Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-08-06
RED SWEET SPRINGS, Aug. /, 1856.

Since my last, have penetrated the noun
tains as far west as the Blue Sulphur, once IA
nous watering place, and still worthy of much
more liberal patronage than it receives. can
only say of it, in this letter, that in point of nat
ural attractions and generous living, it is certain
ly not surpassed by any of the watering places /
have visited. And yet found there but small
the crowd several gentlemen
whose star-spangled shirts and extravagantly
striped pants, reminded one forcibly of the 'ti-
GER" was told that these gentry were pa
tiently awaiting the arrival of the wealthy Ka-
nawhaians who frequent the Blue, and are gene
rally bold enough to fight" the animals quite
vigorously.
The Old Sweet Springs are handsomely loca-
ted about one mile from this place. spent
few hours most pleasantly there last evening
Major Norvell, the gentlemanty superintendent,
received me most pleasantly and entertained me
most agreeably during my stay. The bath-house
and baths at those Springs are magnificent. The
buildings were erected by Mr.. Bagby, OF our
place, at cost, l understand, of $4,000. The
proprietors have built number of large brick
cottages recently, and Others are in progress
When the improvements ore completed the Old
Sweet will rank number one in point of accom-
modstions, and present very handsome APP
pearance. The company at the Old Sweet is as
yet small, but gay and fashionable. There are
fine bands of music both here and there, and the
ball rooms are occupied every night.
But here am at the Red Sweet Springs, GER
tainly one of the most delightful retreats to be
found in any part of the world, and fast taking a
front rank in popular favor. AS you are aware,
it is owned and managed by @. Bias, Esq, gen
tleman who was reared in our town, and find
him assisted in the management by Mr.. W Scott
Richards, another old citizen of Staunton: AS
matter of course I feel quite ct home, and enjoy
my otium cum dig amazingly. To-day l reveled
in the waters of the glorious bath-of itself al
most worth trip from the seaboard. The wa
tiers of the Spring have sweet, brackish taste,
unpleasant to me, but agreeable to many per-
sons. The table is beautifully supplied with
every delicacy that the season affords, and the
proprietor and his assistants spare no pains to
render their guests comfortable. There are now
well on to two hundred visitors here, and by
Saturday the stages will probably be compelled
to pass on and look for other quarters. Among
the visitors notice Judge McLane, of Baltimore
and Prof Cabell, of the University of Virginia
But must leave the Red Sweet for the pres
emit aud tell you of some things that transpired
at Lewisburg the other day.
Last Monday was the first day of the monthly
term of Greenbrier County Court, and happen
ed to be still in Lewisburg. The Democracy OF
the county had set apart that day for grand
meeting to ratify the nominations of the Cincin-
natl Convention, and in order to enliven the pro-
ceedings as much as possible, they imported the
Hon. L. NJ. Keitt, of South Carolina, from the
White Sulphur Springs, to address them on the
occasion. Mr. R. F. Dennis, whose graduating
speech at Washington College Irecollect to have
heard some years ago, called the meeting to or
der and upon his motion the Hon. VIM. Smith,
of Greenbrier, was voted into the Chair. Mr..
Dennis offered series of resolutions which were
of course adopted, and which do not deem it
necessary to report. Suffice it to say they were
amusing generally. One of the resolutions re
cognized Young America in John Q. Breckin-
ridpe-the gentleman who drafted them hay
inc forgotten we presume, that whilst in Con-
gress Mr.. B. was recognized as the leader OF Old
Fogydom. After the adoption of the resolutions
the Hon. Mr.. Smith introduced the Hon. Mr..
Keitt to the audience, and the Hon. Mr.. Keitt
arose with vast deal of suauiter in mode, bow
ed and smiled, and smiled and bowed, all of
which was received with the faintest possible
applause. Judging from the sound, l inferred
the presence of but few Democrats in the small
assemblage. The Hon. Mr.. Keitt plunged into
his speech with the utmost vehemence and vim
now frightening the mountaineers by the
CHASTITY contortions of his countenance, and the
tbunders of his voice, and anon wooing the Old
Line Wings and Americans with the blandest
sort of smiles and softest accents. | listened to
him for about two hours, and am forced to the
disagreeable necessity of saying, that would not
travel all the way from Staunton to Lewisburg
specially to hear him. have neither time nor
space to give you even an outline of his remarks,
nor would they be particularly interesting to
vour readers if could report them verbatim.-
Without the horrid grimaces and the get out OF
the way or I'll knock you over' gestures, they
would be excessively tame. Mr.. Keitt made fire.
onent illusions to the Brooks and Sumner affair,
eulogized Edmundson, and denounced Sumner as
a "cowardly, foul-mouthed abolition slanderer."
As a specimen of his fairness may add that he
,ttempted to show that Mr.. Fillmore sympathized
with the abolitionists, because his former law
mariner. Mr.. Haven, voted for the expulsion Of
Brooks.
inst at this point, Mr.. Keitt astonished his au-
dience with rather a curious bit of historical in
formation. Deploring the divisions at the South,
and imploring the old line Wings and Americans
to cooperate with the Democratic party-"Will
you," he inquired in thunder tones, twill you,
like Belshazzar, drown yourselves in revelry
and drunkenness, aohile the Roman legions are
thundering at the gatess" Like Belshazzar,
many of Mr.. Keitt's audience trembed and their
knees smote together at this trif1ing historical
blunder. For distinguished M. @. it will
do, and respectfully suggest that the Honorable
gentleman be hereafter known in political circles
generally, and especially in newspapefdom, as
"Belshazzar Keitt."
His speech throughout was intensely South
Carolinaish. Cufy was uppermost in all his
thoughts and affections. He endeavored to come
the no-party game over Wings and Americans,
enlarged upon the Importance of united South
in the present crisis, endeavorcd to show that
the contest was between Buchanan and Fremont,