The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-05-15
FOR THE INDEPENDENT pREss.1

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OF the young men under their charge.
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lroR THE INDEPENDENT PREss.
Kansas Meeting at Abbeville Q. n.
Pursuant to previous notice, meeting of the
citizens of our village and its Vicinity was held
in the Court house, OH Monday night, the It'll,
instant.
On motion of Maj. II. A. Jones, Thos Thorn.
son. Esq, was called to the chair, and on motion
of the Hon. T. G. Perrin, L. II. Lomax, ESQ.,,
was appointed to act secretary.
The chairman after a few appropriate re.
marks, introduced Alpheus Baker, Esq, former
ly Of our village, but now citizen of Eufaula,
Alabama, to the audience; whereupon he re-
sponded TO the introduction in IN enthusiastic,
eloquent and finished speech of two hours, in
behalf of the cause Of Kansas. Notwithstand-
ing its length yet his zeal and fervor, his physi
cal energy and impassioned eloquence failcd
him not, but seemed to receive additional
strength and impetus from the storm of np.
plause which greeted him ever and anon, du.
ring its delivery. He held bound as it were
by encl'antment, youth matron and gray headed
man painting in the most pleasing, inviting
country of Kansas, and in the most solemn
defamation the baeful effects that will result
to the South if she permits it to become a nom
slavery State. His descriptive power seems
almost inexhauatible; his imagery aorid and
exuberant, though effectively shaded His
intonntion md infection pleasingly variant, and
frequently feelngly pathetic. lie is q young
of H. La
success as speaker, stamped him as an orator
of nature. improved by art. We had designed.
originally, giving a synopsis of his speech. but
its length and the various subjects upon which
he touched, forbid such an undertaking. Such,
too. was our anxiety to listen nttentively to
the speech that even If we were accustomed
to reporting, utmost literally, the language OF
public speakers, uttered on such occasions, we
would be unable to do justice on paper to this
Grafton. We hope, therefore, that those who
read this report will be Satisfied with the con
current testimony of all who heard it, that it
was worthy Of the reputation of the man
that he has, in truth, all the power and brillian
ey for which fame has given>him credit; and
that his effort on this OCCASION marks him as
one of the first young men South Carolina Inns
given to the mighty West. heartily wish ]
could depict in e1act colors of truth, what lie
said on the OCCASION, especially his remarks on
Kansas proper. He is satisfied, beyond ali
shadow of doubt. that she will be slavehnd.
ing State; answered, convincingly, the argu.
ment that is urged against her as not being
adapted to slave labor, by reference to the fact,
that Virginia, the largest slaveholding State in
the Union; that Kentucky and Missouri, oil
slaveholding States were on the same parellcl
of latitude with Kansas. He spoke in the most
extravagant terms of the fertility of,the soil.
nnd salubrity of her climate, represented
q large portion of it; as;being the finest body
of land of upon the globe. In truth, when l
recall ton mind the glowing terms in which
he spoke Of the undeveloped resources of "this
sleeping empire of fertility" her climate, her
sky, her soil, her rivers her lnkes her rich val.
leys. her mighty forests teeming with the wild
eat fertility and the rnukest, most luxuriant
vegetation; her boundless prairies, sweeping
out, or more appropriately, circling ont grapdly
to your view, her splendilly waving. rustling
fields of grain-6elds that were not only redo
lent with bloom and green and black and sue.
cu:ent and lovely and delightful for the eye to
dwelliupon, but which, without e4scting toll from
the husbandmsn, or very little of it, will yield
one hundred fold to the acre. say, when
recall these things to my mind, l am almost
persuaded to give up acquaintance. fricnds.
relations, family and my own loved Carolina,
and pitch my tent upon the brackish waters of
those far distant prairies and lend helping
hand to fell those vast forests through which
the moose and deer have roamed unscared
since tile dawn of time.
Upon the conclusion of the speech, Maj. II.
A. Jones moved that aeommittee of three be
appointed by the Chair to take up subscription
in the Village. Whereupon Maj. Fl. A. Jones'
DR.. Wardlaw and the Hon. j. F. Marshall, were
appointed. Hon. ]. F. Marshall moved thut
committee oftwo be appointed for each batta-
lion. This Committee was to be appointed at
the leisure of the Chairman. They have not
yet been appointed: when they are. due no.
tice will he given through your paper r. The
amount subscribed by the citizens of the village.
we haye'n not yet been ableto learH. We pre-
sumo, however, it will be liberal; some we
know went as high as fly, others as twenty.
five dollars.
Maj. H. A. Jones then moved that the thanks
of this meeting be returned to Mr.. Baker for
bis able and eloquent address on this most i'm.
portant Of all questions 1t was unanimously
adoptsd.-The same gentleman aien moved
that we adjourn Carried. Al of which is
respectfully reported. = ~
~: THos THOMSON. Chm.
l. n. LoMAx, Sec'y.