Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

[101] course would be. I answered him as I had answered the others. He insisted upon talking with me, and I got away from him just in time, by hurrying, to get to the meeting. I found the hall filled almost to suffocation. The stairs leading to it were crowded, and to get me in my good working friends — I was a lighter weight than now — picked me up and rolled me over their heads to the stand, where I found myself in a somewhat disordered state of apparel. Settling myself as well as I could, I turned to the assembly. It was perfectly quiet, more so than any public meeting I have ever since looked upon. I observed carefully their countenances and was confirmed in my course. I looked around for the leading men of whom we make presidents, vice-presidents, and secretaries, but they were not there. It was evidently my meeting or nobody's.

Casting my eye into a corner of the hall and seeing a clergyman there, an earnest, honest, and pious man, who did not preach in any of the fashionable churches in the city, but who had a large congregation in his own town, I stepped to the desk at the front of the platform, on which there was nobody but myself, and said: “I see the reverend Mr.----present with us,” calling him by name. “As it has been the custom of our fathers in great emergencies and on solemn occasions to call for the Divine grace and protection in what they should do, I take the liberty to ask the reverend gentleman to address the throne of grace.” And bringing my pencil down with a heavy tap on the desk, I called out: “Let every head be uncovered;” and every hat came off. The clergyman with some difficulty reached the platform, and then made a very fervent and impassioned prayer, filled with appropriate appeals to Almighty Providence to guide and assist His children in the hour of their direst need.

When he had concluded his prayer I handed my chair to him and stepped forward. Not a hat was put on. I began very calmly, and in low but distinct tones, substantially the following address, which I believe I shall never forget:--

Our fathers fought the battles of the Revolution, braving the perils of war with the British Empire to establish one very important and essential privilege to this people, viz., the right to govern themselves by electing to their legislatures, by votes cast in an orderly and quiet manner according to the laws, men to represent them and their interests such as they shall deem proper. If under our