The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-09-23
Frem Fillmore County-Windom's
Know nottingham.
PRESTON, September IL, 1859,

The Democracy held the largest meeting
in point of number and responsibility ever
seen in Fillmore County, on Saturday last,
to welcome Messrs. BECKER and CAvANAUGH
to the County Seat. The meeting was
advertised at 7 P. M, but from an early
hour in the afternoon, the four horse teams
loaded down with the hardy yeomanry of
our beautiful prairie--poured into the town.
By three o'clock over 500 persons were
assembled in front of the Stanwix House,
and were eloquently addressed by Messrs.
QUINN & MORROW. The enthusiasm went
on increasing till six o'clock, when it reached
its height on the arrival of the gallant boys
Of Carimona, accompanied by their fine
band, which volunteered in the cause, and
discoursed, most eloquent music at intervals
through the evening.
At the hour appointed, the spacious hall
of the Stanwix, was packed to its utmost
capacity, and many who were unable to
obtain admittance, crowded the stairs from
top to bottom. A great number of ladies
graced the scene. No such meeting has
ever been held in Preston before. 1t was
most gratifying contrast to the poor atten-
dance which greeted RAMSEY & CoSpn the
preceding Saturday. On that occasion, :sarty-
three persons, all told, were thinly scattered
over the benches, and when the Democrats
present went to supper, just thirteen persons
were left to listen to the sophistries and false
hoods of our opponents. But to return to
our o,On meeting. At Z o'clock, the Hon.
SAMUEL HULL one of the first settlers of the
county, and who has aften represented it in
the Territorial Legislature was called to the
chair, and introduced audience, the Hon.
GEO. L. BECKER, nert Governor of Mime
sofa!
Mr.. BECKER, who was received with i'm
mense applause, then addressed the audience
in what was unanimously pronounced to be
the gerry best speech ever delivered in Fill
more County.
This bold, open and manly statement of
principles and policy was in most striking
contrast with the evasive and shutting
course of his opponents.
On the great question of State policy, at
issue between the two parties he showed
conclusively that the course advocated by
the Republicans leads directly and inevita-
bly, to the sacrifice of the interests of the
State, and to the alternative of either taxa
ton or reputation, and that the Democratic
policy alone could be relied on, at once, to
save the people from taxation, and secure
the successful prosecution of those internal
improvements which are so essential to our
progress. He exposed the hypocritical and
unfounded complaints of RAMSEY expecting
the last election, and indicated the charac-
ter and conduct of Governor SIBLEY, whose
recent patriotic action in obtaining the
withdrawal of lands occupied by settlers
rom sale, has shed new lustre on his char
acter, and satisfied the people of this District
at least, that it is to the Democratic party
and their leaders, and to them alone, that
the people are to look for any active exer-
lions in their behalf.
Mr.. BECKER sat down amid the most
enthusiastic applause, and was succeeded by
"our JIM" whose appearance was the signal
for loud and long continued cheering. One
must see Mr.. CAvANAUGH at home, in his
own county, his foot upon his native heath,
to appreciate his popularity.
No need for him here to defend his char
acter against the ISLANDERS of the Minnesotian
or the Tribune He would be bold man,
indeed, who would dare in any public
gathering of our people, no matter what
their politics, to lisp syllable of those evil
calumnies. Mr.. CAvANAUGH's speech was
one Of his happiest efforts, and was received
with the greatest applause. He took occa.
sion, in the course of his remarks, to pay
his respects to Mr.. WILLIAM WINDOW,
exposing his equivocating course in denying
his KnOw-Knothingism, and his meanness
in obtaining the Republican nomination by
falsely asserting his want of connection with
Railroad Companies.
He proved from the record, that Mr..
WINDOW had been prominent member of
the i" Supreme Order of the Star Spangled
Banner" and exposed his hypocrisy in fish
ing for foreign votes with the bait of "no
prescription while his conscience was
bound by the fearful oaths of the order,
binding through lite, to prescribe every for
eigner and eUery Catholic. Among the au-
dience was gentleman srho scas initiated
avith Mr.. WINDOW, into the Knox County
Lodge, and whose affidavit that the WIN.
WINDOW now running for Congress is the
WILLIAM WINDOW, who was Know Moth
ing delegate in Ohio, is at the service of the
Minnesotian.
At the conclusion of Mr.. CAvANAUGHs
remarks, three cheers were given for our
next Governor, MIR. BECKER, and the MEM
Der of Congress from Southern Minnesota,
Mr.. CAvANAUGH, and the crowd unwillingly
dispersed, although great many had
twenty miles and over to ride. The moon
shone brightly, and as the long procession
of carriages drove off amid the inspiring
strains OF martial music, the glancing of the
waving banners, and the ringing of huzzas
for our platform and our candidates, there
was no one who did not feel certain that the
sun of the 18th of October, next would set
on the democracy of Fillmore county, once
more victorious over the cohorts of Black