The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-10-23
LOCAL MATTERS.
REPUBLICAN SPEAKING LAST NIGHT
AT assembly HALL
A GLORIOUS MEETING

| night. The house was crowded with eager
citizens long before the speakers arrived
The white and colored classes were about
equally represented on the floor, and we
were glad to notice that the laboring men
and mechanics of the city were largely rep.
resented.
A little before eight o'clock Judge Will
liams and General Hall arrived in company
with General Wells, DR.. Mills, Colonels
Popham, jenkins, Shields, and others, and
after brief interview among these and
other distinguished citizens, to whom our
visitors were introduced in the main aisle
of the hall, the speakers were conducted
to the stage. After all were seated, DR..
@. S. Mills, chairman of the Republican
State Executive Committee, called the
meeting to order. He said we had met to
hear distinguished men from other parts of
our common country discuss the questions
involved in this canyass--questions that
are more vital than those which
are usually involved in the mere county or
State elections of ordinary times, and upon
the settlement of which depends much
| that is dear to us as citizens of the Ameri-
can Union. We have with us gentleman
| from the extreme northwest portion of the
nation, and another from the opposite ex-
IRENE, whose shores are laved by the waters
of the Atlantic. DIR. Mills then said he
had the pleasure Of introducing as the first
speaker Of the occasion, Judge George II.
Williams, of Oregon, Acknowledgement of
the United States.
Judge Williams stepped forward and
was greeted with great applause by the
audience. He said he had never before ap-
pearcd before Southern audience for the
purpose of making a political speech.
surrounded by other influences than those
Southern States, but he was able to make
views which had resulted from circumstan-
ces over which neither had any control.
On the one hand it was claimed that each
State Of the Union was sovereign; that
each State had right to judge
| and determine questions for it.
self; that the general government
was created by and is dependent upon the
States for its existence. On the other hand,
it was claimed that the Union was inde-
structible, and that the government was es-
tablished by and for the people. The ques-
tons arising under these dissimilar views
as to the purposes, objects, and powers of
the general government were long discussed,
and were finally submitted to the arbitra-
ment of arms. In the dreadful conflict
which ensued, the question of secession
was defeated. [Applause.l
The speaker complained that the Demo-
cratipt party, or at least the southern wing
of that party, did not accept in good faith
the results Of the war. lie then quoted
from the recent New York speech of Hon. r.
M. 7. Hunter, and stated that he and others
were endeavoring to create the impression
that the Republican party was DESTROYS of
establishing monarchical or despotic gov
eminent, and that the Democratic party is
in favor of popular sovereignty. The
speaker denied the claims thus set up by
Mr.. Hunter and others, lie said the
Republican party is held responsible for
the recent amendments to the Constitu-
ton of the United States, which were all
made with view of sa1mging tie liberties
and iasirtDg The more perfect protection OF
the citizens ofthe United States. Applause
Every act Of the Republican party since
it came into power, was in the direct inter-
est Of the whole people, and in opposition
to the exclusive and aristocratic ideas in,
culcated by the Democratic party. Do moi
the people control the government? Are
not members of Congress elected every
two years2 Are not one-third of The
United States Senator's chosen every two
years? Lnlarging the rights and powers
| of the people who control the government,
| is not the way to erect despotic govern.
ment. The effort on the part of the lead.
ers of the Democratic party to create the
impression that the Republican party is in
favor of despotism is unfounded in fset
Mr.. Hunter further says that the Repub'
lican party is dependent upon sectiona
stTifs for its existence. This assertion i:
unfounded in truth. The Republican party
is the true party Of reconciliation and peace
General Grant ia fair embodiment of the
feeling of that party toward the people Of
the South. Take him as General com.
handing military forces or as civil Officer
of the government, and show me one ac
of his which is inconsistent with the Re
publican desire tor internal peace ant
tranquility. (Applause.l Judge Williams
then referred to tho circumstances Of tht
surrender Of General Lees army at Apo
! mattox; to Che efforts Of Andy johnson t.
have the ex-Confederates tried and punish
ed; to General Grants report upon tn
| COlultl0Q Oh tH0 DOuIIl, WHICH IL. Js ALI
. his followers declared was "white-wash
ed' report, and pointed with pride to tn
! record of General Grant in al these trans
! actions. As President he has always bee
, in favor Of amnesty, and has never faile
to recommend it to Congress; but hi
: lenienoy has always been resisted b,
Charles Sumner and men of that class
His acts have always breathed q spirit {
E Cancellation and good will to the people G
9 the South and She whole country. An
I General Grant is the embodiment and rep
!. Iresentative of the Republican party and it
). principles. [Applause.l
! Judge Williams then spoke of the libel
atty of the legislative branch Of the gene
raj government in making appropriation
for the public buildings, river and harbt
: improvements, railroads, &C.. in the Soutl
i in the past two or three years, more thd
Q one hundred hoaaaad dollars hariag be-
: appropriated to such objects in Vnyinit
[AppIause.l There is no disposition on IL
part of Congress or any other branch
the Government to make any distinctie
n with regard to any section of the countr.
: Referring to the charge that 0 portion
s the citizens of the South are still 'ineligb
to hold Office, he said, for his own part,
{ regretted that all the disabilities growi;
out of the war had not before now be,
> swept from the statute book. He was
- favor Of their removal. tApplause.l y
49, - .ot e., l,sto,k x1t,o,, III ithaca M no