a sentence of it was understood by any person in the
assembly. Next came Mr. Sennott, an Irishman, a lawyer, and a man of
large learning in knowledge and attainments not adapted to general use.
He had then but recently abandoned the Democratic Party, but there was
a stain upon his reputation, traceable to the fact that in the year
1859 he had volunteered to aid in the legal defence of John Brown at
Harper's Ferry. The city of Boston could not have offered a person
less acceptable to the crowd in front of the speaker. Mr. Sennott's
voice was weak and of the art of using what power he possessed he had
no knowledge. His speech was not heard by anyone in the assembly.
By the arrangement I was to follow Mr. Sennott. I had had some
experience with hostile audiences, and in the year 1862 I had been
interrupted in a country town of Massachusetts by stones thrown
through the windows of a hall in which I was speaking upon the war and
the administration.

As I sat upon the platform I studied my audience and I resolved upon my
course. I had one fixed resolution--I should get a hearing or I should
spend the night in the hall. Something of the character of my
reception and the results reached may be gained from the report of the
Boston _Journal_, and I copy the report without alteration, premising
however that some minutes passed before I secured a quiet hearing.

SPEECH ON THE CHICAGO RESOLUTION

_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 was 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 an