Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-07-04
For the Spectator.
ra.tnca.lon Meeting.
Mir. so,or. June 23d, 1855

Il.
i .lfessrs. Editors Our usually qniet village
was all astir this morning, with the strains Of sou
stirring Music, with gay grours pour'ng 10 rom
ali quarters. with The hun rising fran mutil"de
Of clad voices. The American Party vi ms por-
ton of ..Old Augusta" had extended an invitation
to their friends to meet them here, on th'S cay,
TO rejoice over the prolld position OF onr beloved
old county in The election, and to ralliy TIE noble
and patriotic Platform presented tons, By The A.
rnerican Convention, for orr approval. Inc res
pnnse was indeed a hearty one, and never ava
..Norih West Augusta" send out a iiner assem-
blarc Of her beauty and her chivalry" for gala
day than she did on this occasion. The elements
smiled npon them, and the unclauded heavens
mirr red hack the JOY that blamed on every codn-
lenance.
AtI0A. NJ tie procession f,rmed in the vii
lare square. headed by the Churchyile Band.
under The guidance of Messrs Poague and Van
Lear rs SIarshas, the latter bearing snaw white
banner, enefcled with wreath Of oaiSen leaves,
beaying the significant plion ''No Abolition
lists"
The procession, numbering some SIX hundred.
proceeded to the grove, behind the ''od church. :"
where n stand had been erected and seats placed
under the leaiy canopy OF the ''mljeslc oaks"
| The ready hands OF the ladies, had evidently
| been there, guided By taste, and warm feeling for
the American cansr, for The SPEAKERS stand was
surmounted by an arch of everr!eens. INSCRIBED
with the raIlying cry Of ircemen, "AMERicANs
SHALL RULE AMERICA, "the bases from which the
arch sprung bore the names OF he candidates elected
from Augusta with the majority Of The party; also
the names nf Stuart. Early sc. Over the arch was
the American flag; browning all spread eagle as
guardian spectator OF The whole. long chain of
oaken leaves was stretched across The arch just
above The speakers heads wrcahs, bolueis and
smiles of beauty we're on every hand.
The meeting was called to order BY the appoint
ment of that ardent friend of the American FaT'y,
| Mai. j. NJ. McCue. rs President. and b. omlIll
as Secretary Maj McCue openet by shcrt speech
in one OF his iappiest noods. lie congratulated tie
meeting fir the happy auspices under which It
had assembled everything was bright, around and
before then. the beavers smiled tie decorations
enivened. the manly forms Of the Independent
freemen Moved t. eloquence. and woInan'S glad
dening presence chastened and tinted with bright
colors tie whole scene lie touched upon the po
siion Of The Party and lis prospects and closed BY
reading the PLATFORM OF PRINCIPLES.
In the opening he expressed his REGRETS that the
large audience had been disappointed, in not hay
imr the Attendance of the distinguished men who
had been expecied-the only event that marred
the harmony Of the occasion.
Mr. Gillian Of Tennessee was then loudly cali
ed for, he responded briefly. regreiling that the
condition ofhs lungs would not permit HIM to
sneak at length to the fel!ow-c!tizeus Of his anccs-
try. and tell them Of The feelings sc of the Ma
tional Convention which he had just been attend
inr. He could assure them of the nationality OF
The Party and pledged Tennessee to them IN the
August election
Mr.. j. H0tch.;iss. being called for BY large
numbers, responded briefly: lie said he did not
wish 10 speak. bat his friends would have him, 81
he womb say something, especially since he bad
been taissly and msiicioasy assailed for the POSI-
ton he in the exercise Of his rights, had seen fit
10 take. He was not political speaker he had
sp0ken for his friends once in this campaign as he
bad in every campaign since he had been In the
Slate-it had never been an objectionable sin be-
fore.
He could not restrain bis feelings, far lose Of
The Union ,ras 10 HAN household god" when
he saw the proud position OF the EMPIRE STATE
and the "OLD DoMIvloH," the state Of his birth
and the state Of his adoption, in the late Conven
ton. 1t was not unmanIy 10 weep tears OF JOY
over such an event. when men had actually be-
gun to count the cost of this Unon--that was
enough for DAYS Of rejoicing and Of thanksgiving
too The Party had been charged with Adolf
ionis,n and he had been charged with it too
but he stood there to-day 10 brand with fdlsehood
The man or the men that had said so-judge the
Party by its acs. Judge him by his.
In conclusion he said, that though he would
not speak as POLITICIAN he might speak as
Teacher and one devoted to the educational inter
ess of the State. for the only Party that had ever
promised lis aid 70 the great work OF educating
The masses Of our Country and elevating their
condition in the scale of intelligence.
After this Maj McCne read the speech of Ray.
ner on the Union aud made some eloquent remarks
himself on the same subject.
The adoption of the Platform was III en- moved.
and carried unanimously. the Band played bail
CoIumb ia and the crowd moved in procession back
to the village.
In the afternoon j. H. McCue Esq of Stanton,
addressed a large audience at the "old church"
for an hour, aud entertained and instructed them
in an able manner Yours Sc.
OBSERVER.