The Georgetown news., 1855-07-05
The Great Mass Meeting of the Ameri-
can People.
Speeches by Gov. FOOte and Hon. e. C.
Marshall.


On last Thursday evening one of the
largest political meetings assembled, that
has ever been witnessed in this place. The
number assembled was various estimated
from five hundred to one thousand, but sew
en- hundred is low estimate. The rostrum
was erected at the liberty pole, at the top of
which the stars and stripes were proudly
floating in the evening breeze Before dusk
the people began to assemble, and by can
die lighting every seat was occupied which
had been prepared by the Committee
many chairs were afterwards brought upon
the ground, while the ladies occupied the
balcony Of the Post Office building.
There was conclusive evidence, in the Or
ganization of this meeting, to refute the
charge SO oft repeated that the American
party was Whig movement. The meet
ing was called to order by J. G. TERRIL
who was regularly elected and admit
ted as delegate to the late so-called Dem
Ocratic County Convention, and L. WREN,
another regularly elected and admitted del
egate to the same Convention, was appoint
ed President of the meeting; in fact we only
noticed one gentleman on the platform
(which contained about II persons) who has
heretofore been known as Whig. This, in
addition to the fact that one Of the speakers
of the evening was but a short time ago, a
democratic member of the U. S. Senate
from Mississippi, and the other democrat
ic Congressman from this State, would seem
to indicate that instead Of being whig
movement that it was really the old nation
al democracy which in pursuance of its
principles of progress found itself advocat-
ing the principles of the great American
party in the present crisis.
Gov FooTE was first introduced to the
audience, and was received with much ap-
plause. He made an able and eloquent ad-
dress, one which would read well, and be
valued as a State paper. We write only
from memory, and cannot attempt to even
gives synopsis of the speech, but may speci-
fy some of its more important features. He
impressed the fact that the present political
reform was unparalleled in the history of the
country, and also, the fact that this great
movement had originated with the masses
of the people. All difference between the
old parties had ceased. The compromise
measures of 1850, and the danger that then
threatened the Union were referred to, anG
it was argued with much force that there
was more danger now pending than during
that memorable period In proof of thi
an extract was read from speech recent,
delivered in Virginia by r. NJ. T. HUNTER
u. S. Senator from that State: Mr.
HUNTER having been the confidential advis
er of the present administration, which CAV
weight to his declarations, the present ad
ministration was left without corporal
guard" Abolition secessionists and pre-
slavery secessionists were appointed t
the offices, giving them power for evil whic
otherwise they would not possess, and G
such material is composed the present Cab
inet There was danger to the union of tn
States and a necessity existed for all tru
patriots to ante in union party. Tha
party was the great American party, O
which the he-speaker declared himself mem
Der and supporter. In this connection tn
speaker read what the enemies of the Amer
ican order, said was the obligation of tn,
third degree. This obligation as read a
the meeting, may be found in another col
umn Of this paper.)
The speaker closed with thrilling ap
peal to all true patriots, urging them t.
unite in the promotion of American princi
piles and to stand by the Union.
Hon e. G. MARSHALL followed, and wa
welcomed by the plaudits Of the large as
scmblage We will not attempt to Civ,
this gentleman's speech. He did not clos
until midnight. The audience remained
and were as attentive to every word, at th'
close, as in the beginning. He also deciar
cd himself staunch member of the Ameri
can party; in fact had taken all the degree
"fFom the cellar to the garret;" was demo
erat, bat BoTe American than democratic