[
111]
Then adopt them with three cheers. ( “Aye, aye,” and tremendous cheers.)
At this point of the proceedings
Major Anderson came upon the stand, arm-in-arm with
Mr. Simeon Draper, and when brought to the front of the platform such a cheer as went up from that vast multitude was never heard before.
It must have gladdened the heart of the hero of
Fort Sumter. Three cheers thrice repeated were given for him, and he was obliged to go to the rear of the stand and show himself; there he was greeted with a similar demonstration.
It was at least five minutes before quiet could be restored, and the meeting allowed to proceed.
In the meantime crowds swarmed around the gallant
Major, and nearly shook the hands off him in the warmth of their friendship.
I have never before had reason to speak anywhere under circumstances of such extraordinary solemnity.
The most eloquent speaker that could address you has just presented himself in the person of
Major Anderson.
(Loud cheers and applause, which lasted several minutes.) He has just come from the smoke and flame of the fiery furnace, kindled by a band of faithless traitors.
(Loud cheers, and three groans for the traitors.) You have just sent from among your midst nearly one thousand men, the flower of the
city of New York, to resent the insult to your flag.
(Loud applause.) You have sent them to resent the insult to your flag, and the greater insult, namely, an insult to the
Constitution and the laws of your country; and you know that if those men are permitted to make their progress to
Washington, and southward, they will tell a tale of which New York may justly be proud.
(Cheers.) Your assembling here proves that you, young men, and, I hope, some of us old men, are ready to follow their example, shoulder their muskets, put on their knapsacks and their fatigue dresses — not their fancy dresses — and march to the rescue of the
Constitution and the country; (Loud cheers.) Yesterday was the anniversary of the
battle of Lexington.
The blood of
Massachusetts was the first to be shed on that anniversary,--(three cheers for
Massachusetts,)--yesterday, in the putting down of this rebellion.
(Cheers.)
John Clarke, one of the heroes of the
battle of Lexington, wrote in his almanac, opposite that day, “This is the inauguration of the liberty of the
American world.”
(Cheers.) I beg you to mark the phrase, “The inauguration of the liberty of the
American world.”
Not, a fragment of it — not of the
Northern States--not of a portion of this great Union, but of “the liberty of the
American world” --the whole Union.
(Loud cheers.) This Union will go on, notwithstanding this rebellion, until that prophecy, uttered eighty years ago and upwards, is fulfilled.
(Cheers.) We are not in the midst of revolution.
We are in the midst of rebellion.
There never was a more beneficent, a more benign Government, than that of the
United States, since time began.
(Loud applause.) Never!
(Cheers.) It has borne so gently always--(three loud cheers for the
Government of the
United States)--it has borne so gently always upon the shoulders of the people, that they have hardly known it — scarcely felt it. Nothing has been oppressive or unjust, and no tyranny has been offered in any instance, north or south.
Now, my fellow-citizens, this is a rebellion against a faultless, not only a faultless, but a forbearing Government.
(Applause.) Let us see for a moment.
For months, nay, for years, the destruction of this Union has been plotted to a certain degree, until almost the entire generation has been educated in the infernal doctrines of a traitor now sleeping in his grave, and who endeavored thirty years ago to dissolve this Union. (Three groans for
John C. Calhoun.) It has not been because the
Government was unkind or unjust in its operation, but it was because that man was disappointed in his unhallowed, unholy, and damnable ambition.
And now his followers are going forward and carrying out the doctrines, and under the pretext of the election that did not suit them, they immediately seceded from the
Union, and have inaugurated a bloody, causeless war. (A voice, “That's so.” ) You are called upon, and I think the whole people of this country are called on, to put down these traitors, to restore the condition of the country to its ordinary purity, and drive these traitors, if it may be, into the sea. (Loud cheers.) I have said that we have a forbearing Government.
Was there ever an instance of greater forbearance than this Government has exercised?
(Cries of “No!
No!” ) Never!
Even under the administration of
Mr. Buchanan they were permitted to go on — permitted to prepare for war — to organize an army — to steal our public fortresses, our public treasury, and everything that was necessary for the freedom of their country South, and not a hand was raised against them.
(A voice, “
Buchanan is a traitor.” ) I was going on to say, in connection with his forbearance, that he had dishonest traitors in his Cabinet, who were stealing from the Treasury, and arming themselves against the
Government, and there was only one--the hero of
Detroit — who stood up against it. (Three cheers for
General Cass.)
At this juncture,
Captain Foster, of the Engineer Corps, and
Dr. Crawford, both of whom were with
Major Anderson in
Fort Sumter, appeared on the stand, and were introduced by the
President to the assemblage.
They bowed their acknowledgments, were received with deafening cheers, and, having conversed with some of the gentlemen on the platform, retired.
Mr. Noyes resumed as follows:--The only objection that I have to
Dr. Crawford, is that he administered an antidote to
Mr. Pryor.
I wish the antidote had been administered first, and something else afterwards.
(Loud laughter and cheers.) I was saying that there was only one true patriot in the
Cabinet of
Mr. Buchanan, and he left the moment he discovered the perfidious conduct of his associates.
Let him be, as he deserves to be, forever embalmed in your recollections, and in those of a grateful posterity.
(Loud applause.) He has retired to his own home, but he has retired with public gratitude, which wilt follow him to his last moment.
I said we had a forbearing Government.
After Fort,
Sumter was taken possession of by
Major Anderson, the
Government were still supine; and even after the inauguration of
Mr. Lincoln, if any thing could have been done, nothing was done, to prevent the closing round of the men in that brave fortress, and round the braver hearts in it. Seventeen or eighteen batteries were prepared, as soon as ready, to pour out fire
