THE 'PRESS,
PUBLISHED DAILY <SUNDAYS EXCEPTED.)
BY JOHN W. FORNEY.
opnoz, No. 111 SOUTH FOURTH STREET,
THE DAILY PRESS,
EIGHTEEN 'CENTS PER. WEEK, payable to the Carrier.
Mailed to Subscribers out of the City at Stony DOLLARA
I'ER ANNUM, POOR DOLLARS FOR Six MONTHS, I . Wo DOL
LARS FOR THREE MONTHS — IRTRI iably Ia advance for the
time ordered.
Afar-Advertisements inserted at the emit rates. Stir.
Ilues constitute a square.
THE TRI-WEEKLY PRESS,
Matlea to Subscribers out of the City at FOUR DOLLARS
:PER asNopir, io Advance.
• GENTS' FURNISHING (:( A IDS.
606. ARCH STREET. 606.
lall~i i:►►;j l►) it' "4
Full Asaortment of
GENTS' FURNISHING GOODS,
IN GREAT . VARIETY
GCTERIOR QUALITY, /AD AT MODERATE PRICE=
O. A. .IIOFFMANN,
Hueccosor to W. W. KNIGHT.
000 ARCH STREET. mi.
JairMth am
THE FINE SHIRT EMPORIUM,
Vol. 1 AND 3 NORTH SIXTH STRUT.
JOHN C. ARRISON.
(FORMERLY J. BURR MOORE.)
IMPORTER AND MANUFACTURER OF
IGENTLEMEN'S FURNISHING GOODS
IN GREAT VARIETY AND AT MODERATE PRICES.
N. B.—Particular attention given to the making of,Shlrte,
, Collars, Drawers, &e
VINE SHIRT MANUFACTORY.
The aubacriber would Invito attention to hie
IMPROVED OUT OF SHIRTS,
'Which be makes a specialty in his business. Ala°, con
.gitant,ly receiving,
NOVELTIES FOR GENTLEMEN'S WEAR.
J. W. SCOTT,
GENTLEMEN'S FURNISHING STORE,
ffo. 814 ORRSTNST STREET,
Four doors bviow the ContinentaL
ARMY CIOTIIIING, Ace.
A. OPPENLIEIMER, •
1131. 011IIRCH Alley, Phll'4Blolls.
CONTRACTOR AND MANINAZToIusit OF
ARMY CLOTHING
Of Every Description.
ALSO,
HAVERSACKS,
PONCHOS,
CAMP BLANKETS,
KNAPSACKS, and
TICKING FOR HOSPITALS,
MATIRIA.L BOUGHT POE CONTRACTORS.
Allgood! made will be guarantied regulation In else.
P B. Orders of any else filled with &match. la 7 3m
PAPER HANGINGS.
ADELPH I.A:
PAPER HANGINGS.
ROWELL & BOURKE,
CORNER OF
FOU.RTH AND MARKET STREETS,
PAPER HANGINGS
AND WINDOW CURTAIN PAPERS,
•Offer to the Trade a LAME AND ELEGANT ASSORT
SIENT OF GOODS, from the cheapest Brown Stock to
the Finest Decorations.
'N. E. COIL FOURTH AND MARKET STREETS.
N. B.—Solid Oren, Blue, and Buff WINDOW PA
TERS of every grade. ' fel3-2m
SEWING MACHINES.
STILL THERE!
AT THE OLD STAND,
528 CHESTNUT STREET,
second floor, opposite Jityne'a Hall,
WHEELER & WILSON
SEWING MACHINES..
`The understoed has not removed, but id ready at his
Old Office to supply customers, at the lowest prices, with
Cory style and quality of
WHEELER & WILSON SEWING MACHINES.
Machines to hire t also, with tirst-slasa operators, to
private families and hotels, by the day,
Machine stitching done &ration notice, in any quantity.
Machines repaired and operators taught.
de264m HENRY COY.
1-*JINGER'S
SEWING MACHINES,
Pz,r Family Sawing and Manufacturing Parpoir
810 CHESTNUT STREET.
I
E WILCOX & GIBBS
?MOW
SEWING JKAOHINES
Jae been greatly improved. making it '
ENTIRELY NOISELESS,
IA with Self-adjusting Remmers, are now reedy for wile
y FAIRBANKS & EWING,
027-if 718 ORESTNTIT Street.
GAR FIXTURES, &c:
i n ARCH STREET.
C. A. VANKIRK & 00.
Iif.S.BI77ACTURZEtS OP
CHANDELIERS
AND OTHER
GAS FIXTURES.
Slam, Breach Bronze Fignree and Ornaments, Porcelain
d }Sea Shades, and a variety of
. .
FANCY GOODS •
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL,
Moue call and examine goods. :!.. deISIP
CLOTHESWRINGERS.
E GREAT CLOTHES WRINGER.
"PUTNAM
SELF-ADJUSTING CLOTHES WRINGER"
Is warrantee' to be enperior to any other In nee.
'EBY FAMILY SHOULD POSSESS A
CLOTHES WRINGER.
BROAIII3B,
filet. It Is a relief to the hardest part of washing-OW,
.14. It enables the washing to be done in one-third lee:
It asses clothes from the Injury always given to]
wteti4lV A l l t helps to wash the clothes as well as dry them.
BELIEVE IT ADVISABLE TO PROOIIEZ
ONE OF TILLS KIND,
il3Wt. The rolls being of vulcanised robber, will
atir hot and cold water, and will neither break nor tear
r buttons.
61100/ID. The frame being of Iron, thoroughly gal
attired, all danger from rust is removed, and the lie
lily to shrink, swell, split, dm, so unavoidable in
ooden machines, iN prevented.
Klan. The spiral springs over the rolls render this ma.
tfue self-adjusting, so that email and large articles, u
:11 as articled uneven in thickness. are certain to re•
lye uniform pressure,
you'll'. The patent fastening by which the machine
tightened to the tub, we believe to be superior in elm.
icily and efficiency to any yet offered.
I" 11 , 111. It will tit any tub, round or square, from one-
Of to one-and-s-quarter inches in thickness, without
Le least alteration,
RETAIL PRICE:
N 0.1,110.00 No. 2, 90.00.
Agents wanted In every county.
Reliable and energetic men will be liberally deal
or Bale at the
TOODENWARE ESTABLISHMENT"
A.H. FRANCISCUS,
No. 433 MARKET St. and No. 5 North s NIFTH
al3-tutbstmhB Wbolesale agent for PenneYlvinlia
DRUGS AND 01113DUCAILS.
°BERT SHOEMA.KER & CO.,
xedhasat Com' Youth and BACK Streets,
PHILADELPHIA,
1:101,ESAIX DRUGGISTS,
IMPORTERS AND . DIALERS
YORBION AND DOMESTIC
NDOW AND PLATE GLASS
ANIIPICTITAIMB OP
-WRITE LEAD AND ZINO PAINTS, PUTTY. km
AIMINWS FOR rill CIELBERLTED
'FRENCH ZINO PAINTS
eaters and aonommers aupplted at
nil atn VW LOW MOSS POE OAEOI
CARPETS AND OIL CIAYIES.
.I,EN ECHO MILLS,
M'OALLUM & CO.,
, AOTDRERS, IMPORTERS, ADD DEALERS.
GOD CHESTNUT STREET,
(Opposite Independence Hall.)
CARPETINGS,
OIL CLOTHS. &o
'e have now on hand an extensive stock of CARPET-
8, of our own and other makes, to which we call
.ttention of cash and short-time buyers. felt-3m
CARD.—THE SUBSCRIBER RAV
ING made arrangements with Messrs. REEVE L.
iGHT & 80N will be found at their Now store, No.
CHESTNUT Street, above EIGHTH street, North
ready to watt on his old friends and customers, on
(GAY, the 23d inst., with a new and superior stock
ivory description or CARPETING and BEDDING,'
oh will be offered at the lowest casrices. A call
3peotfnily solicited. ROBERT B. WALKER.
807 CHESTNUT Street
Above ZIORTH Street, North side.
WILLIAMSVILLES, WAMSUTTAS,
York Premiums. Porostdales,
Edward Barrie, Bay Mill, and
Other Food makes Shirtino.
10-1 Utica., WalNEtham, andsepperell Meetings.
FI W
At nearly old prices.
Cheap Damask Cloths, Power-Loom Linens.
Good Napkins, Fine ALPACASDoyIies.
BLACK
Fine Colored Alpacas,
Prints, Delaines, Cheap Reps.
All-wool Reps at Coat.
Balmorals—Good Skirts, fall size, $5.
Closing out Winter Cloaks and Shawls.
Closing out Boys' Winter Clothing
COOPER ar CONARD,
Jd4.tf 8. &' corner NINTH and NAMUR° Streets.
PYRE Sc LANDELL, FOURTH AND
•A-di ARCH, la.ve a fine atook of
GOODS FOS 'FAMILY CUSTOM.
Good Large Blankets.
Good Linen Shootings.
Good Muslin by the_plece.
Good Unehrinking Flannels.
• Good Fast Colored. Prints.
Good Table Linen and Towels.
Good Quality Black Silka.
Good Assortment Colored Saks. • Jal
CRIB AND CRADLE BLANKETS.
Large Crib Blankets. • 4
Pine Cradle Blankets. , • •
ETRIt & LANDELL. FOURTH and ARC
VIABROIDERIES - EMBROIDERIES tl
-■-• —French Needle-worked Bands, Edgings, Insert-
Inge, HMO's, Collars, Setts, Skirts, ; a large assort
ment of very choice goods at low prices.
SHEPPA.RD, TAN HARLINGEN, & ARRISON.
fe94wif . 1008 CHESTNUT Street.
PRINPED LINENSI . PRINTED
"I.I2IENSI !At a small advance en 'the old prices, a
large assortment of Printed Linens, 1n new and desira
ble patterns, suitable for children's wear, dresses, &o.
SHEPPARD, VAN HARLINGEN, & ARRISON,
fe9-Swif 1008 CHESTNUT Street.
TIOMESTIO MUSLIN'S, SHEETIN GS,
he.—All of the desirable makes for sale,. at the
lowest cash prices.
SHEPPARD, VAN HARLINOEN & ARRISON,
fe9-Swif 100 S CHESTNUT Street.
PAINTINGS, ENGRAVINGS, '
JAMES S. EARLE . 8; SON,
IMPORTERS AND MANIIPACTURBILS 01
OIL PAINTINGS, •
ENORAVENOS,
PORTRAIT,
• PIOTHRB, sad
PHOTOGRAPH FRAMs.
PHOTOGRAPH ALBUMS.
UTUSITE LOOKING GLASS WAREHOOKS AN])
GALLERY OF PAINTINGS.
dell-tf SILO CHESTNUT Street, Philadelphia.
AOENOY FOR • THE .• SALE OF
UNITED STATES TAX
STAMPS,
No. 57 South THIRD Street; fret dont:above Chestnut
A full supply of all kinds of TAX STAMPS constantly
on band, and for gale in Quantities to emit.
A liberal discount allowed on amounts of 960 and up
wards.
Orders by Nall promptly attended to.
Office Boors frcim 9 A.3L to .1". M.
JACOB E. RIDGWAY, .
de9-tje9 No. 57 South THIRD Street.
Annevvvvvvvvy.ww.neyv,
C A •II T . -. 1 •co ...N.
