The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-08-09

Z. Unable to meet Republican speakers in
debate, the Democrats here have adopted
new mode for keeping the waverers from
boiting out of their ranks. After most
brilliant and crushing speech from Mr.. liam
ilton, of Ottumwa, in which he completely
demolished popular Sovereignty Mr.. Hurst
rose and said, that 'the resolution on which
Mr.. Hamilton had based his remarks, was
not plank in the Democratic platform ct
all, and hence, the premises being false, all
the argument built upon it. falls to tho
ground This announcement evidently
frightened up the Democratic countcnanscs.
and would have sent them home rejoicing
but for a little fact to which Mr. Hamilton
called their attention, viz, that he had only
read the resolve objected to, but had based.
his argument upon the last resolve of the
Douglas platform, which pledges them to
a dcsertio" Of popular Soverei sn:y," as it
regards both the people and the Legislatures
of the territories. Of course, Mr. Hurst and
his hobby was nowhere.
On Saturday last we had scene the 2d,
on the same plan. Mr. Dixon of Ottumwa,
on that day, gave us speech of unsurpassed,
beauty and power At the close of that
speech, its peculiar merit was recogn;z zcd by
a motion that vote of thanks be given to
Mr.. Dixon, for the magnificent manner in
which he had picked the Gas bag or"Popu-
lar Sovereignty After the takiag. Of the
vote, Mr.. Hurst rose and said that, "if per-
mittcd Thomas Fowler..! would pledge
himself to prove the general falsity and in
Inconsistency of Mr.. Dixon's speech. of,
course this was intended only for effect, and
not to be accomplished, or attempted, but
the Republicans lad him Gagged this time,
they took him at his word, and from all quar-.
ters of the house, they yociferated, Fowler,
Fowler, Fowler" and even some Democrats
not in the secret, joined in the sport. Fowl
er then with rueful face rose and said, that
he would reply in the evening but the
w:de-a-wakes knew him perfectly, and they
also know the men he acts wth-they know,
that, like any other demagogue, he can talk
a short evening away by rambling into the.
fields Of Abolitonists," Eggs" "Irrepres
sible conflicts, John Browns" anu. trait
ors )" all got by heart, and spouted out by
him without end for the last six months
The Wide-Awakes knew tEis, and they
knew that unless the interest could be kept
up in the minds Of the people, they would
60 home, and the talker would hare no audi;
cnce but a few special friends, who would
take care to proclaim that Fowler had com
pleteiy smashed Mr.. Dixon's machine.n-
To prevent this, and give fair play to all par
ties, the Republican Club (whose regular
meeting it was, } appointed Fowler one hour
to prove up the alleged Inconsistencies and
AMI that Mr.. Dixon should have
half an hour to close. This of course upset
all the CaballStic arrangements, and Fowler
rejected the reasonable proposition. Mr.
Dixon then offered TO meet Fowler at any
time or place he might oPPoint. Fowler
would make no appointment. The Club
then proposed to meet in two weeks, at
School District No. !, and that Mr. Dixon
and Fowler should there fight it out To
this Fowler took good care not to agree
content with the doubtful honor of being
able to say, Il could have smashed him if
had been allow cd my own way"
Blakesburg, July 81, 1850. WIDE AWAKE