Year: 1863

lat this mass of my old friends have
ztended me to-day, calls for an expires.
on Of my profound thanks, and an as
lrance of my most warm and fervent
rattude. Old memories have been |
usy with me to-day. "reminiscences
+ the past have been crowded on my
hind. But amid those Of the future
hat may come up to me amid my wa
ing and thinking dreams, none shall
ave fresher or greener place than
hat Of your cordiality and kindness to
ne here to-day. Yet, alas! in all this
'ast crowd l miss the familiar face and
he cordial grasp of the hand of one
hat would have delighted me much to
nave met. He was the loved compan-
ion of my boyhood; the political and
personal friend of my manhood; one
whose soul was full of honor aud integ-
rity; an original and lifelong Democrat,
and supporter Of Jackson in days
when it was almost thought crime in
this country to be one-a Democrat
without guile; and yet when tho crisis
of bis country came he did not stop to
consider party lines-did not stop to
ialter as to his duty, but went forth
at the head of his regiment to the field
Of battle, only to meet disease and death
in the camp and be brought back be-
meath the pail and laid amid the graves
of his fathers. Peace to his memory
Light lie the sod and green grow the
turf over the remains of Con. Jesse
Hill dcrbrand! One who knew him we'll
aud loved him dearly desires here alike
to drop a tear and an evergreen upon
his grave. ..5 .. t..


THE QUESTION OFTHE DAY.


Fellow citizens, th ere is but one top
ic which one who appears before an
audience atthis time is expected to dis
cuss, and that is, the condition of tho
country, which is now struggling for
the maintenance Of its integrity in the
face of a rebellion, more fragrant than
any Of which history has given record.
And, in entering upon a discussion of
the questions involved, in order to save
myself trouble or any misapprohensiOn
on the part Of any one else, desire at
once to define my own position.


TIE SPEAKER A WAR DEMOCRAT.


1t is scarcely necessary for me to tell
this vast audience here assembled, that
from the days of my bOyhood up to
this hour, have been ranked with
that political party known as "Tho
Democracy" and that from my entrance
into it until now, have never wavercd
in its support or been false to it,
Cheers l am in party distinctions
and in all things pertaining to the gen
eral policy Of the country, Democrat
to day as I have ever been and as hope
to remain. [Applause. ] But in a cri.
sis Of this kind, it is principle Of my
Democracy, that the first great duty ev.
cry man owes is to his country. An
although there is President in the
chair, to whom I haveever been polite
ally opposed, and for whom I did no
vote, yet l recognize him no
as the head of a political party, but a


the head of the Governmental Toheers
and, as a good soldier who is fig htinl
in the ranks, it is my duty to obey hin
as Commander-in Chief without halt
ing to ask questions in regard to thi


great contest. Renewed cheering I,


By and by I may have something t,
ay Of what is being done; but at present
I have nothing to utter against it.


have differed from Mr. Linccln on man,
questions; but this is no time TO cavil -


1t is not whether this mans rights o


that mans rights have been infringe,
upon, but the question is, what is tn


duty Of every man 20 his country il


this crisisi 1t is first to put an end t


this rebellion, and then, when that


accomplished, if We have anything t


settle with these men at home and i
power, we will take hold Of it. TAP


plause.


THE SLAVERY oUEsTIoN-ITs DOMEsTI


RELATIONS.


| have no more delicacy in approach
ing the question Of Slavery than an


other topic that enters into this rcbe
lion; but in doing so | shall be uude
the necessity of defining my positio
) again, With Slavery in its domestic al
titude | have nothing whatever to dc
have no care in regard to it. What


ever have been my previous opinions {


the relation Of master and servant i