FAIRBANKS' SCALES
Has induced the makers of Imperfect balances to offer
them as " FAIRBANKS' SCALES," 111111 parchment bays
thereby, in many Instances, been subjected to fraud and
Imposition. Fairbanks' Scales are manufactured only by
the original inventors, kT. FAIRBANKS dr CO., and
are adapted to every branch of the bualneee, whore a
wriest and durable Scales is desired,
• - :-BILLIARD TABLES,
and hums now on hand a' full snuely finished with the
MOORS & CAMPION'S IMPROVD ousuroNs, which
ere pronounced by all who have need them to be nape•
dor to all others,
For the quality and finish of these Tables the mann.
Scturere refer to their numerous patrons throughout
the Union. who are familiar with the 'bar:toter of their
work. annum
F. : • L G.
ZINC AllWir. ANDVOILET MIRRORS,
The but in the world for finish and durability.
B. M. S.
Tbo.beat brand Silk Finished
VELVET RIBBONS.
Bole Agent, BENJAMIN M. SMITE.
155 DUANE Street, near West Broadway,
feB-3m New York.
low DR FINE, PRACTICAL DEN
-IST for the last twenty years, 219 VINE St..,
below ThLrd, Inserts the most beautiful TE E TH of teut
age, mounted on fine Gold, Platina, Silver, Vulcanite, CO.
ralite, Amber, &c., at Prices, for neat and substantial
Wm*. more reasonable than any dentist in this city or
State. Teeth pinged to last for life. Artificial Teeth ro
paired to suit. No pain in extracting. No charg es no ,
til masted all is right. Reference.best famines. jant-nat
GERMANTOWN, PA.
625 COLDTHORP &' CO., 62,5
(Late of 16 North. Fourth street,/
Manufacturers of
Tassels, Cords, Gimps, Fringes, Curtain Loops,Centre
Tassels, Dress Trimmings, Blind Trimmings.. Tapes,
Braids, Neck-ties, Military Trimmings. etc.
fe3 , lm No. 625 MARICBT Street. Philadelphia.
HIGHLY IMPORTANT TO THE
LADIES.
- -
' GEORGE'S PATENT HAIR-CRIMPER.
We take pleasure in informing our numerous friends
in Philadelphia that we are now prepared to furnish,
immediately, this indispensable article to ovary lady's
toilet, either wholesale or retail. On account of the
groat rush for the Crimper we have been unable to
supply the great demand until now. The single Crimp
er, with full clirectlone, will be forwarded to any ad
dress free, on receipt of ono dollar and twouty-ftve
cents! Wo furnish the Crimper at a liberal discount to
the trade. Any lady can wave her own hair beautifully
In five minutes.
. .
Wo have also a large Rapply of the "Blatant Improved
Bloat EIT M invite
IC Sewing aChinos," for which We orders. ddress H. 0. SUPLEE, •
fel9-6t* 537 BROADWAY, NEW YORK.
TEA 0 ELEI3II4TED
.
G U M• M.A.'S T I C
Az excellent substitute for Tobacco. Purities the breath,
Whitens the teeth, and delightful forohewing.
• 'Per sale by all Druggists and Confectioners -
Trade supplied by 0. H. BRONSON,
Manufacturer's Agent.
MUM( 12,5 WALNUT Street,
.:.;
mmi
I, _
.•
.• c .
N-‹‘,\\ \ ,! /// / '. •
,
. .
1., ,' . -A1t r7 41,1
-.
, ,•'„ilijii/lr' ' • :
a f ,
(.......
/
---;---
,1- ~---- 4 .
. ...
.1. 4 4- . .i4 V & (4 , \-; , ,
_, - : , ?-5::t• ''• ' I. ' -:-'-'' :1;i1111 4) - ' dairI1 , 1 1 1- . ' ' ' *fh <
.... ,7' . ..v06 I - - -
`• ''''' • - •*-N..
___
_,...
. ... _
- ,
--..-.....,.. 46..
. .-• -'. 1 ---;.
1 +
•
VOL. 6.-NO. 174.
RETAIL DRY GOODS.
CLOSING OUT. WINTER STOCK AT
AND UNDER COST PRICES.—
Saxony Plaids and Poll De Chevron, at 20 eta.
Best American Detainee, at 25 eta.
All imported Drees Goods at cost prices.
These goods are all really cheaper than Calicoes.
Plain Silks, rich colors.
Small-Sgured Corded Silks, gelid colors.
Pisin and figured Black Silks.
Very heavy Nro Grain Black Silks.
. Rich styles Fancy Silks.
All of thesegoods are at last fall's prices.
Pretty sty iik% Fancy Silks, 68, 66, 75 eta. •
Plain Black Alpacas.
Single and double-width Black All-wool Delalnee.
Plain Black Matinees, Cashmeres, and Reps.
All at last fall's prices.
English. Merrimac, Cirmbeco, Sprague, and all the
bent makes of Prints lu the market.
Pillow Case, Sheeting, and Shirting Muslims, Wil
liamsville and other approved makes.
0-8 Waltham and Pocasset, 5-4 Layman, unbleached,
all at lees than the agent's eve
El. STEEL & SON,
Noe. 713 end 715 Nortb TENTH Kreet
102 OHESTIOT SIREEt
E. M. NEEDLES.
No. 1024 CHESTNUT STREET,
Asks the BEECIAL ATTENTION of the Ladles to hie
LARGE STOCK of •
WHITE GOODS, LACES, EMBROIDERIES,
HANDKERCHIEFS, Ste. •
• A greater part of his goods have been parehased
previous to the RETAI L EDEA ADVANCE, and
now being at LESS than whole
sale prices. He has JUST OPENED:
• 100 dozen broad Hemstitched Edicts., at 30e.,
and upwards. •
SOO dozen carded-bordered all-Linen Hdkrs.,
at ISe., worth Id cents.
.
60 p ieces plain. bu f f, and white Pique. fur
Cbildrezee wear.
20 pieces printed and flg'd Piqué, for Children's
wear.
NOVELTIES IN LADIES' BOWS.
Emb'd Mualin, lace trimmed, Am.. received
Ovary morning, from 50c. to $5.
1024 CRESTNITT STREET.
SPLENDID STOCK ON HAND.
All the best makes of Calicoes.
All the beet makes of Keeling.
All the beet makes of Li uene.
All the beet makes of Sheetings,
All the best make a of Napkins.
Together with Towels, Crash, Diaper Hackaback, Bird
ye, Burlap, &c. &c.
White Cambric and Jaconet, till line.
Nainsooks and Plaid Muslims, fall line.
Winter Hoods closing out.
Shawls, Plerinoes, closing out,
Balmoral Skirts, all prices.
Silk and Linen Ildkts, nice assort - Merit. At
JOHN STOKES',
7021 ARCH Street.
EDWIN HALL & BRO.,
146 South SECOND Street,
Have reduced the Priceltlof
Fanny Silks,
Rich Printed Dress Goode,
"Choice Shades of hierinoes.
Beautiful Colors of Reps or Poplins,
Alt-Wool De Lainee,
AR kinds of dark dram goods reduced.
Also,
• Fine Long Brooke Shawls,
Open Centre Long Cashmere Shawls.
Rich new styles of Blanket Shawls.
4-4 Lyons Silk velvets. pure Silk.
TOY GOODS FOR WINTER.
Bap. Poplins,
French Merinos,
eoored Mousseline.,
Fonlt De Sole*,
Foulard Silks.
Blanket Shawl.,
Balmoral Skirt.,
Black Silk.,
Fancy Bilks,
Black Bombazines,
Worsted Plaids,
Cheap Delainee,
French Chlntze.s,
Shirting Fianna%
Brooke Shatrpt,
Fino Blankets,
Crib Blankets.
SHABPLESS BROTHERS,
CHESTNUT and EIGHTH Streets.
LOOKING GLASSES.
Mammas IN
11. S. INTERNAL REVENUE.
FAIRBANKS' SCALES.
The weli.earned reputation of
FAIRBANKS & EWING,
• General Agents,
ADIS& MASONIC RAIL 715 CHESTNUT ST.
CABINET. FURNITURE.
CA_BINET FURNITURE AND : :BTIA.
LIARD TABLES. ' • •
MOORE & CAMPION,
No. 261 South SECOND Street,
In connection with their ostensive Cabinet flruthusaa,ll,
Ow Manufacturing a 'superior article of
m EVANS & WATSON'S _
SALAMANDER SAE/
STORE.
16 BOOTH FOURTH STREIT..
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
A large variety or FIRE-PROOF SAFES always as
hand.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1803
INAUGURATION OF THE NEW POST OFFICE.
INTERESTING CEREMONIES.
.Banquet . f it the Crirawd. I-Xonse.
patriotic Speeches of Hon. Montgomery
Blair, Hon. Judge Usher, Governor
Curtin, Mayor Henry,
RIM others.
Yesterday afternoon, the new post office, on Chest
nut Wed, was inaugurated with appropriate cere
monies.. At 2 o'clock, the building was opened to
invited guests, and en hour was spent in the inspec
tion of its various departments. Among those pre
tent were quite a number of ladies. BirgitWe Band
enlivened the occasion with stirring music, before
and after the ceremonies of the dedication. Orithe
platfoim, in the centre of the ground floor, were
present the distinguished guests of the occasion—
Hon. Dr. Blair, Postmaster General; Gov. Curtin,
Itla3 or Henry, and others.
Ilayor Henry opened the exercises by calling Mr.
A. G. Cattell to preSidc. •
Mr. Oattell expressed his gratitude for the com
pliment in a short address, and then introduced Mr.
0. A. Walborn, the postmaster.
Mr. Walborn said that the object of the present
gathering was to inaugurate this building and dedi
cate it to the postal service of the country. It was
now about to be handed over to the Postmaster
General. He was present for the purpose of re
ceiving it. After that formality was concluded, the
ceremonies would end by raising above the post
office the emblem of our nationality.
Mr. Blair was received with applause. He spoke
as follows :
GENTLEMEN AND CITIZ errs OF PHILADVILPFITA.: I
feel highly honored in being requested, on the part of
the citizens of Philadelphia and the Corn Exchange
Association, to be present on this occasion.. The
erection of such a building as this is fitly a subject
of congratulation for the citizens of this great city.
It affords great accommodations as compared with
the old post office, and the improvements strike the
eye everywhere ; although I may say that even
this building, large as it is, with the endless details
which are seen here for the public accommodation,
will be in a few years just as cramped and as insuf
ficient for the uses of the city as the one now about
to be vacated. I see, however, that you are dis
posed to be satisfied. You know that we are doing
the best we can. Be content for the present, with
this ; that is all we ask. By and by, I know that
this great Government which was instituted by the
people and for the people, will yet furnish you with
everything you may want and require. • .
I think that you have another cause for congratu
lation. The money expended here has been well ex
pended. The public has got all that has been ex
pended for it. This has been, in every sense, a pub
lic building. Allow me to say, that it is not to me
that the honor of erecting this building belongs. I
disclaim all share in having erected it. You are in
debted for it to your own indefatigable postmaster,
and to Mr. Theo. Adams, under whose superintend
ence this work has been done. I have examined it
in detail, and believe that it answers the necessities
of this intelligent and growidg city.' I come to ao
cept it in the name of - the Post-office Department.
Thanking you for the honor you have done me, I
beg leave to make my bow.
At the conclusion of Mr. Blair's address, Mr. A.
G. Cattell said :
•
Sir: This is a proud day for Philadelphia. For
many years the people of this city have been urg
ing upon the Government that their post office ac
commodations were not commensurate- with the
magnitude of the postal service of our city. Title
fact has been strongly pressed on successive adminis
trations, but the realization of our hopes and wishes
has been delayed until the present hour.
