The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-08-10
Speech of Hon. John a,
Bingham.
Mastery and Eloquent Discussion
of National Issues.

The Republican mass meeting at
Washington Hall Saturday night was Il
grand success. No snch crowd has
gathered on similar occasion i'll this
city for years. by eight o'clock the
hall wH4 crowded 10 its utmost capacity.
Certainly there were at least "a thou
sand people within its walls. a large
number of ladies' were present.
About half the hall was seated.
The chairs were crowded into tho
smallest possible space and in the ro-
manning half of the hall men were
packed in perfect jam. Vaas' band
was stationed on the stage and dis
courssd their best music the half hour
brfore the meeting was called to order.
The delegation from La Belle. headed
by Captain Freese's martial band,
hundred strong, marched up Monroe
street IA few minutes before eight. At
this time the hall was nearly full, and
the street was iull OF people from the
entrance down to Market, from side
walk TO sidewalk. and great numbers
were standing on Market street. At
eight the hall was so full that people
Ind to be turned away. at this time
there were Iuliy twice Hs many people
in the streets as there were in the hall.
Certainly not less than twenty. five
hundred or three thousand people were
cungTegutcd in the hall and around it.
Alteration the crowd would have been
estimated mt from six to eight thousand.
II was greatly to be regretted that this
state of things had not been anticipa-
ted so that arrangements could have
been made for a speakers stand out OF
doors. A large crowd WAS expected,
but not so large IL one as that actually
in attendance.
Within the hall the stage was decorated
with flags, there being among others
several OF the battered banners of West
Virginia regiments that bore the marks
of having been in "IOr three years or
during the war" The band rendered
in their best style the Star SPangled
Banner and ''Hnil to the Chief" when,
ut a few minutes past eight, the speak
ers having made their appearance on
the stage, MIR. Henry Wallace, the
President OF the Central Grant aud
Colfax Club, took the chair and called
the vast assembly to order. II having
been arranged That the early part OF
the evening should be occupied by Mr..
Bingham, Mt tho request OF the Chair
man Mr.. A. w. Campbell introduced
that gentleman in the following re-
marks:
Mr.. CAMrnELL said:
Mr.. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen /:
In introducing to you the speaker this
evening 1t seems proper that l should
make n reference, somewhat compliment
tary to himself, rs BETTING an occasion of
this sort. Eight years ago MIR. Bingham
came 10 our city to address Republican
meeting. During the progress of the
demonstration that evening, very bitter
opponent of Republican principles made
the remark that such demonstration was
"A disgrace to the State of West Virginia
and to the city of Wheeling and ought
not to be tolerated. 4 very prominent
gentleman of our time then, and after
wards conspicuously identified with the
fortunes of the Southern Contederacy,
replied that the movement had progressed
too far and could not be put down, and
must be submitted to. That night was
Mr. Bingham's first experience as to Re,
pubhcanism in our midst And am
sure that he will congratulate himself this
evening that, under his auspices, to some
extent, the small seed that was planted
ut that time has grown to be such an i'm
mense tree that all this great company are
gathered underneath its branches. make
this allusion as calling up an incident
which seems to be appropriate to the oc-
casion in connection with the speaker who
is now to address you, the Hon. John a.
Bingham. .-
Mr.. BINGHAM came forward amid en-.
thusiastic cheering and spoke rs follows
Mr.. Chairman, ladies and gentleman
It's my purpose to speak to you tonight
as an American citizen, in behalf Of
American institutions and American in.
terests. 1 appear before you tonight,
my fellow citizens, to take counsel with
YOU, to reason with you touching mattert
of public concern that affect the interest:
of all the living millions of to-day
and must more or less affect thu
interests of the millions who are to CONF