The semi-weekly mountain Democrat., 1860-09-19
DouRIaa Meeting.

cable motives, who have little political
standing, much less political stability, ad'
dressed the Douglasitcs Of this city. The
meeting was respectable in numbers. but
composed of all parties, the Douglasites
being in the minority. The Republican
Club adjourned and marched in body to
the meeting; and the Breckenridge Demo
Gratis generously attended to prevent .
failure and to save the distinguished spout
ers from modification.
The first speaker, Mr.. Hereford, was re-
ceived with icy GOODNESS, very provoking
to an aspiring politician seeking populari-
ty, and he labored with tireless energy and
some ability to arouse enthusiasm, but in
effectually. lie was listened to, out Of
courtesy, but had he not been stranger
and as such enGtled to consideration, the
crowd would have dispersed and left him
"aloDe in his glory" His manner was
tame and spiritless, his argument weak
and fallacious, bis anecdotes farfetched
and inapplicable, his allegations silly and
groundess, and his whole speech made
up Of extracts and the sayings Of others,
bunglingly arranged. lie dwclt very long
and, we are constrained to say, very stu
pidly, upon Gen. CaSs' celebrated Nichol-
son letter, and showed to the meeting he
was attempting to explain what he was in
capable Of comprehending. ltwaS lam
cntable picture of ignorance and aSsu-
rance. lie forgot to state that Gen. Cass
is warm supporter of BreckinridSe.-
The crowd manifested uneaSness if not
displeasnre at the tcdiou>ness and dryne>s
Of the speaker, and he perceived it, and
closed in evident ill.humor at their want
Of sympathy and enthusiasm. We com
mSSerated the feelings of the desponding
orator, who expected to create sensation,
but didn't. 1t was cold reception, a
cold meeting, tormenting to the feelings OF
an ardent young convert, who anticipated
making capital for himself first, and his
party subsequently. Deeply chagrincd
he left the stand, without e!icitng the first
cheer. The crowd felt relieved when he
stepped from the Platform, and they mani
tested it in an uum;s;akat.e but rot Hat
tering manner. Af.a!asp ksn Doi: 1s.
ite, standing lear u, exF:esse-: ;a.e Se-.::-
uent Of his friends bY rsna:k.r:. il AZ
guage more expressive than eisza1:-"I
am glad that fe,.er has i.iv,, VI.
Our friend Jim Codroth, under a fu,.
head Of steam, next ascendei the stand.
He was greeted with something like en-
Observation-Disclosures such as invariably
welcomes buffoon- in circus. The
character he assumed suited his genius,
his taste, his disposition, and he played it
TO perfection, as if it were natural to him.
In gesture, expression, attitude and vul-
garity he exceeded his prototypes, Sam
Lathrop and others of that dignifcd pro-
fession. lie talked long, loud, foolishly
and profancly, and did himself no credit
his party no good. 1t was rambling,
disconnected, silly speech, filled with
personalities and indecent anecdotes un-
becoming public man. lie confessed
and we regret to record the humiliating
confession, for he was our playmate in
youth, and we cherish none but the
kindest feelings towards him for the sake
of lang syne"-that he :" had worn the
Broderick collar" that he tamely sub
mittcd to BE- dictated to, scrvicly obcycd
the order Of his chief a high.spiritcd,
proud, Independent man, or even a man
Of common sclf-rcspect, would scorn to
acknowledge that he had been the slave
of another How degrading for a young
man OF promise, Of education, Of talent,
to confess that he had "worn the collar"
of another been the humble, willing tool
and slave Of another ready to barter
his birth.rght, his right Of thought and
speech for the benefit Of his master, who
despiSed while he used him =. a frecborn
American citizen, taught from his infancy
to despise seryility and lttleness and to
main tain his rank among men-thc peer
of any in birth, the superior of most in
talcnt-to make such dishonorable con-
iesaion is indeed something more than hui
initiating, it is revolving. 1t is a debase-
ment Of character foreign to the nature Of
an American citizen. lie confessed more
than he intended. We cannot, will not
believe that our old school-mate even
though he SO stated himself, was so lost
to all selfrespect as to become the willing
slave Of another. We esteem him too
highly to entertain the thought for an in
slant. He was excited, and in his excite
ment made statements he would blush to
hear repeated. But We pass from this
disagreeable subject and forgive him all
he said against us. We are charitable
and can excuse much in friend who was
not himself when he spoke. lie disap-
pointed his friends, pleased his enemies.
lie can make a good speech, has made
good speeches, but the one he delivered
here was a failure and did him great in.
justice. 1t lowered him in the estimation
of many, who left With an erroneons idea