The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-04-21
JEFFERSON'S BIRTHDAY.


On the outside of the Era of to-day the read
er will find the proceedings, including the
speeches, at Odd Fellows Hall, on the 18th
instant, in honor of Mr.. Jefferson and his i'm
mortal principles of Freedom. The large
audience, and the profound attention paid, con-
sidering the sentiments that were freely uttered,
form an epoch in the history of the Federal
City. By the estimate of those competent to
Judge, there could not have been far from five
hundred persons present; and we can say, tru-
ly, that we have never seen so orderly politi
cal gathering, in doors or out of doors. There
was police officer or two present, a fact cred
liable to the local authorities, but no occasion
was given for the exercise of their official func
tons. AS the assistant editor of the Era took
a prominent part in the proceedings, it Say
seem like Standardization to dwell upon the
evidences of marked interest which the audience
manifested in the proceedings but justice to
the cause of Freedom in this Southern city,
over which the Slave Power broods with the
eyes of Argus to detect and the arms of Bri-
areus to punish the first symptom of disIoy-
atty to Slavery, demands that the facts above
stated should be made public
This duty is peculiarly incumbent upon the
two Republican newspapers of the city, the Re
public and the National Era The daily city
papers either as silent as the grave in refer
ence to the whole affair, utterly misrepre-
sent it. We could hope nothing better of jour.
mails which are bound hand and foot to the
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better things from the Washington correspond.
ents of the Northern Republican newspapers
but, to our surprise, so far as we can ascertain,
not one of them was present. This fact is the
more surprising since the probability of mob
was suggested and debated in circles where the
seekers of news were likely to hear it. One
would suppose that of all the places in the city,
correspondent of Republican newspaper
would on the 18th inst. be found at the Odd
Fellows Hall; and the bare hint of possible
row or mob would, we should have supposed.
have secured his attendance at any sacrifice.
No finer theme for a letter to the great papers
IN New York could be imagined than row at
the Washington Republican meeting. Even
the Sickles trial would have yielded in mo-
mentary interest to such an affair; and vet.
strange to say, each and all of these correspond
ents so far as we can learn, were content to re-
main at home on the evening in question, and
| give meagre hearsay reports of what transpired.
Mr.. BATEs's LETTER.-The letter from the
Hon. Edward Bates, of St. Louis, which has
| given rise to much curious speculation, being
withheld from publication, has at length seen
the light 1t will sadly disappoint those Re
publicans who had INDUCED hopes that Mr.. B.
would place himself on record as man of lib
eral views. All his reputed Free-Soilism is
hushed into silence, if it ever had an existence
] and we see nothing in the letter to distinguish
him from the "Old Line Whig," whom he is
said to have described as "a gentleman who
takes his grog regularly, and votes the Demo
cratic ticket occasionally" He thinks it mex
pedient for them to agitate the negro question
in other words he will remain silent while the
Slavery propagandists are comprising heaven
and earth for the extension of Slavery Mr.
Bates has made an Indifferent move for the
Presidency.
| The OVERLAND NAIL TO DENVER Cry
Ledren'oo'th, April l8.-The first overland ex
press, consisting of two passenger coaches, lef
here this morning for Denver city. The tril
will occupy from ten to twelve days The com
pany carries the mail, and their enterprise will
place US in direct and reliable communication
with the mineral regions, and afford in a shor
time conclusive information touching the valu,
of the gold deposit reported in that region
Small amounts of dust were received Yesterday
Bushnell has been found guilty in the Unitec
States district court of Cleveland of rescuing .
slave at Oberlin. Sentence has not been pro
nounced. This is the first of the Oberlin res
cue indictments tried
The trial of the crew of the SLAYER Echo
which was commenced at Charleston, s. C., oil
Tuesday, was concluded on Saturday in tn,
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