The Portland daily press., 1866-09-06

Hessenuen TO go on, shrunk back abashed at
the sound of his own voice, feeling as if he had
been speaking out in meeting.
The Contrast between Northern and South
ern character was never better illustrated than
by the two speakers last night. Col. Mckee
was introduced by the Chairman as the loyal-
ist who even in prison refused to shake trail
tors hand. Mr.. Mckee is tall, slender, straight
as an arrow, with dark eyes, thick brown hair
and full beard-between thirty and forty years
of age. Hisvoice is powerful, penetrating, and
his whole manner full of an intensity and fire
which is rarely seen among our New England
speakers. He comes among us, he said, not to
instruct us, but to ask for help. He had stood
side by side with citizens of Maine upon the
battle field. Our troops had come to the rescue
OF his own State when it was overrun with rebel
hordes. We had helped the loyal men of the
South then, and they need help now. With
them it is in truth simple question of life or
death. ' '-'+.]
He was no conservative. Born radical. he
expected to remain radical to the day of his
death. Conservatism had done very little for
. the world. We had conservative war for two
years. George B. Mcclellan was conserya-
tive general, and made still greater failure as
conservative politician. Don Carlos Buell.
was another conservative general, now sunl,
into absolute insignifcance
The question is, whether we shall surrender
the political power of nation Internationally
into the hands Of rebels and their allies.
Who asks for this surrender? "a voice
the Copperheads.) Yes, the Copperheads, and
South of the line which once divided slavery
from freedom, the Senators and Representa-
tives who broke their oaths to 60 into the re-
bellion; the military and naval officers, who
broke their oaths for the same purpose, such
men as Robert E. Lee and the periured
pirate Semmes. North of Mason and Dixon's
line, the left wing of JEFF Davis's army who
opposed the war from beginning to end, re-
joiced over our defeats and lamented our sue.
cesses; and besides these, the few deserters
who had gone over to the enemy after the VIC
tory was won. gsY tfsHg ffey fvu ali
These men are now denouncing Congress-
And what then? Congress is not alarmed
(Cheers). 1t is an old story, They denounced
US in 1860, and levied war upon us, and we
crushed them. (Cheers) Will you trust
them again? (''No, no, nor') 49,
lie was in favor of the admission of loya]
men, at the earliest proper moment But
what does the unconditional admission Of
Southern representatives mean? 1t means
that jeff Davis shall be turned loose to return
to the Senate, that Stephens, and Slidell, and
that meanest and most contemplate of trail
tors, John G. Breckenridge, even now hanging
on the border Of Canada, not daring to re-
turn to his home, shall sit beside the Senator
from Maine Are you willing? (No, no.) II
means that Lee, and Henry Wise, and Beaure.
gard, and guerrilla Mosby, and Forrest, the
butcher of Fort Pillow, shall take their seat.
in the same body with John Lynch. Arc yor
willing for that? (No, no, no Sir-eep) Beau.
regard and Lee "a nd Bragg are to command
United States troops again; Semmes, and Bu-
ehanan and Maury are to rank with Farra-
gut, and Porter and Dupont. Not one of the
meepAsfs peA ae Of Congress elected South of Tennes-
We are told we must trust them because
they are willing to take the oath. Had people
reflected how many oaths these men had taken
They swore allegiance to the United States, and
to tho Confederate States, and now were
ready to swear not only to support the Con
stitution and laws but any laws which may be
made! -
We are told we must forget and forgive
They don't Look at Memphis, and the organ
lied mob at New Orleans, sustained by the
President. Look at the the persecution O
Union men everywhere throughout the South
Would our fathers have consented to forge
Bunker Hill and Yorktown, or to receive Ben
edict Arnold in the national councils? Car
we forget Farragut at New Orleans or Mobile
or Sherman's march to the sea, or Sheridan
(cheers) or Grant tremendous applause)? Car
we forget Belleisle, or Andersonville, OF the
murder Of the martyr Lincoln? la- l-0
If the Prodigal Son had come back to hi
fathers house and said, "Old gentleman, 1 hat
right to my half the property; I've spent
in my own way, as had right to; hav
come back because have nothing left an,
can't stay away any longer, and I demand t
be furnished with some new clothes and som
more money-forgive and forget, old fellow, am
kill your best calf for I'm hungry" Col. Nc
Kee rather thought the old gentleman wonl
have replied, "My son, you can go back to you
| diet of husks for the present" (Voice- Site
to it,. We will, and we expect You to stan
by us. New England has already spoken. Ver
mont shows popular majority larger by 800
votes than at the last election Maine vii
show gain of 10000 votes, and the Western
States will respond one after another, till W
| give the man in the White House lesson wlic
he will be forced to respect. (Cheers).
The meeting then broke up with three cheer
for Kentucky, and three more for Mr.. Lynch
1t was one of the largest and most attentiv
audiences ever assembled in this city Eve
the ringing of the o'clock bell, which accord
ing to j. Billings is universally respected il
Maine, was neglected on this occasion. Tn
| The fixed attention with which Mr. Fessenden'
| argument was received, and the enthusiasm
aroused by his successor, are most inspirin
signs. The people of Maine do not mean t
lose the fruits of their sacrifices. The hummer
| of the dumb convention does not for a momen
distract their attention from the real question
| at issue in the impending election.