The people of Philadelphia fully recognize that
they are indebted to you, sir, mainly for this splen
did edifice with all its comforts and conveniences,
and its perfect adaptation to the wants of the
branch of the Government service, in which we
are all so much interested, and over which you pre
side with such distinguished ability.
As this beautiful building meets every want of
the present, and as you have just now given us assu
rances that when the growth of our city ahall re
quire still greater accommodations we shall have
them, I am sure I speak the sentiments of this large
assembly and of our citizens generally, in wishing
that you may continue Postmaster General for
twenty years to come. [Laughter and applause.]
You have given us a post office which is an orna
ment to our city, equal it not superior to any in our
widely extended country, and on behalf of the com
mittee charged with the arrangements for this inau
guration, and of the citizens of Philadelphia gene
rally, I tender to you their grateful sense of the im
hortant service you have rendered them, and their
eartfelt wishes for your health and prosperity.
The band then struck up a patriotic air, and the
company proceeded to the roof of the building,
wheie the Postmaster General raised a large Rag,
amid the shouts of the assembled multitude in the
streets.
VISIT TO THE UNION LEAGUE ROOMS.
After the exercises at the post office buildings had
been concluded, the committee of arrangements,
accompanied by the distinguished guests, repaired
to the Girard House. After a few moments' rest
the entire party, in accordance with a previous in
vitation, visited the Union League Rooms. Here
they were warmly received by the various members
of the League, and a pleasant interchange of cour
tesies succeeded. The magnificent pictures, .orna
ments, furniture, and tapestry, were greatly. ad
mired and complimented. The objects of the asso
ciation, as well as the manner in which it is con
ducted, received the highest encomiums of the visi
tors. After an hour had been employed in thus in
specting the League, the committee and their guests
went to the Girard House to prepare for the eve
ning's banquet.
THE BANQUET AT THE GIRARD HOUSE.
According to previous arrangement, the distin
guished guests of the post-office inauguration next
repaired to the Girard House in company with the
committee of citizens appointed to receive them.
Here, at about 6 o'clock, they sat down to an elegant
dinner in the main dining-room of the hotel. Two
tables were ranged lengthwise the room, accommoda
ting over one hundred gentlemen. It is proper to add
that the dinner was given principally under the auspi
et.s of the Corn Exchange Association, than which our
city can boast of no more patriotic or public-spirited
organization. The hall was profusely ornamented
with American flags, stretched along the entire
walls. A splendid picture of Washington, and one of
Gen. Scott, adorned with evergreen, held conspicu
ous places above the tables. It is needless to say,
that the substantial part of the banquet was in
keeping with the occasion.
At the head table, which faced the other two, sat
the distinguished guests of the evening. Mayor
Henry occupied the chair, and discharged its duties
with that quiet dignity and urbanity which always
characterize his Honor.
The cloth being removed, the intellectual part of
the evening's entertainment commenced. Mr.
Henry called the assemblage to order, and spoke 48
follows :
SPEECH OF MAYOR HENRY
PELLOW•OITIZENS AND GENTLEMEN: The com
pletion of a new edifice in the city of Philadelphia,
destined for the postal service, which has been long
desired and greatly needed for the accommodation
of its citizens, affords just cause for congratulation,
and we have assembled this evening under these
festal circumstances to testify our appreciation of
the favor done us by the Federal Government,
in providing such means of accommodation, and
likewise the energy, perseverance, and the sound
judgment which have been displayed in its attain
ment. • We have also to extend a welcome to the
distinguished gentlemen belonging to the Federal
and State Governments, and other citizens who
have honored us by their presence on this occasion.
I do . not propose to expatiate at this time
upon the adaptation 'of the building which has
been provided by the Government for our
accommodation. Most of us have had an oppor
tunity . during the day, through the courtesy
of those to whom, its charge has been entrusted,
to see for ourselves that it will afford all the facili
ties which, at the present time, may be needed for
our city. I may say frankly, as a -Philadelphian,
that, in my opinion, the Federal Government ought
to have been more liberal than it has been. [Ap.
plause.] Ido not think that its favors have been
commensurate with the position which Philadelphia
occupies in the rank of communities in this Union.
[Applause.] But, then, gentlemen,' when I re
flect that when this • enterprise was commenced
the Government felt that it had need of all
its resources for an . enterprise infinitely more
important to Philadelphia [applause] and
whilst, as Philadelphians, we may regret the
stinted manner in which the Government has ex
tended its favors to Philadelphia, we will never re:-
gret it, if the enterprise to whi ch I allude is con
summated, as all hope it wilt be. . [Applause.] Per
mit me to say that about the same time, or
rather earlier in the commencement of this en
tellable, the. Federal Government undertook an
other enterprise, one which has no reference
to local interests, and one whose magnitude,
if not beyond all conception, is certainly beyond all
adequate expression. It must be said, perhaps with
wonder, that in the prosecution of that enterprise
there have . been those who have looked askance at
the progress it has made. There have been those
who have been found to sneer at the materials used,
and at the resources called upon. There may be
those, perhaps, who may regret to see the consum
mation of that enterprise, but it-requires no pro
phetic voice to say. that just- as, certainly ias our
national emblem was thrown over our new post
office to-day, just so certainly, with God , s blessing,
will the efforts of the Government to crush' the re
bellion meet- wills a successful consummation.
[Applause.] And traitors will yet be forced to
yield a tribute to the might and majesty of our
Government. [Renewed applause.]
In the prosecution of the pleasing duty assigned to
me, by the gentlemen who have provided the enter
tainment, I. take pleasure in proposing to you the
first toast of the evening—one which will commend
itself to every loyal heart—The President of the
United States. A loyal people will sustain him in
every effbrt to wo rk out the salvation of our coun
try. [Applause.]
I will call upon Hon Judge Usher, Secretary of
the Interior, to answer.
Mr. 'Wilier was greeted with loud applause, and
spoke as follows :•
SPEECH OF HON. JUDGE USHER.
Me. PnisleraT It is now two years since the
distinguished citizen, whose health you have just
proposed, while passing through this city to the
capital, to assume the duties of the Chief Magistrate
of the nation, was, by its worthy Mayor, as the ap
pointed representative of 600,000 people, ardent and
devoted to the Union, tendered its hospitalities.
The memories of the past having been alluded to,
his mind naturally recurred:to independence Hall,
its hallowed productions—the Declaration of Inde
pendence and the Constitution of the United States
—dear to every American heart. And here, in the
presence of the authorities of this city, and its mul
titudes of loyal people, he solemnly, assured them
that he would, as Chief Magistrate, do nothing in
consistent with the teachings of those sacred instru
mente.
Thedlialrected and disloyal of the nation, who
had long contemplated and determined upon die
union, actual war against the
United
against themselves—a crime
u n o n , were
States—in then
factlev
most monstrous and unnatural, because our system
of government, our Constitution is of that character
that all necessary and proper changes thereof
may be made by the voice of tlts people, peacefully
expressed.
The Constitution—the supreme law of the land—
the President was, in due time, sworn to protect
and defend, which this causeless and armed rebel
lion was then seeking to overthrow. In .the
prosecution 4. the war for the suppression
of 'that rebellion, has be violated the pledges
he made here two years ago? 'No, gentle.
men, I appeal to you, laying aside all the .animost
ties of party. I appeal to .the_deliberate judgment
of the whole nation, to declar whether, in its con
science, it can be said that the Executive has wan
tonly, or knowiugly, or otherwise, violated one jot
PHILADELPHIA, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24. . 1863
or tittle of the teachinga of Independence Hall, or
the Constitution of the United States.
1 beg gentlemen to reflect, that, whlle some have
been free to denounce and accuse him of denial=
practised only by the worst of tyrants, these same
acta are declared to be legal, and warranted by the
Constitution, by the duly conatituted law Officer of
the Government; and that nowhere of the moat
enlightened jurists of the land, of the bench and the
bar, have voluntarily declared that, in their delibe
rate judgment, the acts of the President are jus
tifiable.
AN yet, there is but a conflict of opinion. Is any
one so confident in his own judgment—so infallible,
that, as a good and lawful citizen, he cannot afford
to defer to the properly constituted tribunal, where
these grave questions must ultimately be deter
mined/
NIUE t the nation be aroused and alarmed with the
apprehension that its liberties are sapped and over
thrown? Nay I not be permitted to Bay to these
casuists, that the soldier in the field, and the gene
/ ous merchant who pours out his treasure as water
for the support of the Government, are quite uncon
scious of any violation of the Constitution, in the
particular or which they complain.'
1 Am quite sure that their habitual respect for law
will induce them to acquiesce in the decision of the
highest tribunal in the land, though it be contrary
to their cherished and confident opinions.
Consider, gentlemen, the appalling difficulties
with which the President has been surrounded—
diMcultlea growing out of the social relations'of the
people of opposing civilizations; embarrassed by
the confirmed prejudices of years, such as never
afflicted any nation upon earth.' They have been
manfully met, and the danger resulting from them
passed. While they existed, they were a fruitful
source of constant discord. Now Mat they are ended
by the proclamation, and the horrors by some an
ticipated to ensue therefrom not having been rea
lized, that disturbing subject may no more be thrown
es an apple of discord among the loyal and hopeful
to distract their councils and divert their energies;
but all may be united, as it is devoutly to be hoped,
in one common purpose—the preservation of the Go
vernment and the restoration of its authority
throughout all the length and breadth of the land.
This will not be done, gentlemen, by continuing dis
sensions among ourselves; seeking to cut off New
England from the Union, or the establishment of a
Northwestern Confederacy, independent of the At
lantic States, as sonic have wickedly suggested.
What sane man can contemplate such counsels
without the deepest abasement and shame? Will
Pennsylvania surrender her interest in the million
of acres of sliver and gold ; of the mountains of
other minerals of scarcely less value found in the
territories beyond the proposed Northwestern Con
federacy 1 Nay, more: will Pennsylvania ever,con
sent to be separated from the Northwestern States,
in every hamlet of which her adventurous sone are.
to be found? And yet, a little further let us Consi
der this subject and see what is due to our
faith and the vindication of our honor. The pre
sent Congress, with almost entire unanimity, called
the army into the field. This was sanctioned by the
people, and nearly a million of men have borne arms
in defence of the country since the war began. The
soldiers were promised their stipulated wages, and
pensions to such as should be disabled. Pensions
were also promised to the widows end orphans of
those who might perish upon the battle-field in the
defence of the Government. The entire nation is
solemnly pledged to see that this law is executed, at
whatever cost. The vicissitudes of the war have
already entitled many thousands to this bounty. I do
not envy the man who will, for fan instant, hesi
tate to redeem hie pledges to these unfortunates.gin
this regard, is it probable that these pledgeswill be
more likely to be kept by continued dissensions
among ourselves? What question of irritation
end discord is there now before the people, loyal to
the Constitution, that should divide their counsels?
May I not be indulged in saying (I say it with all
proper respect for gentlemen who seem to apprehend
the subversion of the •Constitution,) that if all the
people within the loyal States would unite with the
President—syleldiug the same heartfelt devotion to
the cause in which we are engaged—we should hear
of no more alleged violations of the Constitution •,
no more arrests,for the plain -reason thitt there would'
be no more transgressors. •
In conclusion, Mr. President, permit me to say
that, since the organization of the Government, no
Executive has 'been surrounded with such stupen
dous difficulties as has Abraham Lincoln ; and im
partial History shall declare that these never lived
a man entrusted with authority who was more guile
less ADII patriotic than he, whose aims and every
Impulse were More for his country's welfare.
