The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-07-03
Douglas Ratsfsc~stsn M ce ting I'm
GFNVNA.


Douglas lsarsfsc~ftsn MT CO tang I'm
Gr0ton-
EDroKs GATS CIrY Permis me TO give
you brief sketch Of the way the Douglas
ties do things up at this sspint".
The nomination Of Douglas wns received
by the Douglnsites with ssirreprsssble" en-
tiusiasm. Business--what little there was
was suspended ten or fifteen minutes, and
nothing could be heard for that length Of
time but boots and yells from Douglas DEM
oorsts. News of Breckinridge's nomination
came--Dong. men pulled their hats down In
front, like Cincinnati corn merchants, and
walked from the cars down town, gazing on
the gravel. One Doug. happening to think
of Stephen as the s1little giant" sspeople's
choioe," &c., commenced to hoot-saw .
squad OF Reps. sitting on a rail fence
thought OF John and the succeeders--
stopped hootng-got down to s'politioal
corner" and told the news. Doug men got
up, went off by themselves, and sat down
on q log-wouldn't sit on fence unless il
was board one commenced talking about
''peace," Spalding's gine and the Demo
nioN harmocracy, and casting ominous
Chances at rail pile near by. Suddenly
one of them having stuck himself with
white-oak splinter-thcy sprang TO their feet
with resolution depicted on their counter
ances-resolved to raise fag-asked Reps.
to help-Reps. wouldn't do it, didn't feel
patriotic, SO they didn't get flag that day.
"rraces" OF resolution still remaining, they
concluded TO have a bonfire at night. Night
came. After chewing vigorously al the
''natural leafo for two or three hours,
during which time several plugs were intro
duced and passed unanimously, the conven-
ton signifed by simultaneous squirt that
they we're ready for FIRE. Barrels we're ool-
lected and they started for the square, fol-
lowed by several Reps. who wanted to see
the fun. In the course of the march sLone
starry hours" was pathetically whistled by
one of the company. On arriving at the
ground and counting noses, the meeting was
found to consist OF Doug. men, (l from
Kaokuk and Q under age) and Reps
Reps. thought that q little "pop. sovereign
ty" "unfrieadly legislation" would have
made q Rep. meeting Of it. Dougs. didn't
mention it though, bat looked like the
"camomile' did when he went TO fight the
"rhinosserhost Census of barrels taken
result: | tar Dbl, 2 -four bbls, tar keg, lard
Il kin, / nail keg, and pine key which was
pronounced "too good to burn" and was set
aside. Barrels were then piled, and ready
for FIRE, -"Touch her of, Boys" "Whose
got match ?'' "What, nobody got any
matchesp" Rep. stepped up and held out
one-Doug. man took it thoughtfu!y, fired
the shavings and fell back--pile didn's burn
wsll-fre was 'unfriendly"-boy stood by
with oandle-Rep. proposed to light il, so
they could see the fre-boy lit it--fre
plainly visible--looked as well as fires gen.
orally do by oanleight. Fire attracted the
attention. of the lightning bugs, which came
sailing around, adding greatly TO the bril-
Iancy Of the spectacle. Some body pro
posed putting red-headed Doug. man on q
pole, to let the people know where the FIRE
vas--objections-- 50 they stuck pole in the
bang of the tar keg, set fire TO it and hoisted
it up. One man said, "Let's give three
cheers for Douglas and--tcho else Z" Keo.
kak man said "Fitapatriok;D Rep. said "Sse-
sens;" first man said, mo, no amt certain
yet; never mind who give three cheers for
Douglas and his pardner." Three Dougs.
cheered lst said, "HOORAYl' 2nd said
."YAHoo!" Sd said "yipio There, was an
awful noise across the river---D ougs. said
"men cheering;" Reps. said "ecbo." The
sound was like Baalam's saddle boss. A
breeze sprung up, barrels burned like mad
blaze roared, lard sizzled, hoops bursted,
two nails lingled together, dog-feuns
cracked, insids ''pressuren for Douglas
grew intense. until high above the noise of
the conflict of the elements rose clear as the
MARBLE OF j,yhawk, the voice OF little
man with the bronchitis, screaming huxza
for Stephenadouglas he swung his hat high
| above his head and looked at the other
Doug. men ; but Doug. No. was sitting on
the good keg holding candle, didn't want to
swing his hat, No. 2 coaxing the Gre, and
No 3 holding the bacon pole, couldn't ewing
saeir hats, and the other hadn't any hat to
swing, SO the cheering didn't 20 of we'll, and
Was postponed until after Douglass election
Reps. asked vote Of thanks for the assist
anee they had rendered. Dongs. wouldn',
pass it. Reps. talked Of passing 1t anyhow.
Dongs dropped the pole and started for
home so quick that ! had not time to an.
nounce that had selected beautiful an
appropriate hymn for the close, composed by
old MIR. Watts for such occasions, and CON-