Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-11
THE MEETING IN THE PARK.

before our reautrS III ouI o"n CuiVoAiAA W.
umns.
| --<sOs<--
THE MEETING IN THE PARK.
The nti.Nebraska excitement, SO long slim
ulated by all manner of appliances, seems at
last to have collapsed, if we may judge by the
following extract from the Journal Of Com
merce in relation to the "grand mass meeting
in the Park" the object of which was to ap
point delegates to the Saratoga convention.
The Journal of Commerce thus speaks OF it,
aIf anything was wanting, to show the utter
weakness of the Coalition-anti-Nebr
excitement party in this city, the grand "mass
meeting in the Park last evening" was all
suffi cient for that end. Never was there finer
evening; it fairly invited people out of doors
yet, notwithstanding the circulation Of hand
bills, the posting of placards, and the beseech-
| ing appeals of the Tribune, Post, and their
| coadjutors, the whole affair was miserable
failure. A brief notice of the proceedings will
| he found in subsequent column. Apropos
| to the contemplated pow-vow at Saratoga, OF
1 which this mass meeting in the Park was a
prelude, we publish on our first page histori,
cal and descriptive account of the 'construc-
ton and artifcers of the Bafalo platform in
1850. That platform was long since broken to
| pieces, and its arti6cers scattered to the four
winds. The Saratoga convention is substan'
TALLY the same thing over again, under new
name-the old name having become too odious
to be used any longer. The new one will soon
be equally SO, or we are no prophets. The
trouble is not in the name, but in the thing,
Sectionalism, not to say rebellion and treason,
is an ugly monster, though dressed in clean
toggery every morning"
The following report Of the proceedings Of
the meeting is extracted from the same paper
"a FUNNY MEETING IN THE PARK.-A mass
meeting was advertised to take place in the
| Park last evening, to appoint delegates TO the
great State convention at Saratoga, and al
! the appointed hour motley assemblage Of
| from three to four hundred persons were in at
| tendance Mr.. w. B. Wedgewood was appointed
| President of the meeting. Mr.. Joseph Blunt
delivered speech withoutinterruption, in which
the history Of the compromise measures was
reviewed, the speaker concluding with the state
ment, that in the approaching political contest
the limitation of slavery WIS the cardina
principle to be maintained throughout the
United States BENJAMIN Z. Buchanan fol
lowed, presenting n series of resolutions, but he
4 had scarcely concluded, before another serie:
was offered as a substitute, amid much confu
sion. which made it difficult to decide which, i
either, was adopted Mr.. Rykeman then pro
ceeded to address the audience, but, as consid
cradle uneasiness was manifested, Mr.. Haven'
interrupted, to read list of delegates, appor
toned in the rate of five to each assembly dis
trict Of the county. This done, Mr.. Rykemar
resumed-very few being able to hear anything
on account Of the untractableness of the assem-
bly,, and the diversity of opinion prevailing III
was somewhat summariy brought to conclu
sion by several persons scaling the front Of thu
platform, who usurped the speakers position
The spokesman, Mr.. A. b. Watson, said, 8 o.
the objects of the meeting were not apparent
he would endeavor to explain and forthwith
he proceeded to OFFER regardless of the indie
scribable scene of confusion before him. reso
lutions to the effect that it was inexpedien
to make any nominations for the convention 4
be convened at Saratoga; and If any wer
made, they should be repudiated' Loud call
being made of question: division, DC, tn
resolutions we're read second time, whic
seemed only to make confusion worse cor
founded, so that II was difficult to decide wha
; were the sentiments Of the majority.
Another speaker, mounting over the raj
, inp. pronounced the whole movement the ma
ehinery of 'Thurlow Weed He inquired
thew were American citizens or mere tools |?
: all of which was followed by hooting, cheer!
b proans, &C., the audience appearing to be abou
= equally divided. The president then move
!. that the meeting be adjourned; but as it woul
= not adjourn, one of the officers requested tn
!, occupants Of the platform to retire, as 1t wa
IS his property, and he did not want the tmbe
A broken, Our reporter could not learn that an
!. resolutions were adopted, or delegates appoint
:, ed. But possibly there we're, or will be elaine
to have been.
awhile many persons still continued {
n hang around, engaged in desultory converss
: ton, the slavery question came up for Discus
: sion between several abolitionists and Ker
tuokian By the name Of Brown--the latter
six footer, a gentleman of noble bearing, an
an extensive STAKEHOLDER. His manner wa
y calm. and contrasted most favorably with b
0, excited and most unreasonable opponents. ]
le the midst Of the conversation, Captain Ryndel
is who sometimes does good thiag) suddenl
!, rushed in, defended the stranger who, B
!, :, heard. had been rudely attacked Leaving u
u captain to settle difficulty, Mr.. Brown retired
s. DAT no time during the meeting were thel
10 500 persons present. yet so great was the nois
u that the board Of aldermen, who we're in Sc
I, sion in the City Hall adjacent, we're compellt
10 to adjourn without doing much business"
~ -
10 THE ERIcssoN went on a short trip, on Wedne
i. day, with one engine, the other not being qH'