Let us remember the words of the true patriot and
renowned statesman, whose voice is now hushed in
death, that in civil war there can be but twoparties,
one for preserving the Government, the other for
its destruction ; and let us also well remember, and
take heed in time, that there is no other name un
der heaven, by or through which this nation can be ,
saved, than that of Abraham Lincoln, President of
the United States.
Ni-. Usher sat down amid loud applause.
Tudge Daher closed amid great applause. The
Mayor then said : In the whole course of political.
history there never was a doctrine so detrimental to
the interests of this Government, and one so pro-
ductive of the troubles of the present day as that of
State rights. Yet it is wellto cherish and foster a
reasonable pride and affection for our own imme
diate institutions and our own immo,diate
I therefore oiler to you, as the second toast of the
evening:
"The Stale of Pennsyitiairta—the backbone of the
Union—strong, solid, and enduring. She is ever ready to
vindicate the nation's rights In
I will call upon our honored Governor to make a •
reply to this toast.
Governor Curtin arena mold' great. uppiausc,-and -
Was greeted with threecheers: -
&PEEWEE OF GOV. OURTIN.
I respond to the toast in compliment to the State
of Pennsylvania with great pleasure—with that
pleasure which every one of her citizens ought to
and does feel, whether in or out of her borders.
We, who live here, have long been proud 'of our
State. We have boasted of her free people, of her
magnificent scenery; of ber vast mineral resources—
chief of all, we have boasted of the loyalty of her
people. We have felt that she is destined to be a
great State in this thne•honored Confederation, and
it only requirtd her sons in the field to show that
traitors could not, with impunity; attempt to break
down the Constitution which binds these States to
gether in a great 'nation. When this rebelliop .
mat threatened the destruction of our Government,'
and the Constitution under which we have had so
much glory, power, and individual happiness,
Pennsylvania then responded with alacrity as she
was summoned to do by the Government. She
then knew no States' rights that were not con
sistent with the integrity of the Union. First to
answer the call of the Federal Government. she
would be the last to give up this fight. We are in
the heart of this great country, with lines by transit
of travel passing over our borders North, South,
East and West, with our material productions so
necessary to the wealth and prosperity of all that
surround us. Gentlemen, we cannot afibrd to be
surrounded by enemies. [Applause.] Two hun
dred thousand of our people have taken up arms
for the defence of the Union. [Applause.] One
hundred and forty•three thousand Pennsylvanians
are now in the field. [Applause.] Our great
State has been placed in mourning by the casu
alties of this war, but the widows and orphans
are yet steadfait in their loyalty. [Great cheering.]
And though there may be a few wretches amongst
us who sympathize with the unholy attempt to
break up so beneficent a form of government, I de
clare it to you, sir, and wish you to convey it to the
President, that before God the masses of Pennsyl
vania's people are loyal to the core ! [Tremendous
applause, lasting some minutes.] Away off in the
far South—in Miasisaippi, in Tennessee, In Ken
tucky, in the Carolinas, in Florida, in Louisiana.
in Virginia and Maryland—the Boil has been moist
ened with the blood of our patriotic children!
[Great cheering.] Thirty thousand of bur brethren
have fallen during 'this war; but when I think of
this I am only impelled to say, God bless'our brave
people! They will stand by our Government. They
will stand true to the traditions so rich in examples
of Christian heroism. They always recognize this
starry banner [pointing to the flag above him] as
the emblem of liberty, progress, and power! •
The Governor sat down amid prolonged cheering.
The Mayor then aIIOU need the next sentiment:
The hew Post Office—The channel through which
will flow the stream of a nation's affections, hopes,
and fears. May its current never be tainted with
the poison of secession and treason. •
Hon. Montgomery Blair, the Postmaster General,
replied
- SPEECH OF MR. BLAIR.
Pumtroaryr AND GENTIAMEA: After the
thrilling words which have just been uttered by the
eloquent Governor of this Commonwealth, in rela
tion to the great subject which fills all our heiirts, I
fear you will all- feel as I do in coming to speak
about the post office—that we are returning to
business matters somewhat out of place. at
this time and this place. lam gratified to feel that
sometimes our fellow-citizens have a good word for
us-of the Post Office Department. I hope you all
understand that .these words of comfort fall upon
grateful hearts, and the smallest favors of this kind
aremost thankfully received. [Laughter.] Youknow
that whenever anything goes wrong in our Depart
ment—whenever a letter does not come to time—the
postmaster, and everbody connected with his office,
is scolded heartily ; and, therefore, my friends, you
must not be surprised if we of the Poet Office De
partment treasure this exhibition of your good feel
ing towards us with more than ordinary tenacity.
And now, gentlemen, let add, to what your Mayor
has said, that this post office is not such a post office
as .Philadelphia ought to have • not commensurate
with this great metropolis that is to save the
Union. [Applause.] 'Nothing is too good for Phila
delphia. Nothing too good for the city wherein our
fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence. But
we have done something to mark our satisfaction
and appreciation of the citizens of this great and
loyal city. It is a cheering sign of the times that,
even with this great war on our hands, we have
been able to attend to the little amenities of life.
We can attend to the postal services of tire people.
There is no sign of decay in any part of the land.
There is no depression of the popular mind,' no
symptoms of degeneracy in any department of, bus
ness. Everything is in healthtul prosperity, and the
machinery of the Government works smoothly and
satisfactorily. Let us hope that this may long con
tinue, and the troubles which now darken our poli
tical horizon may soon clear away, and peace, pros
perity,
.and happiness again reign throughout our
borders.
The Mayor read a telegraphic despatch from J.
G. Bryant, architect, of Boston, proposing as his
sentiment of the occasion the memory of that old
postmaster, Benjamin Franklin. The reading' of
the despatch was received with loud applause.
The next toast was, "The Day we celebrate."
Hon. John A. Hasson, late Assistant Postmaster
General, responded. After paying a merited com
pliment to the State of lowa, the speaker said it'
was but a short time since that peace and prosperity'
reigned throughout the land. The masses of the
South were drawn into this war. They were
deceived. He did not believe that one right
could be named which bad been violated. He
was notsurprised that those who had suffered most
by this war should express no regret. If you go
among the toiling millions of this country, you will
not find one disloyal heart in ten thousand. This he
knew, as he had been amongthem. But go among the
tradesmen; and others of that class, and you find a
different state of affairs. We should banish from
society all men whose bosom le tainted with Seces
sion, and teach our children to point at them with
the finger of scorn. The speaker closed amidst great
applause. -
The fifth toast was" The Union—' what God
bath joined together, ' let no man put asunder." ,
This was responded to by Governor Randall, of
Wisconsin. ' He hardly knew what to say to the
citizens of Pennsylvania as they had spoken them
selves through her worthy Governor. Pennsylvania
always speaks for herself, and she has spoken to
day. She speaks from her schoolhouses and churches.
Lately, she has responded from the battle fields,
where her sons have 'fallen like heroes.
Be thought - we were an impatient people;
we cant wait ; we• are anxious to beat time.
We can't wait to crush out this rebellion—a rebel
lion the largest the world ever saw. We are making
war against our own kind of people. We are mad
because thii(rebellion was not crushed out within
thirty days after it was commenced. After the war
broke out we must remember that we had no army
nor navy, and an empty treasury. We had to make
preparation first, against preparation which had
been going on for some time. If there is no hell,
there ought to be for such men who robbed
the- Government for the purpose of injuring it.
What is this Union which God has put together,
and which roman shall put asunder] The Conven
tion which made the. Constitution of.. the United
States„ made-. it as a Government for the whole-.
people and not for a minority or . majority.. One .
State did not make, but all; therefore One State can
not destroy it.. When • evcrything•vvae prosperous
and all was happy this rebellion raised its head and
sought to overthrow and destroy the Government.
The world never looked upon such a seotacle be
fore. He thought we were too fault-finding. If the
manmade; pi a •brigade Ziappena to rake A
failure it is charged upon the President. We are
not a military- people, and experiments had to be
tried as to who was the most perfect. lie thought
the experiments were not yet all tried. We have
not yet got all the right men for the right places.
Theme were other reasons why he had been slow in
crushing out this war. God deals with nations as
he does with individuals, for the wrongs they have
committed; when Ile has punished ue enough lie
will lead our army on to victory, and there will be
no failure in crushing out this rebellion. [Applause.]
We will not succeed because we are stronger or have
the most money, but because we are right. [Ap
plause.] In this war we arc all brethren. We strike
hands together as friends of one Government and
One Constitution, and for that alone thousands of
our brave soldiers have died and auflered.
The "City of Philadelphia" was next proposed,
and was responded to by Alex. G. Cattell. Phila
delphia was the home of his adoption, and he loved
the city with a love not surpassed by any of her
citizens. Among all the cities and towns in the
United States, there does not exist a more loyal city
than Philadelphia. lie was aware that this was
a tremendous conflict in which we are engaged, but
the right must ultimately prevail. We never ono
permit enemies to surround ue. He had, in conclu
sion, to say of Philadelphia what the Governor hail
slid of Pennsylvania, that our eons lie on every
battle field.
"The Army" Was responded to by Col. Ruff. After
a few introductory remarks, he thankedhem cordial
ly, on behalf of the army, for the mere mention of
their name. Of the number of troops furnished the
army by ibis State, 60,000 alone were the sons of
Philadelphia: He was delighted that our gallant
brethren in the field had not bebn forgotten, and he
hoped it would not be omitted on future occasions
like the present
'"The Navy "—The - I:tames .of Farragut, Foote,
Dupont, and their:oxeye cempeers, are glowing with
the same halolthaegilds thememories of the glo
!rious Where of - the service.
.. r een(usion -to Traitors . ""was responded to by
illon. Gi Adams, of Kentucky. He alluded to the
traitors in our midst, and spoke of those who had
leagued themselves under the title of Democrats.
He said we bad spies in our Government—men who
were feeding from it. He hoped we would go on
with the work commenced lu Philadelphia of sepa
rating the goats from the sheep. We must go on
with the good work. There is to be no separation.
He knew the Border States were hound to keep to
gether in spite of all the rebate in and out of it.
The toast, "The Promiie of the Future," was
responded to by Judge Kelley. The future of this
country, he thought, was wrapped up in the sup
port which the people will give to Abraham Lin
coln. We hear it said that the Constitution is vlo
lated by him. This he denounced as a lie. In every
Institution adheres the right of self-defence ; and
to maintain its life he thought it the duty of the
Administration to crush the serpent when about to
sting. [Applause.]
The next toast wee the Press—"lnvaluable when
rightly used ; a blighting curse when turned to evil.
