The Portland daily press., 1868-09-01
Grand Rally at CITY Hall.
Great Speech by Senator Fessenden
A TREMENDOUS CROWD.
THE CoPPERHEAD GUNS ALL SPIKE

GU, Wei-tiiC nan do CfUUtHt6u, JuIlTlBU
full. Pendleton had not another man to hear
him, with all the flourish that preceded him,
than Fessenden had last night.
The meeting was called to order PROMPTLY
at o'clock by N. A. Foster, Esq, Chairman of
the City Committee, who announced the fol-
lowing as the officers:
President-Gen. Geo. F. Shepley.
Vice Presidents-William Willis, Rensael-
lier Cram, H. B. Hart, Byron Greenough. John
G. Proctor, w. w. Brown, Charles Holden,
Cyrus s. Clark, T. G. Jersey, j ,hn B. Brown,
Jacob Mcclellan, A. P. Morgan, S. c. Chase,
s. E. Spring, Eben Steele, VIM. Fl. Hammond,
Geo. w. Woodman, John E. Donnell, H. j.
Libby, j. w. Waterhouse, Edward Hamblin,
Chas. E. Barrett, Russell Lewis, VIM. Deer
ing. John c. Brooks, M. P. Emery, Nathaniel
Ellsworth, Benz. Kingsbury.
Secretaries-Geo. Clifford, Enoch Knight.
Gen. Shepley introduced Senator Fessenden
with eloquent illusions to his eminent services
as member of the Natioral Legislature and
especially as Chairman of the Committee on
Reconstruction.
Upon coming forward to begin his remarks
Senator Fessenden was received with fatter-
ing cordaity. After the applause had subsid-
ed he said that he was hardly able to suppress
his emotion sufficiently to address his audi
enoe. He had been reluctant to speak at this
time. He had felt that his speaking in Port
land was an old story, and that if there ever
had been time when his influence was ap-
preciable with his feilow-citixens that time had
passed. This welcome had dispelled the un-
pleasant impression. 1t was IS or 40 years
since he first began to make public addresses
here, and the changes that had since taken
place were of the most marked character
When he first went to Congress, 80 years ago.
fhQ rnrfi. fl,a ;rr and Aha
ic. He received 1900 votes. The Republican
vote was something heavier now, but the DEM
ocrats throw now, as then, about 1000 votes.
The Wing party had gone the way of all the
world, having fulfilled its mission. The Demo-
cratic party, too, had fulfilled its mission, and
he most sincerely wished that it had also dis
appeared.
ties was formed the Republican party. Since
it was first established there bad been attempts
| 20 change its name, and We some tunes hear OF
the "U nion party" and OF the Radical party"
"For my part" said the speaker al prefer the
| old name, and shall stick to it,"
In discussing political question Mr.. Fessen-
| den went no further back than the time when
| be first went to the Senate. From that time
| to this, he had honestly tried to do his duty.
If he had ever differed from any of his party
associates, or from his friends here it must be
ascribed to the native obstinacy of his nature
Having once formed an opinion it was rarely
that he could bring himself to change it. But
| his experience had taught him one thing
| when public man endeavors faithfully to do
his duty he may feel sure that he can depend
| upon the sympathy, magnanimity and honor
| of the people for his vindication.
The speaker then passed to consideration
| of the criticisms unfriendly to the Republican
| party, and of the circumstances which excuse
its blunders and Justify all its acts. When it
came into power in 1861 it was a new party,
| composed of new men, and with leaders whose
| acOuaintancn with Dnhlic affairs wa MT i'm.
perfect Mr.. Lincoln himself was new man
| and though possessed of an intellect of unus-
ual power, and of nearly all the virtues and
| graces of character that adorn humanity, he
was without experience in the conduct of ma
| tional affairs. There was only the nucleus OF
| an army; the navy was scattered to the four
| quarters of the globe. Opposing it were men
| of large public experience who for years had
been plotting for war. Laboring under all these
| disadvantages its work had been done surpris-
| ingly well, especially when, in addition to its
war upon the Rebels at the South it had to
| contend with bitter opposition at home. He
| did not wish to speak dsrespectfully of the
Democrats, for, said he, recently they have
| spoken very respectfully of me-" Great laugh
| teri. Speaking of the changes in parties and
| in the times, he wished one thing to be dis
| tinctly understood; amidst all this changing
| he had not changed in respect to his opposition
| to the Democratic party (Applause)
Resuming the consideration of the factious
| said that his evidence was not necessary to re-
| vive the recollection of it in the minds of any
| of his hearers. All of us had seen it and
| heard ton the street, in conversation, in the
| newspapers, everywhere. He would not ac-
cuse them of taking part in the armed rebel
lion against the government, but their oppOsi-
| ton to it was quite as calamitous as if they
had enlisted in the Confederate army. Some
| of them, it is true, when the struggle became
one of life and death, joined their efforts with
Of TTrtnr hut hos hot cd
| at home-with what heroic camness they bore
all our reverses!-how little depression of spir-
| its they felt when news came of defeat to
the Union arms He knew from personal OBJ
| servation that no single circumstance so en-
barrassed the administration OF Abraham Lin
| coin as this disloyal conduct of Northern men
But notwithstanding all these obstacles the
Republican party triumphed in the war, and
| as full compensation for all of blood and
| treasure that the war had cost that party,
| might point to the abolition of slavery. Sena.
