The Portland daily press., 1868-06-13
DENTAL CAMPAIGN.
Tremendous Enthusiasm!
Portland Endorses Grant and
Colfax p!
Speeches by Gen. ShepIey, Gov. HawIey
Hannibal III la i'm aud Gov. WASH
burn. A Fair Start for the
Grand Charge on the
nemy.

Hall was filled to its utmost capacity with men
who are going to vote in November for Grant
and Colfax and Equal Rights Nor was there
dearth of ladies who only await the removal Of
legal barriers to add their influence and efforts
to the same cause in a more effect ual way than
by their presence at pol itical meetings. Talk
not of lack of enthusiasm for Grant and Col
fax o misguided followers of Conservative
leaders, for the name of either is as potent to
raise shouts that foreshadow victory as any
that were ever presented to the American peo-
pie. The storm was in league with the Demo-
Gratis last night, but it mattered not; the Re
publican soldiers were all out. Considerable
time has elapsed since the Convention, and
the first grand emotions of satisfaction might
be supposed to have subsidized, but it did not
prove to be the case. The people came out en-
masse. All their anticipations were realized.
From our own speakers they knew they should
derive instruction and pleasure, but until he
had spoken they did not know what extraor-
binary qualification was in store for them
through the introduction of Gov. Hawley.
Hereafter it will always be mystery to our
people how Connecticut. even with New York
for a neighbor, can be Democratic State,
when it Numbers among its citizens so earnest,
able and eloquent an advocate of the truer
democracy which is called Democracy
The meeting was called to order by Thomas
B. Reed, Esq, of the Grant Club, who intro
duced Gen. Shepley, President of that organi-
cation, as the chairman of the meeting. On
taking the chair Gen. Shepley made few Wig
orous and timely remarks, that gave the KEY.
said that it was hardly proper to speak of this
as ratification meeting, for the Chicago Con-
vention itself was held merely to ratify the
choice of the people already made, and this
meeting was held to express the satisfaction of
the people that their wishes have been observ-
ed. The shouts that greeted the name of Grant
at Chicago were but feeble when compared
with the shouts Of twenty million people at the
great ratification meeting in November. As
the fiat of the Almighty created light to bless
the world, so the will of Grant, mighty because
it is the embodiment of the will of the people,
will give the people peace. 1t will bring secu-
rity for black aud white, freedom of speech
and freedom of the press, to all American citi-
zens. Recurring to the Chicago Convention.
Gen. Shepley said that the selection of a can
didate for the Vice Presidency was not in ac-
cordance with the first wishes of the1delegates
from Maine and many other loyal States
Every one knows who Names first choice was
At this allusion to the Hon. Hannibal Hanulin
the applause was so enthusiastic and long con-
tinued that the speaker was obliged to pause
until the tumult had subsidized. Resumng,
Gen. S. recapitulated the arguments which the
Maine delegates urged upon the members of
the convention in favor of their candidate.
Mr.. Hamlins chances had been seriously in
jured by his own reluctance to have his name
presented to the convention. Too many dele
gates had been pledged for other candidates
before Hamln's friends were in the field, yet
Gen. S. believed that he was really the first
choice of a majority of the delegates. But if
Maine was denied her first choice, it is fit
subject for congratulation that she had her
second. The nomination of Colfax was ac-
cepted by no one with more contentment than
by the delegates from Maine. Passing to the
other work of the Chicago Convention, the
Republican platform, and speaking of the anti
reputation plank, Gen. S. again excited long
continued applause by an allusion to the elo-
quent speech of Gov. Hawley Oh that occasion,
when he said that ''every bond was as sacred
in letter and spirit as the soldiers graves" The
recognition of the rights Of American citizens
abroad in the platform, was also the subject of
warm commentator. For further report of
the proceedings of the Chicago Convention the
speaker introduced with few complimentary
remarks, that were richly deserved, the Presi-
dent of that body,
EX-GOVERNOR HAwLEY,
of Connecticut, who was received with a per-
feet storm of applause, which for some time
prevented his beginning. When at length he
was permitted to begin, he gracefully said that
the concentrations of his personal and politi-
cal friend, Gen. Shepley, had done him an in
jury, fos he could not fulfil the promises that
had been made in his behalf After brief
reference to the events of the war, which he
depicted with almost electric effect, Gen. Haw-
ley proceeded to discuss the principles and
policy Of the Republican party. He said that
the party had no disposition to exact any in
demnity from the South, or to treat the South
ern people with harshness or injustice All
we required was guaranty for the future
We wanted. in short, the United States at last
to be Republic! The doings of the Chicago
Convention had been everywhere received
with intense satisfaction. Speaking of the ex-
traordinary effect produced by the nominal
tons and platform, Gov. Hawley aid:-Every
close observer of political matters has not
failed to observe that the leading minds of the
Democratic party began feeling for their old
leaders and their old principles. The very fact
that the influential men among them were dis
cussing the possibility of the nomination of
Salmon p. Chase was conviction in itself. Sal
mon p. Chase, 1 remember very well in my
boyhood, read the first address of the National
Liberty party; he was an original Birney man,
and friend of equal rights. And is the old