The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-10-26
The Difficulty at the 81. Louis
Convention.

of Wednesday we find an abridged
but very readable report of the late
convention at St. Louis, and, as a
part Of that report, the following
account of the difficulty at the mass
meeting on Tuesday evening, which
induced Judge Douglass on Wednes-
day morning to resign his place as
president of the convention. Our
state was fortunate in having re-
preventative on the ground SO COM
petent and prompt TO defend her re-
putation against the Liberal and I'M
Just assaults of St. Louis.
The mass meeting last night turned
out to be rather stormy and exciting,
and fear will lead to serious con.
sequences. Judge Bowlin, the
member of Congress from the It.
Louis district made a Buncomhc
speech for lis constituents. lie
gIoriiied St, Louis, rs being marked
out "by God and Nature" as the
heart of Mississippi valley, and that
her claims for the eastern terminus
of the road were natural, while the
claims Of Chicago and Memphis
were sect nal and should be so trea-
ted. He passed eulogy on the
State Of Missouri, because Of her
freedom from debt, and on her en-
terprising citizens who were able
and willing to complete great works
OF impr vcmcnt. Not satisfied with
this, lie denounced the State of Hi
nois on account of her Indebtedness
aud bankruptcy, and the refusal OF
the Legislature the State 10 permit
ST. Louis to build r all Road across
it to connect with the road from
Cincinnati. This was 10 much even
for the regulators Of Bond county
to stand, and Judge Douglas, WHO
was present, was unanimously called
on to defend Chicago and the State
of Illinois. lie took the stand, and
though he appeared to be cool, a
close observer could notice he was
depl, excited. Opposition appeared
TO render his mind more clear, and
he 'raked down St. Louis and Il e
State of Missouri in a manner that
made them sq,.irm terribly, and
their feelings were not at all Modified
by the mmrraIs, stamping and cheer
ing of the llIinoians and delegates
from other States who enjoyed tie
fight with the greatest CHE. Judge
Bowlin replied, and made up in lro,h,
repeti,ions, violent gestures ant
contoltions Of the body, what he
lacked in argument and sense. He
was very bitter. When he could
speak no longer,irom sheer exhaus-
ton, lie sat down, and Douglas again
took the stand. This thin however
he dealt i'll most biting irony, wlicI
ccnvulsed the audience with Ian.
ghtern, and completely turned tie
tables on St. Louis and the State Of
Missouri.
This morning, the Republican
came out in structures on Judge
Douglas, Of his speech last night, and
inSinuat, that he Las rrnd, red Linn
self unfit for the station of Plcsidrn,
Of the Rail Road Convcn,io. The
matter excites much attention, and
is about all that is ia ked Of
Judge d. would probably have
paid no further attention 10 these as
Saults on his state, nor even to the
coarse accusations of the Republi-
can; but after the convention got to.
gether on Wednesday morning, the
committee on resolutions having gi-
ven notice that they would not be
ready to report before noon, the op.
por'unity was seized by Mr.. o. II.
Smith, Of Indiana, to make another
speech in faver Of terminating the
great Pacific railroad at no other
point but st. Louis, and attacking
the Council Bluff plan Of Judge ID.
as well as all other routes suggested,
At this point Judge d. arose and said
the time had come when he coull no
longer occupy the chair and do JUS
,ice to either the convention or his
constituents. He then alluded "a
the attacks made upon his state at
the mass meeting, upon himself by
the Republican, and now again up.
on the interests Of his constituents
and he said he little thought, when
the Missouri delegation rendered hin
their vote for the station lie filled
that it was q bribe to seal his ips
and prevent lin from expos sing ,h.