The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-11-06

RECEPTION TO MR. coLFAx.

PIrTsBURG. Nov. 5-Hon. s. Coiax. Vice
| President elect, ar iv d here this evening He
| was met at the Union depot by an immense
crowd, who received him with enthusiastic
cheers, which he acknowledged by bowling.
He is here in fulflment of promised visit to
| Gen. Morehead, who met him at the depot and
took him to his residence in the 18th ward
| Here Mr.. Colfax " as entertained by a sump-
| tuous banquet, large number of prominent
| citizens being present. He was serenaded by
| the Tanner clubs and great multitude of cit
| liens He made brief speech during the
| evening.
He complimeuted the citizens OF the county
OF Allegheny upon its magnificent majority
| for the right on Tuesday. He said there was
trinity OF principles in the victory OF tuesday.
| Liberty for all; Justice for all; protection for
| all by that sign. We conquered. There was
another reason why this Young and patriotic
party succeeded 1t declared that we ought to
| enfrapchse rather than enchain; elevate rath-
| err than crush; build up rather than trample.
| and because we bore our cause down to the low
ly, though denounced by all the enemies of right
in this broad land, we went forward to conquer
and win salvation tor the Union, ana we gave
emancipation to the slave. (Appause) When
IN this contest we were the only party in this
broad land that dared to stand by the down
trodden and helpless people of the South the
only party that denounced the outrages that
diShonored us nation, and when upon our
heads were invoked the blessings of those who
loved our country know that you reioiced
on the night of the election over the victory
We won. know how you rejoced over the
result, but some were rejoicing in their hearts
who did not show what was passing in their
minds. These were the tried Union men of
the South, who reioiced not in their
public squares, but hanging upon the
outskirts of hostile crowds to learn wheth-
er they were to have protection or whether
their dearest rights should be outraged and
when the wires sped the news that the majes-
tic voice of the people had spoken and said
there should be protection to them, the loyal
men OF the South gathered around their hearth
stones and thanked God that His providence
had protected them. (Cheers). There are two
sharply defne3 questions which have bsen
settled by the voice OF the people. The Demo-
cratic platform declared in that portion of it
written by Vale Hampton, that the recon-
struction measures of Congress were uncon-
stitutional, revolutionary and void, and the
the American people trampled that platform
under their feet as they had tramaled the plat
form which four years ago declared the war
failure and demanded a cessation of hostlities.
The voice of the people, from whose decision
there is no peal, has declared that the re-
construction measures of Congress are not UNI
constitutional, revolutionary or void. We
have declared that the voice of the people is to
be obeyed and the laws are to be enforced,
whether rebels like them or dislike them.
(Cneers.) The second principle which has
been settled by the popular vote is that
everv man has the right to go South
or North, East or West, so long as he is
devoted to the principle of our flag or be pro-
tected by it against outrage and wrong. To
day, the only place in this broad land where
the people are prevented from singing the bat
tie songs of the war, such as "Down with the
traitor and up with the stars" is the blood
stained fields of the South where your soldiers
fell You could there sing songs among the
banditti of the Alps or among the thugs of
India. The only place where you could not
sing them is over the graves of dead soldiers.
But we are going to have land so free and so
loyal, presided over by man so true to his
country, that you may sing those songs any
where (Applause.)
I speak of President Grant; from his own
utterances you will find that he wrote those
magnetic words LET us have peace;" if YOU
look back to his acceptance speech, when the
committee waited upon him, and l remember
hearing the words as / afterwards read them,
that he said he was for peace and quiet and
protection everywhere and what he says he
generally means. (Cheers.) 4'r5<rH
He will bring to the duties devolving upon
him the same energy, ability and will that has
hitherto characterized him. and when he says
there shall be peace and quiet and prot -ction
everywhere, let traitors beware for he means
what he says and will carry it out. "a voice
string up Wade Hampton). can tell you one
thing my friends, this party that has been
struggling for the supremacy and carried two
Northern States, New York and New Jersey,
by unblushing frauds, that has carried six
sympathy with your flag, that this party will
never appear before you again until they have
secured new leaders. (Cheers.) And they
will have to get some new principles besides.
l don't think Wade Hampton will make any
more platforms for the Democratic party.
don't think that Valandigham will nominate
any more Presidents. don't think Preston
and Forrest will nominate any more Vice
Presidents. Under the administration of
President Grant look forward to an era of
peace and prosperity, an era of development of
all the manufacturing and agricultural indus
tries which are the very backbone of any ma
ton beneath the circuit of the sun, with
Grants zeal to stop every wasteful expendi
titure of your treasury, and his opposition to
every attempt to imperi your business. With
Grant who, under Divine Providence, has
been called to fill the presidential chair, /
trust we shall have future of unexampled
public prosperity. prolonged cheers.)
Brief speeches were made by Gen. Moore
head, Gen. Swizer, Major Brown and Judge
Shannon, in response to a serenade from a
club of Tanners. Subsequently, Mr.. Colfax
made briet speech, reiterating the sentiments
expressed above. -ag.saIa
P1TTsBURG, Nov 6-Mr Colfax left for
Washington this morning at 8 o'clock.