Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-10-07
DE M CIR ACY.
the Greatest Political Meet
ing Ever Held.
An Army With Torch es,
10 MILES OF PROCESSION.
30 900 MEN I'm LINE
And Half a Million People Around
the Speakers Stands.

| tuo NpodhoIS OLduuSs
New YORK, October 8.
| The greatest mass meeting ever held in
| New York took place this evening, in Tam
many Hall, Fourteenth street and Union
| Square. The Democratic torchlight pro-
cession, now in progress, has In its ranks,
according to the estimate Of an experienced
police captain, over ninety thousand per-
sons. After junction had been effected
with the delegations from the adjoining
counties, the length of the procession eX-
ceeded ten miles. Every ward was largely
| represented. and banners and Transparent
cies were numerous. Several bands of mu-
sic accompanied each delegation. and play
ed the 'Star Spangled Banner" and other
National airs. The scene in Union Square
was grand. From the main stand-the
Temple of Liberty-which was splendidly
| illuminated, strings of lights stretched to
| Tammany Hall. and the streets in the Vi
cinity seemed literally on fire with calcium
| lights, rockets. fire paintings, and fire bal
looms. The main stand on Broadway was
| the center of attraction outside of Tamma-
| ny Hall. though there were six other stands
at which speeches were made to the i'm
| mense Jhrong, roughly estimated at half a
million persons, men, women and children.
The crowd stretched Rcompactly down
Broadway to Eleventh, and even as far as
Spring street. The spacious thoroughfare
was well filed, while scores ofcross streets
| were alive with citizens.
The meeting at Tammany Hall was held
in the spacious hall in which the delibera-
tions OF the Democratic Convention were
conducted, which was filled to repletion.
The front seats were occupied by ladies,
land the hall was splendidly decorated.
Gen. Baldy Smith presided. and said that
speaking as the representative of hundreds
of thousands of soldiers who had risked
their lives in the war, he declared it to be
his opinion that the results OF the war
would be lost without there was an entire
change in the policy of the Government.
Hon. Sanford E. Church was the next
speaker, and argued that the centralizing
policy of the Radicals would, unless
checked, inevitably result in depriving
the larger States, such as New York, Ohio,
and Pennsylvania, of the preponderance in
the affairs of the Government that properly
belonged to them in consideration OF their
numbers, resources and amount contribu-
ted by them to the support of the Govern
ment.i $500. .
An eloquent address was also delivered
by Mr.. A. Oakley Hall, District Attorney.
The following letter from General Nc
Clellan was read; his emphatic indorse-
ment of the Democratic candidates being
received with enthusiastic demonstrations
of applause:
New YORK, October 5, 1868.
To Douglas Taylor, Esq, Chairman, &c.
MY DEAR SIR: have the pleasure to ac-
knowledge the receipt of your invitation
to preside over the Democratic meeting of
Monday next. have long since deter
mined to abstain from further participa-
tion in political life, and, therefore, find
myself compelled to decline the honor you
ho 1od 80
attend the meeting as private citizen did
not engagements of domestic nature,
rendered imperative by my long absence
from the city, upon the day in question,
prevent. sas
gladly avail myself of this opportunity
to cypress my continued hearty sympathy ,oith
the Democratic cause, and my soishes-ardent
wishes-fOr the success of those constitu-
tional principles for which the recent war
was undertaken by the North. Separated
as thus am from the distinguished soldier
who has been chosen as the leader of our
opponents. know that you agree with me
in the highest respect for the services he
has rendered our country, but it is my con-
vlction that measures of the party which
has placed him in nomination are but COM
binations of strife. .and can never restore
peace or constitutional supremacy, and
thereby complete the work which he and
the other brave soldiers so ably COM
menced. The war was only the first epoch |
in the history of the struggle in which we
have been long engaged The work of the
soldier is, / trust forever ended, and it re- |
mains for. the people to fulfill the great |
objects for which they or their
sons and brothers were called to the |
field. A RESTORED UNION OF STATES AND |
AN INvIGoRATED CONSTITUTION, TO |
BE FIRMLY AND FAITHFULLY SUPPORTED, |
THE MAINTENANCE OF THE NATIONAL CRED
IT INvIoLATE, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
NATIONAL AND STATE RIGHTS IN ALL THEIR |
AND THUS TRUE HARMONY AND |
LASTING PEACE. THESE ARE THE OBJECTS |
FOR WHICH LIVERY CITIZEN SHOULD NOW |
STRIVE, AND BELIEVING THEY REST IN THE |
SUCCESS OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUSE, BY |
THE ELECTION OF THE EMINENT STATESMAN |
SELECTED TO REPRESENT THE PARTY. IT Is |
MY INTENTION TO SUSTAIN THAT CAUSE AS A |
PRIVATE CITIZEN. With the request that
you will convey to the gentlemen. of the |
and my other friends for whom |
you act, my sincere thanks for the compli- |
ment they have paid me, 1 am most truly |
yours, 60. |
[Signed] GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN.
Letters were also read from Hon. Hora- |
ito Seymour and Hon. Frank P. Blair
Speeches were also made by Mayor Hoff-
man, Hon. Henry G. Murphy, A. j. Rogers,
Green Clay Smith, Isaiah Rynders, John
Mullaly, Captain Mcclellan, Colonel Da-
Wis, and others. ..... .....
The meeting was still in progress, and
the procession yet marching through the
streets, at midnight.