The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-07-12
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We refer our readers to the report of our
Special correspondent for an account of the
Douglas Ratification meeting at this place on
Saturday last 1t will be seen that it was a
succession of notifying accidents from be.
ginning to end, and this in spite of the most
costly and extensive preparations. Pos
tiers announcing distinguished men, who
, were not expected to be present, were circu.
lated far and wide; flags of the amplest di
mansions, duly labeled, were manufactured {;
poles longer than the longest were duly cut.
carved, spliced and surmounted with the
Eagle; brass and military bands were en-
gagged, and the faithful were employed day
and night for week previous in "closing
rivets up and getting the machinery in or
der for the grandest performance ever heard
of in these parts. Well, the day came. 1t
was fair as ever daHned on EXCITED politi-
clans. The clique and their well train
ed followers went to work, inspired with the
hope Of this day making the fortunes OF
themselves and their particular fragment Of
Democracy. But disappointment and dis,
aster met them at every turn. Their mon,
ster flag, which was to display to every pass.
CT the magic names of, Douglas & johnson
too, was no sooner stretched across the
street than it broke square into two parts,
separating the names of the Candidates
Douglas falling southwark and Johnson
northward next the band was brought out,
eager eyes look anxiously for the coming
masses, but save few stray wagons from,
Eddyville and Agency, they did mt come
Two O'Clock came, and ecery Democrat was
summonded by cryer and bell, to the square,
and they went, they pulled, they tugged,
they propped. but the pole was hickory and
disdaining the use attempted to put it to
broke in three peices, the eagle coming
down in manner, and with precipitancy
eagle never did before. 1t was an awful
fall my countrymen, and sad and mournful
did the disappointed crowd of Douglasities
take up their struggling march to the square,
where three mortal hours a small crowd Of
Republicans and Democrats about half and
half endureda copious bespattering of mud
from that drtest Of blackgards, Henry Clay
Dean; next youth and beauty presented a
boquet to the late Ambassador to the Court of
SPANS chaste and beautiful Queen; and fin
ally came the night scene, designed to, be
the most brilliant part of the performance,
Cords of wood were ominously piled at the
corner the band duly located on bal
cony, but alas, the fates were destined still to
be unprepitious. The great flag broke again
and went down, trailing in the free soil of
iowa; a large fire was kindled, but the wind
blew, threatening conhagration of the city,
and they wisely put it out. An unlucky
re-cracker, meanwhile, set fire to a build
ing which produced confusion, in the midst
of which the Douglasites adjourned their
brilliant street meeting to the court house,
where Gen. Dodge spoke and Ye Dean again
held forth, and then they wound up with a
suggestive bouquet to the fragrant Dean
Thus ended the grand ratification the small
est affair, considering the immensely of its
promise, ever experienced on this sublunary
sphere. There were fewer present than at
the late Republican meeting, notwithstand-
ing the present greater leisure of the farmers,
and there was no enthusiasm at all.