The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-09-02
Col. Mays Speech...A Big Gun has
SQui bbed.

ansville has again been astonshed out of its
propriety. Civilization in this neck of woods
has again received a kick forward. Col
May has spoken! We do not know that in
ordinary charity to our Nebraska Democrat
ic friends, we ought to say word in crti.
May was guilty at the Market house las,
Thursday evening. They felt bad enough
over it at the time, and they probably felt
worse yesterday. That so big a gun should
have made such squib, and right in the
rear too of the DR.. Fitch battery, was more
than Provoking-it was downright disgrace.
ful to the aiders and abetters of the dig gun,
and to those who invited the political ordi.
nance to make a great noise for the enlight-
eminent OF the people of Evansville.
There was considerable x cite me mt among
certain OF the faithful and the public gener-
ally to know who Col. May might be. Col.
May! The name didn't sound very familiar,
yet ne was announced as a particularly big
Nebraska Democrat gun. and one from whom
might be expected mighty report. So a
number went to the market house to see him
and hear him. We hope every one who
Stayed ii out may have formed very fair idea
OF the gentleman's capacity, whether they
know anything more about his personal his
tory or not than that he never drank more
tbana quart Of liquor in his life.-as a bev-
erage. Numbers went away fully satisfied
after hearing him half hour.
But seriously, Col. May disappointed every
body who heard him, excepting the few who
Knew Just what to expect He said, at home
ne was blacksmith. We certainly think
If he is good at that excellent trade, he had
better remain at home at his anvil. He will
never gain applause or honor by such ridicu-
lous efforts as that he hammered out here
He appeared to give offence to some of his
own party in his treatment Of every subject
he touched upon. His speech throughout
was received with chilling coldness, aud not
once during the whole time did ne receive
any encouraging applause. He must have
felt that his audience were rot with him a,
the start, and he did not possess that persua-
sive power, or that information and reason 10
change them.
His remarks on the Nebraska bill proved
to every intelligent man present, that he
was either grossly ignorant of the bill and
of the different influences connected with
it, or that he was wilfully and awkwardly
attempting to deceive his hearers. He &C.
cused the opponents Of this bill of having
msrepresented everything connected with it,
In every other sentence almost, he pronoun.
ced something or other false, yet himself at
tempted to prove nothing. Our editorial of
yesterday, on popular Sovereignty" is
perfect answer to everything he said on that
subject. We are sincere in saying, il is our |
honest belief, that if any man present were
wavering in his opinion of the Nebraska
bill, after listening to Col. May, he must
have irresistably felt called upon to oppose
the bill-for such was the influence of the
speech. We do not think any an,i-Nebras.
ka speaker could have better convinced an
intelligent audience of the iniquity of this
bill, and of the weakness of the best defence
that could be made Of it, than did this NeLras-
Ia "orator." Col. May is but half inform.
ed man even on those subjects to which he
mas gwen particular attenton-but most ne.
culiarly did he illustrate this i'm his remarks
on the Nebraska bill, or else that no y,s
making gross attempt to deceive well in
formed persons. We wish every man in the
district could have heard the speech through
out. Nothing more is required to elect ,
Judge Hall by an overwhelming majority,
than that such speakers as Col. May and f,
DR.. Fitch should traverse the district. |,
On the temperance question he was 'mix. ,
ed up" Peter Burk don't mix liquors more
than Col. May mixed his own
and other peoples ideas on the temperance
question. What an enlightened description Q
he gave of the Maine liquor lazy. And what i
elegant illustrations of its effect! Bah!- I
And what refreshing code OF morals he il q
iusrated, when he advised those present if b
temperance lecturer attempted to address, I
them' to diff MIN in the eye'-in other words, a
TO knock him down. Col. May has to thank o
those 70 whom he gave this advice, that their q
habits do not call upon them to "diff in the Y
eye" every speaker who utters sentiments ri
with which they cannot agree, or who in. b.
suits them to their faces. On this theme
Cel. May was at times vulgar and bl,ck.
guard, and appealed to the very worst mas. 10
'ions. He upheld the right and privilege Of 81
every man to get drunk, and though, anv law ol
calculated to infringe spon this beastlv pre. 81
ogatve' an act Of tyranny. But we will y
lot follow him in his absurdites and dirty. pa
,ess ON hi. s.L,a.. L. of