All honor to the fearless advocates 'of Freedom,
and everlasting disgrace to the preachers of Dis
union and Treason.),
Mr. John It. Young, of. The Press, was called upon
to respond to this sentiment. lie said :
117 R . MATOE AND GENTLEMEN : I had hoped that
Colonel Forney woulo have been present this eve
ning.to have spoken in reply to the sentiment which
has just been read. His presence was anticipated
by the committee, but I may say for him that no
thing but the duties of his official position keeps
him from this pleasant and agreeable company, and
that he would have been gratified to have assisted
in the opening of a new post office, for the erection
of which he labored with so much energy and so
licitude. lam proud to represent the press on an
occasion so full of interest and importance as
this. People who print newspapers are near
ly allied with gentlemen who take charge of
the poet office, and; next to an editor of a good
moral character, I think the greatest man in the
community is a postmaster. We have the same
patron saint, if I may be allowed to canonize an
illustrious predecessor of the distinguished gentle
roan at the head of the table, Mr. Blair—[applause]
—one Benj. Franklin, who is remembered to-day as
the printer and postmaster of the early Common
wealth. The veneratidn I have for Benjamin
Franklin makes me feel quite at home among so
many gentlemen of the mail-bags. They are our
cousins by lineal descent. They are more than
cousins by the necessities of business. Without
them our news items would never be read—our
urgent and eloquent appeals would never be
appreciated, and the whole circulation would
be confined to the courtesy and energy of
the editor and his friends. We have read
strange stories in-the mythologies of superhuman
beings who held the lightning in their hands and
forged thunder and mastered infinity. But I think
we excel the gods in our present day. The labors of
Hercules were hut the piny of children compared.
with the'instance system and a dozen other sys
tems of which it is a part. We of the press can
properly appreciate it, for it gives us life and
strength. If you stand beside a printing-press, at 4
o'clock in the morning. when a daily paper is being
printed; and observe its various operations, you.
will comprehend this. Inky men hang over the
tamed Niagara as it foams out the damp
and newly-printed sheets. Inky boys rescue
them from its embrace in large bundles,.
and bear them away into other chambers. Here
they are bundled and tieAl r and labelled and pasted,
by anxious men, who look. at the clock eagerly, as
they have but five minutes to spare, and time presses;
Five minutes of shouting, bustling, swearing, pack
ing, and the heavy wagon is heard rumbling along
the sheet overhead. All is satisfaction. They.
_know that_when once themat_ office places its hand
upon t hose thonitititis aid tens of thousands of !meets'
they will be delivered, their destination is doomed.
The editor is satisfied that his opinions will be read,
the printer is satisfied that his type will be printed,
and the subscriber, who may be many miles away,
goes to breakfast confident that he will find his
morning paper folded beside his plate. This satis
faction, confidence, and general harmony is em
bodied in the post-office system and never more
completely embodied than under the administration
of the gentlemen I see around me. [Applause.]
I look upon the erection of the new post office,
Mr. Mayor, in a time like this, as a subject for pride
and congratulation. Notwithstanding we live in an..
atmosphere of war—heavy, oppressive, arid dismal
—notwithstanding the responsibilities that hang
upon us and weigh us down, we can still find time
to fosterthe arts of peace. [Applause.] We never
pause in our destiny. No war can retard us. We•
move on, amid fire and smoke, and carnage . and
embattlements, and brave men dying—we build
railroads and iron-clads—we dig away obstructions
in our bays, and hatter away obstructions in the
Mississippi river—[applause]—we form scientific
associations and fight battles—and Congress, after
passing an act of general conscription, calml pro
ceede down the calendar and takes up a bill for the
establishment of a national Academy of Sci
ences. Carve on your post office, in letters• of
deeply graven stone, that in this year of blood and
death 1863 the National Government had the cou
rage to build a palace in menaced Philadelphia, and
that when men were despairing of the Republic at
home, and enemies were rejoicing in its prospective
downfall abroad, the Government itself, supreme
and sublime, in the consciousness of its own
strength, went calmly on in its works of' civil pro
gress. [Applause.] . We see this feeling in Phila
delphia, and we see it everywhere over the
Union. Close your book, patient student,
and tell ua no more about Roma ! A. greater
enemy than Hannibal is at our gates, and we
not only make merchandise of his camping ground,
but we build railroads and canals and-palaces. You.
see it in my own profession. The press is in some
respects the echo of a nation's feelings—and- the
press of to-lay is as calm and imperturbable as
though the land was at peace. lam speaking of its
moral. sentiment. You find it ffiacussing, Poland
and Mexico, the wedding of dwarfs, the coal trade,'
the money-order system, the last novei r the. play,
the opera, the tax upon paper. This mighty press.
that men love to apostrophize, this vast, crushing,
irresponsible, unconquerable monster which , toivers.
over kingdoms and parties, and stalks over the
world a terror to everything that is false, this
"engine" as you call it, is still and calm. It looks
upon the war as an incident—as something to be re
ported and discussed and placed on.recordi but such.
a contingency as fear or dread for the future is never
known. This feeling of confidence in one another,
and more than all, in our cause, which we saw to
day when the flag was unfurled over the new pos
office, which we see now as we sit pleasantly togeth
er sipping this generous wine,. which attends us in
all our business and social relations ;- this feeling,
w itch, as an American, I am proud to sue, and as a
member of the Press I am proud to aid—This feel
ing will in the end be the salvation of our country,
and for all time to come will be remembered as the
noblest trait in the American character. [Applause.]
In the momentous and magnificent future which'
is coming upon us so rapidly we all have a great
duty to perform. I think I can speak for the press
of this country when I say, Mr. Mayor, that in eve
ry contingency—in every time of danger—in every
measure that looks to the safety of the Republic, it
will be found fixed and fervent in its devotion. I
speak of the liberal and high-minded press that re
presents the honor and virtue of the country. Ido
not promise unanimity of speech and phrase, but I
do promise you sincerity of heart. There will be
differences about men and measures and means, but
beneath the contending waves the ceaseless current
fs foreverflowing. We desire to see this country
become grand and mighty.. Its greatness is
our greatness. We are suffering from the
war, we will welcome peace—but it is a
peacewhich no journalist will ever blush to
print on his page in large and exulting type. We
are in favor of any measure that may contemplate
the fall of our enemies. We of the press must meet
it. as well as you who sustain the press. Out of this
tumultuous war we must create and strengthen this
Republic, and under all must lie the great principle
of the age—the principle that will go into history
with the century in which we live. You might as
well expect the icicles that this February day
has entwined around the pillars of the Capi
tol to . last forever, as to hope for any per
manent compromise or concession. To educate the
people of America into these doctrines is the great
duty of the press, and I am proud to think, Mr.
Mayor, that in this noble work the press of this city
—the press of the State—the press of the country—
the enlightened and independent press everywhere
—in England and Germany, and Italy and Greece,
and Holland and America—is fighting this great bat
tle of the age to a speedy, glorious, and perpetual
triumph. [Applause.]
The twelfth toast was •
Our Flag.— ' "
- "Flag of the brave, thy folds shall fly,
The sign of hope and triumph high,
When speaks the signal trumpet tone,
And the long line comes gleaming on.
Then shall thy meteor glances glow, •
' And canering foes shall sink beneath
Each gallant arm that strikes below
• That lovely messenger of death."
This was responded to by Mr. George B. Lincoln,
Postmaster of Brooklyn.
The last toast was
There's in you all that we believe in heaven—
Amazing brightness, purity; and truth,
Eternal joy, and everlasting love!
Atter which the gathering dispersed. .
A number of letters were received from distin
guished gentlem en. %We make the following extracts:
_ _
FROM GENERAL SCOTT
NEW YORK February 14, 1863.
DEAIt SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge your
note on the part of the Corn Exchange and citizens
of-Philadelphia, inviting me to be present at the in
auguration of the new United States post office on
the .23d inst,
A visit to Philadelphia.would be most agreeable to
me, my obligations to her citizens being many, and
of the most pleasing character. .But I cannot travel
even a short distance without pain and difficulty.
I am, therefore, obliged to decline your courteous
Invitation. Very respectfully, yours,
WINFIELD SCOTT.
Crzo. W. CHILDS, Esq., &0., Eto.
.
FROM SECRETARY SEWARD.
DXSARTSIENT ON STATE, WASHINGTON,
February 13, 1863.
DEAR .Stn : I give my sincere thanks to the com
mittee appointed by the. Corn Exchange and citizens
of Philadelphia for their kind remembrance of me
in connection with the occasion of inaugurating the
new post office in that city. It would afford me much
pleasure to meet the loyal men of your great city,
but my occupations hers are of such a nature as to
forbid me that indulgence at present.
With great respect, &c.
W'ILLIA.III H. SEWARD,
FROM SECRETARY CHASE
"It would Inc_give great pleasure to meet the
citizens of Philadelphia on that occasion, but
°mew duties will make 'lt impossible for mu to
16.1 e Washington."
FROM SECRETARY WELLES.
"It would give me Pkasutc to be present w ti►e
occasion alluded tc., but pressing public duties
forbid."
FROM THE ATTVRNNY GENERAL
"I am couatrathed to delay myself the pleasure Of
sharing with you the enjoithenta of the occasioni
GENIntAL IiALLEO/4 , •
' , Revels that offictst chiller ptevent Mg accept
ance. '
FROM HON. J. COLBAMER, U. SI SEDATE.
"I am gratified to learn• that the new imEtU office
in Philadelphia is now completed. I put forth:come
effbrt in the Senate to effeer this object and am
happy to see that It has been' erected. My official
duties,will deprive me of the'privilege of' accepting
your invitation, and I can orrlySen4 the'Philadel•
phians my highest respects and' sinCere eongratulat.
'lions on the occasion."
FROM HORAO.E; GREREEY
"I long ago decided that I would'xiotsquit my int•
mediate post of duty for any purpose•that did not'
seem to me essential until the war forte Uuion he•
ended. In pursuance of this resolve, Dam obliged!
to decline your kind invitation. That your new post'
office may soon be in the daily receipt of letters from
the capitals of every one of the thirty-four Stater,
and that they may bear none other than a United
States postmark, is the fervent prayer of
"Yours, HORACE GRIELEY."
FROM W. C. BRYANT.
"If I needed any inducement beyond the kind
terms of your invitation, I should find it in the
general periotism, which, in the present crisis of
our national affairs, animates so large a portion of
the people of your city. Reasons of a personal na
ture, however, prevent, Sm."
FROM EDWARD EVERETT
• "It would give me great pleasure to visit your
hoepltable city on an occasion of so much interest,
6r.c."
FROM GEORGE BIiNOROFT.
," I regret very much my inability to be with you,
in Philadelphia, on the 2811 of this month."
FIIMIVIIO* KEDTITEDY
" I beg you to assure the committee • that I set a
hlgh value upon' this testimony of their good
ofillsion, and would not fail to acknowledge my gra
titude In person, by presenting myself on the occa
sion they purpose to me, if I could overcome the ne
cessity that keeps me at home.,,
FROM DR. 0. W
- .
"I must content myself with thanking you for the
kind invitation, on behalf of the committee you
represent, and assure you that I sincerely regret my
inability to be with you at the inauguration."
PEON 13. J. LOSSING (Extract).
"The openine of a new post office in Philadelphia
suggests a contrast. Leas than ninety years ago the
Met general post office for the budding United States
Government was opened in Philadelphia.
"Dr. Franklin was Postmaster General, and his
salary was Wed at $l,OOO a year. A secretary and
comptroller received each $B4O per annum. Franklin
was authorized to form a line of posts from Fal
mouth, now Portland, in New England, to Savan
nah, in Georgia with cross posts, if needed. The
mails were carried on horseback, each rider going
twenty.five miles and back, travelling night and
day.
"The whole of the accounts of the general poet
office from Nov. 1, 1T76, for almost two years, were
kept In a common half-bound folio volume of three
quires of coarse paper!"
Also, letters from Governor Andrew, of Mum. ;
Mayor Opdyke, of New York ; Hon. S. Colfax, Se
nators Wilmot and Cowan; Messrs. Yorree, Leh
man, and Biddle, of the House of Representatives,
and from the postmasters of the principal cities in
the United States.
CELEBRATION BY TILE UNION LEAGUE.
