Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-10-01
Mass Meeting in Richmond.


,rsat gathering of the friends of Fillmore ard
the Union in Richmond, on Monday and Tues
1ay nights of last week, and rarely has it been
our fortune to witness more inspiring scenes
We shall not attempt to give any thing ike an
sccursts and finished report of what we saw
and heard on the glorious occasion, but shall De
content to Law before our readers brief notice
of the proceedings.
About twilight on Monday evening hand
some flag was run up to the top OF $ pole one
hundred and ten feet long An immense crowd
assembled on the hill where the pole was erect
all and the flag was flung TO the breeze amid
the mingled shouts of the multitude, the boom
ing of cannon, and the inspiring strains OF mar
tial music. As soon as the shades of night be-
gan to prevail, burning tar barrels and glttering
rockets illuminated the scene, and transpar-
encies with various devices appeared IN every
direction. An address appropriate to the occa-
sion was delivered by Siarmaduke johnson, ESQ.,
after which torch-Ight procession was organ
lied, which proceeded to the African Church
Upon reaching the Church it was found to be
already full, and meeting was organized out
side. which was addressed by Mr.. Miller and
Mr.. LeMoine of Petersburg. Petersburg had
large delegation in attendance, with a band OF
music, badges &c.
Having walked up to the Church in advance
of the procession, we managed to get IN, ana
listened until IL o'clock to the speeches OF Mr..
James C. Bruce, of Halifax, and the Hon. Henry
Winter Davis, of Baltimore Mr.. Bruce made
brief but sensible and patriotic address, which
was listened to with evident satisfaction by the
audience Mr.. Davis succeeded him in speech
of considerable length. Whatever may DO said
of the positions he assumed on the sectional IS
sues of the canvass we are frank to say that we
have seldom heard more elegant, able and elo-
ouent speech thau he delivered. y STRIPPING IN
appearance, he does not speak five minutes be-
fore YOU are convinced that in point OF intellect,
he is every inch a man." Mr.. Davis evidently
thinksfor himself,speaks Independently and bold
vwlst he does think, and gives expression to his
opinions in clear, forcible and elegant language
On Tuesday night we listened with great plea
sure to q speech from the venerable Judge Bates,
of Missouri While looking at him and listening
10 the words of truth and soberness that fell
from his lips, we felt that we were in the pres
ence of an old Wing patriarch and patriot IN
deed, whose highest ambition was the welfare
OF his country and in whose bosom there was
no guile. There was simplicity AN earnestness,
All evident sincerity about the ''old man elo-
Al. ~ yNt1rtfx
and fsrvid patriotism right home to the heart.
We cannot pretend to give an idea of the
speeches delivered by the gentlemen mentioned
above, except to say that, in the main they ex-
pressed the same sentiments for which the Rich
lnond Democracy have recently advised the
arrest or the lynching OF Nr. John Minor Bolts.
And speaking OF Bolts, we come now to speak
Of the speech of the occasion.
After Judge Bates had concluded his speech
on Tuesday night call was made upon Bolts,
to which he responded. At Democratic meet
ing few nights previous, his E1cellency Gov
Wise and Mr. Robert G. Scott had denounced
Bolts as Black Republican traitor who ought
to bs lynched or arrested by the Mayor OF the
city. When Mr. Bolts arose he read from the
ssRichmond Enquirer" an srticls giving an ac-
count of the meeting, in which the statement
was made that the Richmond Democracy SYM
pathised in the sentiments advanced by Wise
and Scott Mr.. Bolts congratulated himself upon
the fact that he had such cellentcompany inhis
treason. The first traitor" who had addressed
the meeting was Mr. Bruce, of Halifax, gentle
man who owned more negroes than all the
blathsring, blather-skite Locofocos that were
denouncing him put together Mr.. Davis was
also traitor and the last TRAITOR" that ap-
pesred upon the stage was the Honorable and
venerable Judge Bates, Of Missouri,a man whose
motives could not be suspected, for the glitter
ing prize of office had already been held up to him
and rejected. All these gentlemen concurred
in opinion with Mr. Bolts, and it must have
been a source of great qualification to find him.
self thus sustained.
MIR. Bolts then took up Wise and Scott, and
of all the unmerciful drubbings that two men ev-
or received they got the iucst unmercituI. lie
commenced at tho crown OF their heads and
pealed the skin off inch BY inch, to the soles OF
Their Ie0L. Ill luC 4Su-si Va NiNN~ w A'N'
never heard the English language used with
such whitening effect. Abiding to the article
in the 'Enquirer,' Mr. Bolts said that these
little nee had been barking at him Tor long
time. and he refrained from noticing them, but
the big ours were mistaken if they thought they
could do the same thing with IMMUNITY. lie
meant to take them at the first hop, and was
RESPONSIBLE for what he said of them. While
he should seek nothing he would avoid hothang
He read Judge Marshalrs definition OF treason
(onite rs good authority he presumed as "Bob
Scott'0 to show who were the real traitors.
Either Scott or Wise had declared that they
would rather be guilty of all the crimes IN the
dark catalogue OF crimes than DO the author Oh
Botts' African Church speech. Mr.. Bolts O.
Enumerated the crimes-lying, murder, arson,
rspe seduction &c. All these, said Mr.. B., these
men say they would rather be guilty OF. treason
included. than to be the author of my speech
can account for tile fact that men should make
such statement as this, only upon the hypothesis
that. like Macbeth, they are already so stepped
:, crime that they would rather go forward than
turn back.
Wise had said that Mr.. Bolts would take
s..t in Fremont's cabinet Mr.. Bolts said he
bod made the same prediction in reference TO
Wise in Stanton; but Wise ought to be the