The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-09-11
GbR Wastarn DRmntrat
CHARLOTTE, N. G.
A SHARP SPEECH.

Tho follovino is a portion of President ohm
sons speech at Cleveland, Ohio, embracing an
exciting scene:
.uJf were disposed to play the orator and
da.I in defamation tonight, would initiate
one of the ancient tragedians and would take
William Fl Seward and bring him before you
and point you to the hacks and scars upon DIS
nerson. "A voice-"God bless him y L would
exhibit the bloody garments, saturated with gore
from his gushing wounds. Then L would ask
YOU. why not hang Thad. Stevens and Wendell
Phillips :? | tell you, my countrymen, have
been fighting the South, and they have been
whipped and crushed and they acknowledge
their defeat and accept the terms OF the Constl-
tuition, and now, as | 90 round the circle, hav-
ing fought traitors at the South, | am prepared
to fight traitors at the North. fCheers,] God
willing, with your help, we will Go it. Cries
OF 1--WE won'tr'] They will be crushed North
and South, and this glorious Union will be pre-
served ICheers l do not come here as the
Chief Magistrate of twenty 1--WE States out OF thlr-
y.six. TCbeers L come here tonight with the
flag of my country aud the Constitution OF thirty
six States untarnished are you for dividing
this country? Cries of "No."] Then L am
President, and l am President OF the whole
United States TCheers I will tell you an
in this crowd to- night. He who is opposed to
the restoration of this Government and the re-
union Of the States is as great traitor as jeff
Davis or Wendell Phillips. Loud cheers. |
am against both. Cries of "Give it to them.
Some of you talk about traitors in the South
who have not courage to get away from your
homes to fight them. Laughter and cheers. ]
The courageous men, Grant, Sherman, Farragut
and the long list of distinguished sons of the
Union were in the field and led on their gallant
hosts to conquest and to victory while you re-
manned cowardly at home Applause. "Bully' ]
Now, when these brave men have returned
home, many Of whom have left an arm or leg
or their blood upon many battle field, they find
you at some speculation, and you committing
frauds on the Government. Laughter and
cheers You pretend now to have great re-
spect and sympathy for the poor, brave fellow
who has left an arm on the battlefield. [Cries,
ais this dignifed ?"l 1 understand you. You
may talk about the dignity of the President
TCries, GLOW was it about his making speech
on the 22d of February ?"] l have been with
you in the battles of this country, and | can tell
you, furthermore, tonight who have to pay
these brave men who shed their blood while
you speculatcd, and now leave the great mass of
the people here to work it out. [Cheers.l 1t
is time that the great mass of the people should
understand hat your designs are. What did
General Butler say? Kisses. What did
General Grant say? cheers and what does
General Grant say about General Butler ?
Laughter and cheers. What does General
Sherman say? voice-"W hat does General
Sheridan say 2" General Sheridan says that
he is for the restoration of the Government that
Sheridan fought for. Bully" and renewed
cries of New Orleans" and confusion The
President: | care not for dignity. There is a
portion of our countrymen who will always re-
spect their fellow citizens when they are entitled
to respect, and there is portion of them who
have respect for themselves, and consequent
ly have no respect for others. A voice
"Traitor"] l wish I could see that man.
would bet you now that if the light fell on your
face, cowardice and treachery would be seen in
it. Show yourself; come out here, where Car
see you. Shouts of laughter l stand now
where I stood when the rebellion commenced
Who has sacrificed more for his country than
II Who has run greater risks But the fac
tious, domineering and tyrannical party in Con,
gress has undertaken to poison the minds of the
people against me. [Cheers