Splendid Collation and Patriotic Addresses.
Speeches by Messrs. Dougherty, Milliken,
Lewis, M. Russell Thayer,
and others.
The beautiful club-house- of the Union League
was opened yesterday to its members, and was for
mally dedicated .to the uses for which it was de
signed. The reading-room was arranged with ta
bles, and a line collation was spread. The par
lor and other rooms were all tastefully decorated,
and during the early part of the evening the
members and guests spent the time in so.
vial and agreeable intercourse, viewing the
house, and discussing the various subjects of the
day. The pictures of Washington, Scott, and Clay,
the window and doors, were ornamented with Sags,
while over the door was an appropriate decoration.
At 9 o'clock the house was crowded, and the scene
was quite picturesque and animated. This is the
first time the members of the club- have been assem
bled together, and the occasion was one of great in
-terest..7-
On repairing to the banqueting roPm, Mr. Mc
Michael, in a few remarks, introduced Mr. Horace
Einney, Jr., who presided in the absence of Mr. Me
redith, and read a letter from our distinguished
Attorney General.
SPEECH OF MR. HORAOE RINNEY,
Mr. Binney then !aid
I address myself to that honorable man what', the
honor of Philadelphia and the support of the Admi
nistration—l mean the Governor of Pennsylvania.
[Applause.] We desire to welcome you to the home
of social learning; we are proud to see you. Our
creed is unqualified support of the Government and
unqualified loyalty to the cause. You.have served
the country faithfully, and have carried intoeffect
the principles which our fathers have embodied. It
has been truly said that war moves byiron and gold.
For your services we beg leave to thank you, and if
you have not done all you could, we know that your
earnest wish was to aid the Government in this try
log hour. I say, in behalf of the Union League, that
you will always find a hearty and loyal welcome
within these walls. •
SPEECH OF GOVERNOR CURTIN
Mr. Binney then introduced Governor Omni], who
was received with loud applause.
The Governor spoke of the difficulties which the
country had to encounter in its endeavors to crush
this rebellion. Be said he had endeavored- to serve
his country, and reflect honor upon the State whose
Chief Exeoutive he was. [Applause.] He had
served his country as well as he could, and if
he had failed to do all that was necessary, it
was the fault of the head and not of the
heart. In discussing the rebellion and the duty
which was demanded of Americans in this crisis, he
ably contended that it was the duty of all to labor
for the preservation of the Republic. In speaking
of our city, he paid a glowing tribute to Philadel
phia. Be acknowledged that he owed much to our
citizens, both for their support in the field and the
able counsels which they had rendered him in the
discharge of his arduous duties. He especially
complimented our townsman, Mr. William M.
Meredith, who, he said, was " a sage, sitting at his
side, reedy and willing to give him the counsel
which he so much needed and desired. The sup
port which he had received from Pennsylvania in
his effbrte to crush the rebellion, was warmly eulo
gized. In discoursing of the war for the Union,he ar
gued that there could be but one party in the North,
namely,aparty of unqualified devotion to tlaeGovern
ment, and earnest in its determination to crush the
rebellion. There can be no division of this country.
Providence has so ordered it that in this country ,
there can be but one Government for one great na
tion. This war, he continued, can result in nothing
but the complete subjugation of, the rebellion and
the -assertion of the supremacy of the Union.
The Governor then eloquently depicted the
worthlessness of those who, in this hour of
our country's peril, fail to give her their
unqualified support. There can be but two
parties now in the North—those who axe in favor of
the Government, and those who are against it. In
speaking of the part which our State has taken in
the present war he !poke in the greatest praise, and
said that be was fully convinced that the masses of
the people of Pennsylvania were truly loyal.
Neither would our people consent to a dishonorable
peace; but the blood of thirty thousand Pennsyl
vanians, who lay buried upon our battle-fields, was
the mutual pledge that the penple of our State were
fully pledged to crush the rebellion at all hazards. In
exhorting the audience to their duty in the premises,
he said, let us stand by the people of our State, and
not by certain disloyal dignitaries in this city, who
have not a single sympathy or good wish for the sue
eats of right and Government over treason and
rebellion. In reference to the " league," and
and the objects for which it was formed,
he spoke in the highest terms of praise.
He would not only encourage the league, and
its patriotic members, but he would especially advo
cate all agencies which especially aimed at sustain
ing the Government and crushing the rebellion.
The Governor closed his remarks by a noble tribute
to Pennsylvania, and its patriotic endeavors to
crush the rebellion and sustain the Government in
its struggle for its existence and honor.
Rev. Dr. Bellows, President of the United States
Sanitary Commission, was then introduced.
SPEECH OF REV. DR. BELLOWS.
After looking around upon this assembly and heat ,
ing your Governor speak, it seems as if Vennsylva-
Ida alone should conquer this rebellion, and I feel
I should not offer New York to • aid in the under
heking. 'You number some five hundred or six
undred of the most prominent and influential citi
zens •of Philadelphia.. This should not be called
the Union League or Philadelphia, but simply a
Union League or National League, having one in
every city. Safety of the Union is the sentiment
that should prevail in all our hearts. I thank our
Governor,
(I call him our Governor); for telling us
that the heart of the common people is sound to the
core. Minn been said, and even tried, to leave New
England out in the cold. You can't do it; her heart
is too hot in - the work. [Great applause.] You
cannot quench the volcano of Veauvlua.
Thank God the people are in earnest in the great
work of crushing the rebellion. Their real strength
is the secret of unconscious soul. The spirits of our
sires declare and so do our posterity, that we have
a nation to live for, a nation to establish, and that
it must go down unimpaired to the latest genera
tion but, gentlemen, I'll not detain you—other
gentlemen are to follow and I will leave you.
SPEECTLI OF PRESIDENT ICING.
Mr. President King, of the Columbia College, N.
Y., was introduced. After what had been said, he.
had little, to add in concurrence of the noble sen
timents of. the Governor, and the well.exprowed:
opinions •of the gentlemen who preceded him. In
'flew York they would gladly imitate the example
set to them, and co-operate with us in faiior of abso
lute and unqualified loyalty to the Government,
and the crushing of the rebellion. Let it be under
stood that there could be no. compromise. [Cries
of "good" and applause.] We do well to distrust
all who speak of peace in this time of war.
When our country bide us war, we should do so.
We have among us persons who profess tobe ex
tremely in favor of peace. The man who speaks in
defiance of the Government should be etrung up.
[Applause.] Talk of peace Peace with whom?
Men in arms because defeated at the polls. They
rushed to arms - because they could not rule. Why_
attempt to make peace with those, whose gu,sra n t oes
in the past afibrd no peaces! . They say, "We
mean to conquer you. We must put them
down under our feet, and keep them there
until they are willing to abide by the decision of
the law. We might have a patehed•up peace.
It is a naked question of existence—to be or not
to be. It is a question whn shall live. For that
we ask no permission of anybody. We are in New
York very powerless of good. We are governed by
the most unqualified rascals that God ever made.
They can do whatever they please and call it law.
It is tit that in the city of the Hall of Independence
we should come here, and learn that our Govern
ment must last forever. We carry out your pre
cepts. I have taken courage from ..the Words of
your Governor.. The heart of the people is sound.
Whistle the demagogues to the winds l The speaker
concluded amid loud applause. -
• SPEECH OF MR. JAMES MILLIKEN.
After Mr. King had concluded, Mr. James rout
ken was introduced, and bald
. MR. CHAIRMAN : , The association which we are
assembled here to-night to inaugurate imposes upon
each of us a. thoughtful consideration of the objects
to be attained, and of the duties we assume to per
form.
al; Col to tulna tile taunt tal4 l Q4kgta 01 the
fundamental articles of our association, stipufortere
that "the condition of membership shall be unqtlivii. -
lified [loyalty to the Government of the Ifnitall
States, and unwavering support of its efforts for thee
suppression of the rebellion." This, sir, compre-
Sends a duty which in times of peace we are too apt
lightly - to regard, but which, in times of rebellion
and war, brings with it responstbilitlea that we
should not, nay, that we cannot, disregard. •
As the dark hour of the night In our.countryis
Cory closes in upon us, there arises an Imperative ne
cessity for those who are truly loyal to join hands
together and pledge themselves, not secretly but
openly, not to one another, only, but to the world,
to stand by each other, and by . the side of our Go-
vernment, until the bright light of the Morning—
which will so surely follow the darkness—shan
dawn upon us. There is , this day a necessity that
patriots should take their places in line, and that, in
their forward march, their step should heap harm
nious time to the musisof the Union. [Applause.]
It woulthe idle for me to detain you with .a refe
rence to the theoretical causes of the present rebel
lion. It would be tedious - for me to arguewith you
the numerous questions which have, from time to
, time, been presented as the causes for the present
condition of things. It must now Bunke to• know
that we have rebellion and' war—"'grim. visaged
war Q'—war the moat direful , --a consequence of a
rebellion the motif wicked that has occurred under
any Government, ancient or modern. Itir dimeo
mons are so vast and its cruelties so terrible . tha't
the brave even sometimes- hesitate, and' the
timid grow sick at heart. It is. this question., and:
only this, that we have now to treat A- war' that,.
of necessity, carries with it successor failure—awar
for the principles of a , great, glorious, and ftee-
Government. Shall we sustainthat Government;
or shall we permit in its stead anarchy and con
fusion? Shall we have one grand nationality oft"
States, or a- multitude of petty, notated, incoherent,.
and discordant communities?' I am for the Govern
mei:t. as it wits bequeathed' to us, and, therefore,
have, for the moment, turned aside- from my ac"
customed commercial pursuits, and come up-here to
record my name as a member of this- Union
League," and to raise my voice in wishing: it God
speed in its hely mission. [Applause.] I care not
what others may think or reel', but when the' Go
vernment of my beloved coupry shall consent to
part with any portion of its vast domain, or' shall
yield one jot of its authority over the whole,•patri
otism will die within me, and I shall feel myself an
outcast, withouta Government worthy of thename'
, anywhere on the face - of . the globe to protect me.
[Cries of "Hear, hears"l.
In the prosecution of this war, we' have had,
hitherto, discouragements, painful and bitter dbe
comagementa; but none, air, that have ever, in the
slightest degree, disturbed my confidence in thsulti
mate success of our cause. When the bright light
of the noonday sun has been for too - loniert timeob.
seured by portentous clouds, we are' apt to take
counsel of our fears, and to begin to question whether
there will ever be bright sunlight again. That which.
is true of the physical world is also true oPthepoll--
tical; and possibly there are those here to-night who;
in their efforts to penetrate the dark<ctouds which
have seemed to them forso long - a-time to threaten'
the fate of the Union, have sat' them down in sad
nests, bereft of hope. To these would sa be of
good cheer, for the .fawn is not far distant. Renew'
your faith and courage, for in so doing you - will'
sustain your Government; -and, more especially, will
you sustain that noble and brave army of men who
have gone forth to do, if needs be to die; on the field
of battle. [Cheers.]
Political institutions are not a mere• matter of 'ca
price and choice. It cannot be that demagogues can
take into their hands and shape the destiny of a na
tion. All history teaches that communities, at their
best, are only the free and intelligent artificers of a
work that is not their• own. Twice within our
memory France has overturned her monarchy and:
set up a republic; but she could not hold :her ' pur-'
pose against the conditions in which she found her
self. The Cromwellian Parliament never-dreamed
that their republic would- itself bring about the re
storation of the Stuarts. Men are but the instru
ruents.and when they throw themselves in the way
of civilization and God's progress of a nation, they
but help onward their own destruction and ruin. ,
Our country has surviveda war for its existence ;
it was baptized in blood and consecrated to freedom.
