The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-04-14

rose then to its highest point, and
swept everything before it, The an.
nouncement that several OF the ablest
and most honorable of the United States
Senators would expound the principles
OF this movement in favor of sound
statesmanship and against the abuse
OF good government, attracted an i'm.
mense conconrse OF people to hear their
eloquent words on behalf of their new
reform programme.
Never since the Cooper Institute was
built has such tremendous audience
filed the large hall of that building. In
the square and Oh the sidewalk in front
OF the institute, o dense crowd oonere.
gated at IN early hour, and strove long
after it was announced that the hall was
filled, to gain entrance within. The
firing OF cannon and the explosion of
hre.works attracted still greater numbers
to Join the multitude already collected,
but they came only to be disappointed.
At 7.30 O'Clock, the police refused to ad-
nit more persons within. The doorway,
corridors and stairways were then
jammed to suffocation. The outlets to
the main hall were blockhded, while the
hall itself was dense with an excited.
cheering mass Of struggling humanity.
To estimate the size Of the crowd wouI,l
be idle; but it is enough to say there
were Thousands present, and almost as
many turned away, without gaining ad-
mission. The hall was utterly made
quate for the occasion; and it is evident
that II the needs of the reformers dur
ing the coming campaign arc to be con-
suited, we must have another and far
larger meeting place in New York 10 con
tain them when they meet in council.
Ihe crowd was as respectable as it was
large, and comprised many of our most
prominent citizens. They were we'll
dressed and well-to.do, including mer-
chants and professional men, mechanics
and politlcians, Democrats and Republi-
cans, Germans and Americans, without
regard to opinion or condition. It was
an audience comprising the wealth, re-
spectability and intelligence Of the city,
and was truly representative in character.
The hall was decorated with the Ame-
rlcan flag and number of small stream
ers, while brass band played appro-
printe airs at intervals. The platform
was not less crowded than the audito-
rum. many noted persons being notice
able. The meeting was opened prompt
~ at O'Clock. by the selection of Ere
der4ck Conkling as chairman, which
position was filed with excellent iudp
ment and good sense in pacifying the
audience when disturbance occurred.
owing to the efforts of the crowd outside
to force their way into the room, and
preserving order in spite of the Difficult
ties under which he lnbored. The usual
reading of the names of officers then
followed. Prof. Gloubanskee read the
resolutions, which, in brief, we're
welghty and emphatic.
Senator Trumbull was next introducod.
and was received with tumultuous cheer
ing, which, however, was surpassed bv
the enthusiastic applause from all sides
when Horace Greeley appeared on the
platform and took seat near the speak-
ers' stand. Trumbull spoke with great
energy and fire. and not only electrified,
but also instructed, his audience by his
eioquence. His assaults on the central
lzlng tendencies Of the Administration
were hailed with indignant cheers, and
he astonished his hearers by showing the
despotsm which threatens the snfety of
the republic. He upheld, in unqualified
language, the true Democratic doctrine
of State rights, and while denouncing
rebels as traitors, he yet said they were
never thieves. He warned his audience
against the dangers of centralized au
th3ority. which has already been esta-
blished in different States of the Union: :
tribunals for the adjudication of the
property and lives of the people, sub
ject to its own control. and said this
power was in great danger of abuse.
Senator Schurz next took the stand.
and received a similar overwhelming oya.
ton to that Of Trumbull, as the lion of
tho occaaion and the leadirg e light of the
reform movement. His speech was
eagerly anticipated, and attracted many
persons expressly to hear it. Ho spoke
calmly and yet earnestly, using very full
notes. His manner was not full Of fire
and fury, sgnifying nothing, but clear.
logical and convincing. His dispassion-
ate arguments did not carry away the
feelings Of his audience, but they ap.
pealed to their reason, and held their at
tention closely. His voice rang clear
through the vaultcd hall, and through.
out the packed yet silent throng like the
notes of clarion. The audience seemed
spell-bound, and only ut intervals re.
covered themselves sufficiently to ap.
plaud. This, however, they did repent
edly and with vigor; showing the clio.
quence OF the orator was fully appre.
ciated. Each word was received with
nffaOtSoN n md ovor,