Page:Reminiscences of Sixty Years in Public Affairs (Volume Two).djvu/34

Rh and I copy the report without alteration, premising however, that some minutes passed before I secured a quiet hearing:

Fellow Citizens: It depends very much upon what we believe as to the future of this country and the rights of the people, whether we rejoice or mourn in consequence of the events in Mobile Bay and before Atlanta. If it was true on the 30th day of last month that the people of this country ought to take immediate efforts for the cessation of hostilities, then, gentlemen, we have cause to mourn rather than to rejoice. I understand that there were some people in this country who, before the 30th of August, since this war opened, had not, as an aggregate body of men, expressed their opinions in reference to this war, who then declared that it ought to cease. (A voice—“They’re few.”) I observed in a newspaper published in this city two observations within the last two days. One was that they were afraid hard names would be used; and the other was that there was some apprehension that this meeting to-night would have some political aspect or influence. (Voices—“No! No!”) I thought it likely enough that it would (laughter and applause) because I observed in the newspapers that it was called to express congratulations over the events which have taken place in Mobile Bay and before Atlanta, and I thought that I had observed that those events had rather a political effect. (Renewed laughter.) Therefore I did not see exactly how it was possible that men should assemble together to rejoice over events having a political aspect without the meeting and the rejoicing having a political aspect also. Well, now, gentlemen, I haven’t come here with any design that, so far as I am concerned, it shall have anything but a political aspect. (“Good” and applause.) These times are too serious for the acceptance of any suggestion that hard names