Our Government has successfully resisted a war for
its destruction from foes without, and the sacred
memories of the past have been the fireside themes
through which we have been taught to love our
country. And shall the disgrace of a failure to pre
serve the Republic rest with the men and women of
the nineteenth century? • I will not permit the
thought. I turn from it to inquire who among us
to-night shall live to hear prattling childhood ask of
old age a familiar story of the struggles and of
our Government in this fratricidal war? A history
of its preservation when assailed by foes from with
in, none can tell. But when that day shall arrive,
what an honor, what 'a privilege be felt to
have lived at this day, and to have espoused the
cause of the Government. Then; sir, will come your-
full honor, and the honor of all those who, like you, •
in this hour of trial, are now throwing the weight•of
their influence and position into the scale on the
side of the Government. You and they will then be •
deemed fortunate, fortunate men.
The enemies of our country are not alone those
who have defiantly taken up arms against the Go
vernment. There are foes to freedom and to free
government everywhere, and the midnight assassin
is not snore to be dreaded than those who, at home
and abroad, counsel, alarm, and cry peace when i here
can be no peace. As our great nation calls to its
aid the loyal, the chivalrous' the brave, and as it
recoils in its eftorts to put forth with more terrible
force its mighty power, and the craven-hearted and
the cowardly, and those who sympathize with
treason, whisper "peace on any terms," this
sir, is but the cowardice of treason. 'What !
shall my Government accept an inglorious and
disgraceful peace—a peace that will bring with
it 'dishonor—a- peace that will lose us the respect
of the nations of 'the earth—a -peace that will
leave me less than freeman—a peace that shall as
a failure of my country's flag? Never!
Never! Never! [Tremendous applause.] Rather
let us have war, and, added to it, pestilence and
famine ; let all suffer, and the patriot die, but ever
keep raised high aloft, and proudly' unfurled every
where throughout our broad land, the ensign of the
Republic, that inviting signal to the oppressed of all
lands—the emblem of freedom. [Great cheering.]
Let come failure if you will, but never a peace until
every traitor in the land shall have unconditionally
surrendered and renewed his allegiance to the Go-
vernment. To promote this end, I understand, is
the sole object of this association, and therefore I
am here with you ; I am here to do my duty as best
I may,
"And leave the issue to a watchful God."
HOUSES
SPEECH OF MR. FREDERICK FRALEY
Mr. Fraley made a brief and eloquent speech. He
looked upon this war as a providential war; he
had no fear of the result, when he looked upon
the ;hope-beaming feces of his audience. He.
looked back to the spirit of 1881, when our flag was
assaulted before Sumpter's walls. This war will
open the material Interests of the country, and our
flag .. will wave in triumph over this land, from North
to South, from East to Weat, there will be .an area
consecrated to freedom. He had raised his hand
and voice against the rebellion. Mr. Fraley. con
cluded amid great applause, and was followed by.
Mr. Lewis.
Mn. r . RESIDENT : The necessity Of the present or
ganization I consider to have been imperative. Our ,
Union League may be viewed as a great moral sani
tary commission whereby the virus of treason, which.
has of late shown itself among us, may be neutral
ized, and many good men and true. saved from the?
loathsome infection. It was indeed high time to take
the matter in band when we heard our Government
denounced by prominent politicians because of its
partial adoption of measures deemed necessary for
its self-preservation ; when we saw every art em-:
ployed to bring our own rulers into contempt and to
exalt the arch rebel into an object. of admiration ;.
when there were even found some men base enough
to concoct schemes for ranging 'our own great and
true Commonwealth under the rebel.banner.
It is not that our home traitors are so numerous,
but because of their defiant bearing, and the boldness
with which they proclaim their heresies, that it has
become necessary to let them Bee and feel their in
significance in this loyal community.. Let us re
member that it weepy the activity of such unecni
pulous minorities, and the inertness of the patriotic
masses, that Louisiana, North Carolina, and Vire.
nia, were forced to array themselves against the Go. .
vernment of the Union. These unworthy eons of
their country, lost to all sense of shame, and willing
to rise to temporary power on the ruins of the fairest.•
fabric of liberiy ever rearedby human hands, are at •
this 'moment exerting all their faculties in striving
to sap its foundations. They preach anew the ex-.
ploded doctrine of the supremacy of State rights,.',
the very origin of all our troubles. They denounce •
as tyrannical or unsound every military and linen
cilfl measure of the Administration, whereby only
can we hope to suppress the huge revolt which has .
drenched our land in blood. They abuse equally the •
just and humane policy ofmompensated emancipa
tion, and the bolder and :more necessary one of de..
throning their ebon idol, by declaring the slaves of
all traitors In rebellion.free.
The arrest of plotters against the nafion's life, and
their being mercifully placed for a time where they
would be harmless, instead. of their being consigned ,
to the gallows—as, in some cases, they should have .
been—and the temporary suppression of incendiary
newspapers, are pronounced, by our self-styled con,
servatives B
acts of intolerable oppression, and shame-.
ful violations of the Constitution. ut for the
" whitelivered renegades," who, while holding high .
places in our Government;, which they had solemnly,
sworn to uphold, were secretly plotting its over
throw, and who now wield all power in the rebel
lious States, ruling them with a rod of iron—for,.
those perjured traitors, who spurn the Constitution.
and ridicule its eateguanle, and who persistently
avow that . they will never again live under •
it, what words. of condemnation have our -
new-faogled Union-lovers to utter?. Not one.
And what is more atrocious still, these fallen.
men among ua, exult in every occurrence which.
would seem to give them hope of the ultimate success.
of the wrong doers. A momentary pause in the
adVance of the eagles of the Republic—a momentary;
check to our arms anywhere, is hailed by.themavith.
illsuppressed delight. By them all our victories
are underrated, all our disasters magnified. Oh
monstrous !:Oh !shame to human nature, that there.
should be living, in the enjoyment of all the blessings
of our beneficent Government, men who rejoice atthe.
slaughter of their countrymen fighting for the pre
servation of- that Government, and offering up their
lives in its defence with the devotion of true martyrs.
These miserable men feel no indlgeation.atthe COld..
blooded murders of unarmed loyalists, cotamitted-by
the semi-savages who are warring •agatust us, and
hear without emotion of the daughters- of fugitives
from nameless cruelties, when bearing •to their.
famishing parents food, being torn to. pieses. by
bloodhounds. ,
Wean not time, then, my friends, that- we who,
glory in the national name and national emblem,
many of whom have found protection abroad. under
the folds of that resplendent banner—that we who
typify, as we well know, the sentiments of more
than nine-tenths of the inhabitentanf this fair city,
should lift the voice of warning, as well against the
parlor traitors who infest the more. refinedwalks of
private life, as against their leas eminent and de
luded followerv, fit instruments to propagate the
glosing Hee' had treason they have been. taught,
among their humbler con sere.
But do you know, Mr. resident, to, such, a pass
has the insolence of this unchecked treason reached,
that with all our preponderance of numbers, threats
have been used that we should not assemble here in
the discharge of our patriotic mission. unmolested?
These threats have even been promulgated by a poi ,
tion of the public press. I, euppoae' there is no mem
ber of this League that does not despise them, and
feel hie good purposearather whetted than blunted
blench an attempt to intimidate t nay more, I am
sure there is none who would not defend our right
to advocate the cause of ,our country hero or else
where, if need be, with the strong arm.
But most happy am I to say that, on the great
drama of the war, we have every reason to believe
the light of victory will soon beam. The "Gehenna
of the waters," where rebellion struck her first
bloody blow, reels before her impending doom ; the
original seat of that twin monster repudiation is
even now being encircled by the two elements, the
chief ministers of the Divine wrath.
All indicates that the rebellion is near its death
struggle. When that is past the blatant as well as
the smooth-spoken treason-talkers of the North will
skulk into obscurity, never again to have their names
mentioned except in contempt. That hour is ap
proaching ; it may be close at hand. Time pauses not
for man's convenience :
" The mower mows on thou' the adder may writhe,
And.the copperhead coil round the blade of his
scythe.'
SPEECH OF BEV. J. W. JA.OKSON
_
Rev. Mr. .lackeion then addressed the audience,
and made a happy speech. He said that he wee
enough of a Calvinist to believe that God intended'
this rebellion should be crushed, and that this
country was intended for one nation, powerful and
indivisible. He then paid a glowing tribute to the
stars and stripes, and predicted their triumph over
foes, domestic gad fOrelgtt, At tile 0002140/oil
THREE CENTS.
[Great applause.]
SPEECH OF MR. LEWIS
THE WAR PRESS,
(PUBLISHED WEEKLY.)
TnR WAR PRERs will be gent to gubscrlbere by
mall (Per annum in advance) at $2.00
Five Copieg • • •' 9.00
Ten " •'
Twenty" ••17.00
32.00
Larger Cinbe than Twenty will be charged at the
lame rate. 81.50 per copy.
Th e money must aboays accompany the order. and
in no instance can the.teternut Ge ckaaated from, 48 they
(d'art very Mk more than the coot of the paper.
AD - Postmasters aro requested to act as Agoras for
'MK WAR PRES&
,—To the getter-up of the Club of ten or twenty, an
extrsoopy of the Paper will be given.
hie address, he remarked that he had anticipated
rAplying to a toast to the clergy; but although no
such toast had been oirered, he would nevertheless
say that ii any of the "League " should die, they
should not die without 61 benefit of clergy." His re
marks were long and loudly applauded.
SPEECH OF DANIEL DOTIGHERTY, ESQ.
I have en old and valued friend, one from whom I
liSwe received many favors, one who came to my aid
in trying moments, to whom I here publicly
knoWledge my obligations, and' En whose welfare I
will Vev'er cermet° feel th ci liveliest intercet. And yet,
thougSlt I have often seen his picture, I never saw
him bll once in rev life, and, what may seem still
strange!.,:i don't ca re if never see him saain-I
mean tire Americau [Laughter.] fin bast
been to dt. a - Yorick, An' "he has borne me on his
back a thousand timer!" With ht have risen
over cities, crossed oceans, looked &Arm on 'noun..
cleaved'the clouds, and on hie broad, espand.
ed wings, halt geared into the blue etherial vault,
tarried for a tlnie'at his "Mar goo' near the sun,...
and then aafely descended tarry home again. But
thooe days are gone ; and, thcregle Itrust my friend's'
flight may be always onward elf] upward, yet I- no
more wish to roam, an 4 for th - tr' future' prefer I he'
earth to th e ether. Theiefore, unlike Hecate, I will'
not ride in the air to-night. (Laughter and ap:
plause.J
We, on this venermead annivelavy, fdrtgtlly 1114'
augurate the League. It starts uader ' favorable'
auspices. Whether itc career shall de for good or
evil remaicm to be seen.. I hope that otir children,
When we brave gone, will proudly boast their fatherr
were its mensters: or it mirrbe the veriest of failures;
short-lived, a mockery to ea all, and'a stimdtrig Jibe
of after times. We must remember that this house
la not opened assn elegant lomeiging place ferhdurs
. of ease, nor that its usefulnede is to give a meal to'
a bachelor in w - ir.ter, or a married man in summer. The greed object im to link, in tkir bonds of a fiee-long
friendship, all who are. true' to theit ccisnhy.'
Such an institution is needed - by the hig,hest
dictates of patriotism. RealizO• the awful peril ;
of the times! Seek not to eaguise the truth!
