The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-08-05
THE DINNER AT MT. CARMEL.

| tending the Barbecue Dinner at Mt. Carmel.
| to which our citizens were invited The din
ner was given without reference 10 politics.
and was designed merely to furnish an occa-
sion of social enjoyment to the people Of the
vicinity. Various speakers, however, had
been announced, and large meeting; was an
ticipatcd.
Making an early start we had pleasant ride
from tho Villnge of l5 Miles, through one Of
the finest sections of our District. The crops,
however. were sulfering very much from the
drought, nnd presented n very unpro,nising as
Pect Some portions Of tho route seemed to
have been favored with rain. and occasionally
fine field Of cotton aud corn would max.
amends for the general distress, but these wcr.
"few and far between and werc only occa.
sional EXCEPTIONS The corn especially seemed
to he past recovery.
Upon our arrival at Mt. Carmel, we found n
large company nlr. ndy assembled in the grove.
adjoining the Store of Mr.. JAMES L. Gown.
speakers stand Ind been erected. and an ar
Dor, and number Of seats had been provided
for the accommodation Of the audience--an j
here an assembly of about 500 persons were
soon collected. presenting fair representation
of the youth beauty and Intelligence Of the
Savannah side Of the District. Here were the
bright eyes and sunny smiles Of infancy-the
gay maiden, the grave matr"n. the sturdy sire
-allcontributing something to the general en-.
jnyment.
AT about II o'clock, the Speakers were es.
corted 10 the stand by Mr.. J. F. CALuouS, the
Chairman Of the Committee of ARRANGEMENTS,
and after an appropriate prayer from the Rev
WM II. DAVIS, proceeded to address, the meet
ing Col. NJ. .. TALMAS was Fl rst announc, d
md spoke for about half an hour. in n vein Of
mingled argument and pleasantly, and Which
was highly entertaining lie came he said Mt
the solicitation Of friends to contribute, some
Thing to the enjoyment of the OCCASION. and he
hoped that he should not weary the paticncc
of his audience. But at an assembly of intel.
iigent American ireemen, it was scarcely possi-
blc to avoid the discussion Of political uues
hons, nnl he would proceed to give his views
upon various questions of local and general in
tercsi-the Italian Wharf.-The Presidential .lre.
;ion, nnG various matters Of State policy lie
wns strongly against DorGLAs as nominee for
the Presidency and denounced his doctrine ("
sqnatter Sovereignty, to b. equally odi"us to
the South Black Rerublicanism. Being no
longer a candidate he felt himself at liberty to
express himself freely rs to our present system
Of electioneering, which in requiring The can.
didatc to canvass every corner Of the District,
and to attend every petty muster, lie thought
to he too exactng Among other iccts of
State Legislation lie presented the condition OF
our Free NcSr" population, as calling loudly
for somo remedy. As class they were thrift.
less and mprov i1ent. and their influence was
had'upon our slave population. He recon-
mendcd their gradual absorption into our
el"ve ropulntion by the offer Of strong induce
ments TO them to enter into voluntary servi
vitude. lie concluded with some we'll timed
compliments to the ladies'
LrcIEN II. LoMAx. Esq. Of our Villnge then
delivered an elaborate address of upwards m
hour in length. in which he discussed Mans
CnIahilty for Sclf-G Government-the Dangers
Of Republican Instiutons-arld the Influence
Of Freedom on the Progress of Ciyilizatio
Mans Capnbilly for Self Government, he vim
dicnted both by reason and revelation, and illus
trated BY the past history of our race Prom
inent among the evils Of Democracy he dwelt
Mt length upon the corruplinp arts of the dem
agogue. and presented vivid stretch of the
schemng and tortuous policy of time
serving politicians. The address wis well
conceived and well expressed. lit gave cvi
dence Of enlarged reading and rincction-of
a disciplined mind and cuItiyatrd taste. 1t
was delivere'! in an eqsy aud impressive man
n"r. and commanded general attention.
Upon the conclusion of the addresses the com.
pany were treated To iced lemonade, as a pre-
luds to the indre sul lstantial exertises of.ihe
table. At about O'Clock dinner was nnnoun
ced and We all repaired to the table. in the
form Of "the famous: qnnldrilntcral," where n
very super or entertainment was served
Whatever the fe i might betoken. there was
no evidence of fatiige here, and we returned
TO our homes with better hopes for the future.