The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-08-22
The Mass Meeting.

For reasons best known to the Fusion
committee aud speakers, no debate was
had at the Mass Meeting on Thursday.
The Democratic speakers spoke in front
of the Court House, and the Fusionists
in tobacco house, at the north end of
town. There, perhaps, has never been here
as large collection of men of opposite
political parties, at which so much good
order and quiet prevailed, as that on Thurs
day. 1t was creditable to the parties, to
the place and the people.
As the two parties assembled at the
same hour, we were not able to hear any
part of the discourses of Messrs CHASE
and FORD, nor did we have a reporter
there, relying upon the Journal for the
substance of their speeches. We were
informed by men who were there, and
some of them Fusionists, that Mr.. CHASE
made one Of his old-fashioned, prosy
speeches; but, Notwithstanding, o very
good speech 1t has become notorious
fact that CHASE tempers his speeches to
suit the locality, and from what we learn
of this it was not an exception. Of Mr..
FoRp's speech, we are informed by Flu
sionist and reliable man, that it consist
ed of series of stale anecdotes badly
/ t<,1A hn -ba 80 haa
him expecting to hear Philadelphia
Convention speech, were grievously dis
appointed. Mr.. FORD had some reputa-
ton, founded, however, solely on the
Philadelphia speech, which perhaps he
made, and perhaps he didn't; but he sue
ceeds in demolishing it wherever he speaks,
so the papers say, where he has spoken,
and so we hear it said here.
The Democratic meeting, which by the
way was the principal part of the crowd,
assembled few minutes after IL O'Clock
Over the speakers stand foated banner
inscribed on one side with the motto,
ssThe Union Forever" on the other,
"No Religious Test.n A brass band
was in attendance; which opened the pro.
ceedingsby playing /" Yankee Doodle"
Col. GEORGE w. McCooK, Attorney
General Of the State, was then introduced
by Mr.. A. G. Ew1Na, President of the
meeting. The Col. made a very happy
and appropriate introduction Of the sub.
ject; stating that we were now assembled
, to defend measures which we had fondly
!, hoped were settled by our fathers al
Bunkerhill and Yorktown. They were
nothing less than Civil and Religious
Freedom Mr.. McCook then stated that
if time would permit, he would address
the meeting after Mr. PUaH and Mr..
TAYLOR should close. Mr.. PUaH was
then Introduced.
He first defined the position of the
Democratic party upon the slavery ques.
tion, showing that the imputations cast by
the abolitionists upon the Democracy were
wholly gratuitous, and that we occupy the
only safe and tenable ground. He ther
proceeded to institute a comparison be
tween the present National and State adj
ministrations, and those which preceded
them, proving clearly that if economy ant
rctrenchment are desired, that it is from
the Democratic party they may be ex
pected. After this he spoke upon tn,
E Know Nothing question. If there was |
+ member of that order present who wen
away unconvertcd he must have beel
deeply dyed. Mr.. PuaH showed tina
s secret political organizations could onl
u be effective when operating against gov
ernment. That in monarchical govern
ments they might be serviceable in break
!, ing them down. Such was the natura
) tendency of all secret political organiza
.ftons, however good their intentions Nigh
be, or by whoever managed. He spok
of the temporal power of the Pope a
: being fiction got up for the purpose {
exciting the baser passions; and of th
ungenerous aud ungrateful attempt t
excite jealousy toward our naturalize
:, citizens. The close of his speech wa
well worthy Of Mr.. PUdH's reputation fo
eloquence. We heard a gentleman of n
! mean Judgment in such matters, and VIII
: has been in politics quarter of a cent?
ry, say, that he had heard most of th
:. great orators in the United States, an
:" that Mr. PUGH's speech would compar
: favorably with any he had ever heard upo
!! a political subject. The effect may b
. imagined when it is known that the GROVE
- y most of them standing, remained in tt
p hot sum- two hours and quarter, almo
" motionless, except as their countenanct