From these days date either the downfall and
destrUction of the Republic, or the triumphant
vindication of free institutions in America, to be fol- '
lowed by their uprising and spreading throlighout
the civiltzed world. The nation has arrived at the•
• very crisis of her fate. Either she is to rise with
renewed youth the master-spirit of the earth, or else"
die and leave her children a blighted name'andheri
• tag° of endless misery, slavery, and wee. Admit
the danger points to anarchy and despotism. If
these are to he averted ; if we would not have our'
days embittered ; if we would not that coming gene- •
rations shall naive us in our graves; we must bend
every energy,. sacrifice all things save honor to con
querin this terrible war. We cannot triumph' with
our people divided. Therefore, in every way, there -
must be presented to the minds of our country
men theimpending doom. If a municipal election
were at hand- the knaves of the city, yclept•po-
Michelin, would be at work day and night'
with speech and circular, pamphlet and paper, boa
lire and procession, arousingthe citized to their crisis
—yet now, a nation is dying, and her children are '
indifferent to tier fate—nay, more -, horror of horrors '
—possessed by the malignant fiend of senseless par- '
• tisan animosities, they are ready to strangle each -
other and see the streets of Northern capitals run
red with Irrothersrblood ! Unless these animosities
are•removed, all is lost. I believe the hearts of the '
masses are right—generous to the core ; if they could
. but see where bad men are drawing them—if they
but knew thereat - motives and sentiments of traitors
who aspire to lead them, they would turn from them
• with terror and execrations. The scales must fall
from theeyes of the•citizens ; the veil must he torn
. asunder; and they must, on both aides, cease their
accursed partisan divisions, or behold in the near
future the ghastly spectacle of a ruined nation—a
despairing people, with horror seated at every
hearthstone. [Loud applause.]
Let it be our aim to-do all we can, by individual
examples,-to banish partisan dissensions. Let our
fellow-citizens know that the issue is not the suo
cess of a party, butthe stebillly of the Goveniment.
Let us seeloout all who-disown sectional affections.
Let us claim - as, brothers all who do not limit their
love to their city and State; but who believe there .
is something "dearer,.sweeter far than all the rest"
—who, at home and abroad; claim no prouder name
than Americans rapplauseh: and who acknowledge
loving allegiance to that sovereignty whose symbol
is the stripes and stars. Montinued applause.]
lam no adherent of Mr. Lincoln. I opposed his
election to the teat L would - scorn to ask a favor of
him, and-would notacceptof one if offered. I feel no
partisan interest in the success of his Administra
tion ;it him donemany acts of which I do not ap
prove—more; however, of rilkileeion than commis
sion ; but I deem it a duty, a holy duty, to take
part in no organized opposition, but to do all I can
to counsel, assist, and sustain the constituted an
thorities of my country in this war on this hideous
and tell-born rebellion. Again., gentlemen, we must
demand from our puling> servants, high and low, the
exercise of scrupulous-integrity, and strive to see
once morepublicvirtue. To-the strictest accounta
bility hold -every , official. Punish with the direst
penalties the defauiterand defrauder, for if there be
a villain more damned than a-traitor, it le he who,
under the cloak of patriotism would rob and plunder
the bleeding,and. suffering - soldiers of the Union.
[Applause.-] If corruption cannot be punished, the
nation ip not worth.preeerving. ELoud applause.]
Let us, as citizens, resolve no longer to lift the base
leaders of corrupt , organizations to offices of honor.
Let the high-places of the State-and nation be filled
with men famed for integrity and ineliect. Above
all, never despair , of , the , &Tallith: [Loud and long
continued applausel Our defeats and disasters
have flowed from- our - supineness. Reinspired
by thc_ glorious:--memories . . of this day, let us
hurl contempt and scorn on. the dos/eras who woukl
counsel a nation's dishonor by -begging an ignominious
peace of armed, bloody, and unrclenttug treason.
Proud of our city—lovers of Our State—let the senti
ment that sways our-hearts- be;. Our country—may
she ever be right; •but right or wzong, our country.
ti [Loud applause, amid which: lily. Dougherty re
red.]
SPEECH OF MR. SCOVET..OP NEW JERSEY.
Mr. Scovel said this is the Unmoor plain language.
And as I am of western education, and only east
ern by adoption, 11118 assembly of grave and rove-
rend seignors will pardon• me- foe being a "plain,
blunt man who love my country." I am like the
Irisman, who, having. more -children then estate,
sent the former out in the world Wcaro for them
selves. "lily son," said he-to. his eldest born "if .
you see a head hit it." So, I. new say of myself,
without vanity, that my only , polities] creed is when
I see a secession head I hit it. Advancing civiliza
tion has driven back the law of force, and since
Sumpter saw that drooping and dishonored
flag, South Carolina will never present her
rattlesnake braves; whether they be called
called Brooks or not, with canes rich with gold and
bearing this device, " lift. him again." Did I' say
civilization advances ? i Ayl and with her new edn
ucation,.she would hewthe spurs from the recreant
knight who strikes-down free• speech with a brutal
blow, But let us not forget that the enemies of the
Ile One live.
bile Cato and. the.beetaielsens of Rome pro
longed the life of Llberty,Cataline and the worst
conspired against the liberties of Rome. The ene
mies of our Republic. livonot alone on the battle
fields of Virginia ; and do not only guard the living
graves of our brothers and sonawho are
• Aliens and foes in the land of their birth."
• • • • - • • • • .
They are here at home. They are called " Copper
lleads't or "Chunkheads" (by the naturalists,) on
account of the thickness. of; their skulls! They wor
ship at the shrine of Vallandighare, and consider D.
A. Illahony a "bleeding martyr." To them, the
flag that float above us to•night, adding lustre to the
heavens themselves are a hissing and a reproach.
They prefer being partisans for jeff Davis, to being
patriots on the side of an honest,.God-fearing Presi
dent. Talk about liberty to.them, and they . whisper
"arbitrary arrests." POint them to the man
gled form of our beloved eountry, at whose
suffering side, by a common impulse gathers
every patriot, and they. will. shriek "Democracy"
with a preternatural ingenuity of error they talk
of coercion, when we only ask that the laws of the
United States be executed. against every offend
ing:citizen of these Unitod States, whether in.
Georgia, in South Caroline, or in Maine.
They are Submissionists. In 1176 they would
have been Cow-boys, 'Skinners, or Hessians. Now
they are only. traitors. /end let them mark my
words: While they.. attempt murder, they will only
commit suicide. • The Government will live, and
they will sink deeper than plummet-line- ever
wended, leaving no bubble to tell where they went
down. They are like the. Gaecon who, paying
court to a minister when kicked out of the door,
climbed in at the window. But their servility to
Jefferson Davis will not save them.
Should this Government go down, it will be with
untarnished honor—like the Cumberland; with her
guns shotted to the tip,. and the old flag at the mast
head.;
SPEECH. OR HON. 21%.. RUSSELL THAYER.
Roe. M. Russell Thayer then spoke as follows :
I rejoice,
Mr. Chairman, to behold in this gather
ing of the friends of the Union, so many men of ac
knowledged infillOnee in this community. I rejoice
to see here so many mem of intelligence and virtue,
who, amid the perils of the present crisis, are willing
to abandon all minor political issaues and differ -
ences, and to unite their influence, their power r
their means, their time, and their personal efforts,
to. aid in the great struggle which has for its object
thepreservation of eeountry for ourselves and our
children to live in. It was the opinion of the great .
and good men who. founded the American Empire
(I do= not invent the phrase, sir; it Is one re
peatedly used by. John Marshall, and with es
pecial emphasis in that passage of his great
history in which he describes the formation..Af
the 'federal Constitution), that upon the perpe
tnity of the American Union depend in no
amall degree nob only the preservation of republican
institutions in this country, but the hopes of consti
tutional freedom throughout the world. egnoral
Washington himself was of that opinion, /Ir.& de
clared in his first inaugural address to Congress, on
the 30th April, nee, that upon the success of the ex- •
pertinent entrusted to the hands of the Aptitpictus • .
people is staked not only the destiny of the republi:','
can model of government, but the preservation' of '••
the sacred fire of liberty itself. Thole arehis own.
words. The men who carried the countryomacese
fully through the trials and sufferings of.thk.war sef
independence weregenerally of, that oydnioft... Cot, „
Lee, himself a Southern man, and Umetriber of Cone .- 1
grew, wrote to General Washington, on the .break
ing out of Shayte rebellion, that 'anima it ;was
put down, anarchy with all its calamities, Was
at hand. I can see no, ground of,' difference in
this respect between the success of altlessachueett o
'
rebellion, and the success of a Sonthern.rebellion.
Until recently the man would b.stve,beextlhought
mad who could advocate the opinion that the Anse% .
rican Union could be broken Ante diacordant 'frag
ments without burying liberty "race, and, eacsdal or
der in its ruins. The war against the,.Union how. .
ever, (for thus it is that one unnaturel trim ' begets
a brood of others,) has glver,,rise.to. a new atiet of .‘
political philosophers, who, in the . bosom of "this':
loyal and true-hearted North, beyond.thre sphere•Or' .
that - passionate, and. frenzieJiufatuetiert which
darkened the understandings of the. Southern peo.
ple,l and therefore, without thepeor arouse of that., , ,
infatuation, speculate withindiffercuce, or ratherir . :
should say, with apparent,sallsfarithsa, upon the eX
pediency of giving way • before„tho-violence of der r ,
hellion; of laying dowrrour arnia-inthe presenceof
the foe which threatens,eue deduction, and aban
doning the defence of.nlbe,Tlnion.' These men affect
an admiration for Abele Southernrilliee and a' dis
gust
for their own _countey..end, its Government.
What they lack in strength of, numbers, and in in
fluence, they makeup for, in. the prenumption - with",
which they declaim their. tumble sympathies and,
their pusillanimous. selltintentL 'When the storm,
clouds of the nregent dinsistrouti time shall have,
cleared away, and our; country shall emerge from,
them with new vigor, w.ith, renewed strength, and,
with indistructahle maks, history will take up hate •
pen, and in the clear, sunshine of that proudt and,
prosperous day, write in her eternal record these.,
vete and unalterable. verdict of posterity agfaciot
those who, without the exeuso of paestren, or
the temptation of aelfintereet, abandoned, ig,the
momens .of her most imminent and deadly, per%
the country which gave them birth, v p, de.,
tided het great struggle for self.presernalion, who
would have struck from her hand the, sword
which she had drawn to protect her lieper and her
life; who sympathized with her enemies, and lent
them moral, if not material aid ; ivho,Gontemnietted
with unconcern the dissolution of the. Government
and the country, and amused themselves with specu
lative fancies about the new forms.and alliances of
Hie numberless fragments into which their ruined
country should be broken. It ie tp not the
arts and intrigues of these men, and toinoulonte the
sentiment of an unqualified devotion to the Union
and a determined support of the. Government in the
present contest that this association has been
formed. We here lay =de all partisan views and
differences to unite our energiea and our influence
in
.a common eftbrt for the maintenance of the Un ion
and the Constitutien,the preservat ion of our country,
its' nationality, tie union, and 'its happiness, its
power, and its prosperity. 'We welcome as a co
laborer with lie in this great cause, all, without dis
tinction of party, who are willing to unite with tut
upon the principles of active, earnest, vigorous, and
eternal hostility to the rebellion. We believe in ne
cant's neutrality,UK VOW lire 40 fvr tie f9t4larg