| tor Morton had said in a speech made upon his
| return to Indiana, that if the Democrats sue
| ceeded they would restore slavery. The speak
er was not prepared to believe that they would
| do SO; for it was beyond their poaoer to accom-
| plish that purpose if they would. He would
congratulate his hearers upon the fact that,
| whatever dispute there might be about other
matters the abolition of slavery was an accom-
plished fact. The Republican party has at
least accomplished that s. ~ s-
mus Gne great OCcaSlOn I0r quarrel mas pass
| ed away. 1t Was impossible for the nation tn
be homogeneous people as longas that cause
remained 1t had gone and the time must
soon come when labor was to be more honora-
| BILE than ever before, because never before was
it recognized as the foundation of all just gov
eminent. And when equality is fully restor-
| ed, when all, North and South, stand on the
| same platform of freedom of all men. our past
| evils gone forever, ne shall be united, happy,
prosperous peoplsH .,
But the battle was to be fought, and every
| thing to be done. There were armies to raise,
war material to provide, and the people came
| forward grandly to the work. The world
| looked on amazed at the young nation which
could keep million of men in the field, and
bear all wars burdens SO cheerfully. But
money must b9 had aud in what manner?
Not by direct tax upon the nation, which
would be ruin, but by drawing upon posterity
for part payment. As Chairman of the Fl
nance Committee during nearly all the strug-
gle, Mr.. Fessenden had occasion to know what
the nation had to do and how they did it. We
had been obliged to contract a debt of nearly
$30O0,O 100000. The gentleman from Ohio ac-
cused the Republican party that the nation
owed so much. Those who brought about the
| necessity of this debt were of that gentleman's
party The men of the South were the lead
ers and 0aoaers of the Democratic party. The
same party that during the war kept telling
us we must submit. at -Dlr n
We were obliged to borrow money! and we
are told we must pay The speakers doctrine
had ever been to pay honest debts. The plat
form of the Republican party tells us ho,c we
! must pay: not according to any narrow inter-
probation of the letter but according to the
spirit of the obligation. There must be no
shutting, no pettifogging, no creeping into
small places-we must meet it and pay it like
men. The American people always do meet
what is necessary and are able to do 80 <-''i-
After the war began the supply of gold stop
ed, everybody suspended specie payment-was
the government to go on paying gold? No ma
ton ever did this or could do it. But the army
must be supplied and everybody must contrib
ute to that end. We must live on credit Com
gress issued its promises,-or dollars in paper
The value of a dollar is fixed by law, and is
certain number of grains of gold or silver. Did
Congress mean that its loans were to he repad
by pieces OF paper ad intiniturns The bill au-
thorizing $150,0O0,O0O paper promises decreed
that those should be legal tender with certain
we'll known exceptions Mr.. Fessenden at the
time opposed, believing that it could be done
without making legal tenders, which he FORE
saw would in some cases work injuy in the
community. But Congress was wiser than he
and passed the law, which the Democratic gem
tleman from Ohio and certain gentleman in
Massachusetts, interpret to mean that the prin-
cipal of our bonds, as well az interest, may be
paid in paper. By the second section of the
act, those who held greenbacks to the amount
of 500, or more, might bring them 10 the
Treasury and exchange them for a bond bear
ing SIX per cent. interest payable semi-annual-
~ IN CON: 1t is the last resort of falling gov
eminent to borrow money, or Issue paper prom-
ises. without providing for the payment Of in
terest upon them. 1t can be justified only by
necessity, at the crisis of nations life, and
should then be continued only till the messing
necessity was removed. To soften the asperi-
ties of such measure, we made notes receiva-
BILE for bonds There was no money in the
market; the nation must proyide a cI,rrency