Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-10-02
The aDisturbed" American Meet
ing in Somerton.
SohERroE, Sept. as, sc.

10 the Editor Of the Belnsozt Chronicle:
For about two weeks previous to the
meeting, bills were posted up stating that
there would mass meeting of the Ameri-
cans, and that L. Danford AMI others would
be the orators of the day. 1t was circulated
that band would be present, and that the
old pole would be taken down an w
one raised. See what foundation here
was for an enthusiastic meeting. In fact,
such expectations were raised that our
worthy American friends began seriously to
look about and ponder where they would
find room to accommodate the mass that
would be assembled. The day came, and
with it as speakers Mr. J. Davenport, of
Barnesville, and the "Fillmore Elector," L.
Danford. The meeting assembled in the
school house, and Mr.. Davenport rose and
addressed us. Here is the substance Of his
speech. He wished to deal candicly and
fairly with all, il any one thought any re-
mark he might make erroneous, ne should
be very happy to be correr ted, as he had
no interest in deceiving any one. Avowed
his indie de3endence-would not "bend his
supple hinges of his knee that thrift might
follow fawning." One thing he wished
distinctly understood, be stood now where
he always had stood, (here the ghos: of the
Buffalo Platform of '4s was seen stalking
through the room, and will perhaps account
for part of the "disturbance''); spoke of the
Compromises Of the Constitution, trying TO
prove i. pro- Slavery instrument. especially
from the clsuse permitting the Slave Trade
twen,y-six years; but forgot to tell US that
the cessation of hat trade was considered
at the time as the "death knell of Slavery"
defined his position on the power o. Con-
gress in the Territories, said that Co Igress
had supreme power there, and that this
power nigh. be delegated to the people of
the Territories, this includes the power over
Slavery. Yet the Buffalo Platform on which
Mr.. d. stood in '45 says that Congress has
no more right TO make a slave than King.
no more right to establish Slavery ttsn 10
establish monarchy, and if Congress has no
power to establish Slavery, how can it dele
gate such power to the people; nevertheless,
Mr.. D. stands where he always stood
Were the plsEks of the old Buffalo Platform
transferred to the present American Plat
firm Really, the timber does not appear
of the same material. He talked about Sec
tiona ism. about flags with sixteen stars
(and it SO happens that the American flag
here has but sixteen, while the Republican
has thirty -oneD then he charged US with
beings disunion party, said Garrison was
electioneering for Fremont Qhis was dis
puted, and Garrisen's paper was read to
prove the charge false. that Fred Douglass
lately left the dsuuion party and came out
for Fremont. (This was denied and Mr. ID.
was told that Fred. Douglass has been a
Union man for about eight years, also that
Fred. Douglass was not the only man who
had changed in eight years.) He spoke of
Fremont as being inexperienced, man of
an unforgiving, revengelui disposition, as,
witness his affair with Colonel Mason, in
which he followed Mason increasingly tol
tich: duel, and ter three long years had
passed, bnd Mason sent word from Saint
Louis, " here he WAS, 10 Washingt n, here
Fren,ont was Fremont started right alter
n.-a nd a. CEl, ,r=yen'ed rom hghting |
~ lie Ue.,n oj uason, before ne rrached
him. This was also denied and Bigelow
Life referred to, whereupon Mr. u. did net
know what Bigelow said. but thai some 0!
the lives of Fremont stated the affair as he t
cid. After referring to the cattle dealings
Of Fremont, and touch at the admission OF
negroes into the Somer;on school, or what
somebody said in connection with it, Mr. ID.
closed. One point on hich Mr.. ID. spoke,
however, have neglected. II was this:
That the Territory which tie Carulinas
ceded 70 the Union Congress refused to pro-
hlbit Slavery in. Now, if Dir. ID. is ac-
qua: MED with the history OF the cession OF
those Territories. he certainly violated the
pledge OF candor and fairness which he
made at the opening CT his speech, as he is |
perhaps well aware that in the deed of ces-
sion OF that Territory, il was expressly sup-
ulated as cart of the contract that Congress
should not prohibit Slavery there, and this
stipulation was required by the States ma
king the cession. Congress could only get
possession of the Territory by agreeing to
this part of the bargain. Altogether, Mr..
DIS speech was free from the 10 personal
abuse that mars some political speeches,
but it abounde6 in "errors, sometimes o.
TACT sometimes OF principle" and was re-
pleie with sophistry.
The Fillmore Elector rose, ard whew!
what palaver
Id sooner inoculate myself with the saliva |
OF dog when gone rsbid. than listen two hours
To the torrent Of lrash which aronnd HIM he pcurs
Pumped up with such efioIt disgorged with such
labor,
That-come do no, let US speak i'll of our neighbDr
How he talked about the two grand old po-
litical parties, and that other party led BY
that "pigmy puppy Hale" How he told US
Seward would not compromise, but how she
would until the end Of time," (wonder if We
always have to compromise with wrong,
how long it will be until the millenium!)
How Mr.. Fillmore, when the country was
terribly excited, "moored the vessel OF state
into the harbor of peace;" how Jeems Bu-
chanan was out of his head, what a poor
thing he was; how Fremont had made his
companions swear hey would seat each
other", what great deed that was, indeed;
how he (FremonD had eat mule meat, dog
meat, and how the last thing heard of him
was that he had got over the Rocky Noun
tains and was left among the buffalo; how
he had al,Oays "voted with his daddy-in-law,
Tom Benton; (this last was asserted and
repeated again and again in the most posi-
tiue manner,) but, strange enough, the Con-
oressional Globe and the Fillmore Elector
differ very much in tfis particular. as the
Globe suys one thing and the Fillmore Elec-
tor another. The above statements consti.
tuted skeleton of the gentleman's speech,
a speech of which il may be truly said abuse
of the candidates was Dy far the gree.
part, pttere" s.ch way as to force M
! conviction iL was :he "tune he commonly