is to be hoped that the great
wckedness and atrocity was confined, NOR
ally and actually, to the heads and hearts OF
but two individuals of all those who still sur
vve on this continent, and that they may
speedily and in obedience to law, meet the
punishmcntdue to thcirunparallelcd crimes.
1t is well that you-it is well that well
that all men worthy to be called citizens Of
5 the United States, make manifest in all
suitable forms, the emotions incident to the
) bereavement and distress which have been
brought to the hearths and homes of the two
, most conspicuous families of the Republic.
give them my warm, outgushing sympathy
, as am sure all persons within the hearing
r ofmy voice must do. But beyond personal
5 grief and loss, there will abide with us inev.
itably the most painful memories. Because,
as citizens obedicnt to law, revcring the
r Constitution, holding fast to the Union,
thankful for the period of history which sue.
ceeded the Revolution in so many years OF
. peaceful growth and prosperity, and loving,
with the devotion Of true and faithful chill
dren all that belongs to the advancement
and glory Of the nation, we can never forget
or cease to dcplore the great crime and deer
stain.
A voice from the crowd-"Where is youl
flag?"
t 1t is not necessary for me to show my de
votion for the stars and stripes by any special
= exhibition, or upon the demand of any man
or body of men. My ancestors followed ii
, through the Rcvolution-onc of them, al
, least never having seen his mothers roo
from the beginning to the close of that pro
tractcd struggle. My brothers followed il
in the war of 1912; and | left my family il
the spring of 1871, among you, to follow it
fortunes and maintain it upon foreign soil
But this you all know. Ifthe period during
e which | have served our state and country
c invarious situations, commencing more thar
ofmy devotion to the flag, the Constitution
; and the Union in doubt, it is too late now t,
t remove it by any such exhibition as tn,
: inquiry suggests.
Besides toremovc such doubts from mind
$ where they may have been cultivated by 1
C spirit of domination and partisan rancor
S if such thing were possible would be o.
G no consequence to you, and is certainly nonC
!. to me. The malicious qucstionings woulc
return to reasscrt their supremacy and pur
t sue the work ofiniusticc. Conscious ofth'
t infrmites of Temperament which to great
e or or less extent bcset us all, | have never
felt or. found that violence or passion
j was ultimately productive of beneficial re
$ suits. 1t is gratifying to perceive that YOU
t observation, briefer than mine, has led you
minds to the same conclusion. What {
o priceless commentary upon this genera
}, thought, is the final reported conversation
; between the late President and his cabne
h and with that dispatch comes news to war
rant the cheering hope that, in spite of th'
u knife of the assassin the life and intellect o