New-York tribune., 1876-10-17
THE AUDIENCE AND ADDRESS.

when Col DgersO spoke in Cooper Institute that not
another person could have got into the hail. but 1t was
shown last night that its capacity not tested on that
occasion. At GAS o'clock the vicinity Of the building
was crowded, in six minutes after the doors
had been thrown open the room was hlled,
and at 1880 o'clock the hall, the lobbles
the corridors and the cOmmteeroOms were literally
packed Long lines OF eager listeners stood in the
verging ascs, and all further attempts 10 get within
hearing distance OF the speaker became hopeless And
st the multitude surrounded the Institute the out
side each individual hoping that ne might be the for
tuuate prove the old addge that there is always
for more and long after the speaker OF the
evening had warmed his subject the entrances TO the
building tlronged with men to whom it seemed 70
be sufficient reason for remaining that Mr. Blaine
speaking within IN the audience was very large num-
Der Of young men to whom the personal magnetism OF
Mr. Blaine might be supposed especially TO appeal and
many Of the front seats occupied by ladies.
A long list of vlccPresdents announced, of whom
many were present This list included the names Of
John A. Dix, George Opdyke, Chaunccy NJ. Depew,
Joseph Selinan, Levi p. Norton j. Schuyler Crosby
william Oron, John COcrane, Albert Bierstadt John j.
Townsend Sinclair TOusey, Lloyd Aspinwall, E.
Delaleld Smith, Charles l.. Tiffany Fletcher U.
Harper, Edwin W. stoughton and Others.
Among the secretaries Frederick Richardson, j. W.
Howe, Robert ONe Ford Webster Stephenson, Stephen
H. On Charles sherman ID. Webster Lee, and Joseph c.
Bign. Occupying seats upon the platform were num-
Der OF gentlemen prominent in the politics Of the city
and State, and many more were struggling In
the crowd below in the vain endeayor 10 gain
standngroom, even to get within the doorways.
Among those engaged In the effort the venerable form Of
ThuIow Weed was conspicuous and Postmaster James,
eX-GOv. Solomon, exJudge Dittenhoefer and Henry 8.
Pearson formed extreme rear guard in po-
ston from which they could hear little and
see nothing In addition to these gentlemen
were present Ellwood E. Thome Alonzo B.
Cornell. Gen. Henry L. Burnett Frederic Kihn,
Elliot c. Cowdin Judge Freeman j. Fthan Gen Daniel
T.. sckes Gen George b. Sheridan Robert W. Bradford,
William " Brakeman. the Rev. Henry Highland Garnett,
Joel B. Erhardt Luther r. Marsh, f. W. Pullman, Chas.
Johnson, and others Several ladies' who were so
fortunate come in before the Grusd began
gained seats upon the platform and in the hall
One enthusiastic young lady, the daughter OF Gov
Beverage OF Illinois, not TO be deferred by the
crowd and expressing her determination TO hear Mr.
Blaine die pressed TO the frOns OF the struggling
ranks aud rewarded for her by good
seat where she attentive listener until the meet
/ ing closed
At 7.3O O'Clock Clarence A. Seward rose to make
introductory address. He cordially greeted and his
remarks received with frequent demonstrations OF
favor But when at their conclusion he presented TO the
audience the Hon James G. Blaine. there such APP
pasc the oldest Republican warhorse present never
remembered to have heard before Cheer followed cheer
the air black with hats and white with hand
kerchcfs. each momcntary u was followed byincreased
enthusiasm, and than five minutes before il
was possible for Mr. Blaine to begin his speech The ad
dress occupied hour and half in delivery but
the had throughout he sympathy OF his hearers
10 such degree that il impossible say what parts OF
!; were the most cordially received In the back part OK
the hall the crush was 50 great rs 10 pass the
limits of quiet endurance, and at intervals during
the latter part OF the speech some confusion was
caused by the attempts OF individuals to change their
positions But the most part when the rOf was not
ringing with applause the multitude silent and in
tent Mr. Blaine seemed perfectly restored 10 health,
and several persons who saw him during the last session
OF Congress remarked his resher appearance and moro
complete ygor His address as follows:
LADIES ASD GENTLEMEN: Il was my fortune, either
good or -a least it was my fateto have entoed Con-
eress some II years ago | TecOllCct the inst Winter
f1t took my seat in the House they bad under Discus
sion bin to prescribe test oath for persons who should
thereafter hold office underline Government O the United
popusry known as the iron-cad oath. It's design
to prevent who had been in rebellion ag7inst the
Government 0f the United states from holding oihce
under that Government aitcrward. The day that bill
was under discussion in the Senate the senator from lnd
tem whom always speak kindly in personal sense
rrmembcr Wei tat 10 the course OF ms arsiment ne
said o the senate; This oath tat You are now ABOUT
10 pass useless, because, let me assure yOu said Mr.
Hendricks. with certain sort OF prophecy that nobody
Sde and Brauc gard viii Dc busy m seeking their per-
oaicc under The Government OF the United states'
thought tren that Mr.. Hendricks was right, and
should certainly have considered myself very wild
dreamer # bad thought that should remain IN tho
House long enough To see, as did see on the rst Mon
officers the Confederate army stand up at the bar ot
the House of Representatives and be sworn IN as Demo
cratic Mcmbers-swOIu IN under modified oath, made
possible by the lcnicncy OF the Republican party,
while | and every other loyal man that does
swear that he did rebel and never iuended 10
rebel ard that he takes the oath without any mental
reservation whatever These 20 Southern
Icheers and dughtcIl were admitted on their simple
promise that tney would try aud behave themselves
hereafter. They went in on that oath, assumed their
seats took oil tItr coats, nuag up Their bats ana made
themselves ut home, and took command OF the House,
aud llO Northern Democrats tEe associates, were
content to st at ucf let d 20 tAt IN, pOe{ OF t1e
Democratic party Of the United states from those 20
In the DAYS OF the most arrogant proslavery regime
THAI lourshcd under Pierce ana Buchanan
Congress Applause As the evidence OF this II Is the
iact that the greatest legislative power lodged IN
committees OF the House, ana when te Democrats had
IN that Congress the power oi appointing lhoHe cOmnt
tees these 20 southern men, representing population
OF l3oOOUUO people, associated Win 10 NOrtheTn
men, Iclits, htilS ~ pOPUItoh oI o-VvV,VoV "OuI,.
have been treated with the greatest hOeialliy II
they had been given from cne-jAtd TO onr-lGafter
part OF the committees on pro ltiA popuaLon
basis-tor neither IN commerce IN arts, nor nor
claim even so great snare IS li.", ~ lH3 "T1uauy
took possession 0i n ont OF 81 commit c ol The House,
and allowed uc Democrats o the NoItu o nave "It lOl
Aud these Ashpul 'h FI1Gu beiu',Idt' oI lue NOi.h
bowed their heads and sat down under that treatment;
and Mr. samuel Co%, Who represents portion OF ths
tvitcd with that the floor the House, said ho
was glai was 80. Thank God, D1'y,' SAID Uriah
Hccp, am 'umbe."
Al this point u the speech there immense up
roar of laughter aud cheering, succeeded n one part OF
tine han by confusion and turmoil, IN when the
Aflrczlls death seemed imminent III tho
terrible tanning Of the crowd and was some moments
before police could their way 10 the pace "he
the trUupc and quiet the disturbance MI blahe
resumed before the excitement wac eh"e! f"e'eu oon
Il ming; .,, -,
thc Hnse Is tiaf which lorbids tie gaitne OF inde-
ncUJrnt LEGISLATION upon appropriation bills The very
- ~. js House took "a entirely change tEat