[From the New Orleans Era, November 15th, 1863]
UNION MEETING AT LYCEUM HALL.
ENTHUSIASTIC DEMONSTRATION.
SPEECH OF HON. MICHAEL HAHN.
One of the largest and most respectable audiences that have assembled in Lyceum Hall for a long time was in attendance last night to listen to the young and gifted orator of Louisiana, Hon. Michael Hahn, who had previously been announced as the speaker for the occasion. The ladies were, of course, there in fall numbers, and the music of the City Band lent its chorus to enliven the scene. The meeting was sufficiently enthusiastic, and composed of the very best Union material in the city. At the appointed hour, the President, C. W. Hornor, Esq., took his seat, and after the usual preliminaries of organization. Mr. Hahn took the stand, and when the applause subsided, in his usual happy and pleasant manner, addressed the vast assemblage in the following language, as carefully taken down by our stenographic reporter:
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I appear before you to-night in compliance with an invitation of the Union Association, and agreeably to the wishes of many citizens who value my political views, to address you a few remarks on questions of great concern to the people of Louisiana. I intend to avoid all effort at oratorical embellishment, and to speak to you in the calm and unvarnished style of reason and common sense. Instead of endeavors to arouse your passions, and to carry you along for the moment by tender appeals to your hearts, I will employ facts and reason, so that the impressions which I may make may be of a lasting character. We have lately heard and read a great deal in this community about a free press and free speech. I intend to make the test to-night as to the truth of the boast that free speech exists among us; for I expect to utter sentiments and present views which differ in certain respects with those entertained by many persons in this Hall. And I will say now,
