Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-07-24
Democratic Meetings.


\ In pursuance of the published announcements
of last week, both wings of the divided Democ-
racy held meetings at the Court House on yester-
day. The one endorsing the secession nominees,
and appointing delegates to the Charlottesville
Convention, ard the other endorsing the regular
nominees and appointing delegates to the Staun-
ton Convention, both of which conventions will
meet on the same day, August 10Th. They both
adopted the same resolution in reference to uni
ting the party upon single electoral ticket
the vote to be given to whichever ticket would
carry most electoral votes in the States other
than Virginia-thus giving Virginia no voice in
the election but to echo that of the other States
transferring the Douglas votes to Breckin-
ridge, or the Breckenridge votes to Douglas as
the votes of other States may MISUNDERSTANDING
ling upon States Rights, especially the rights of
Virginia.
The Douglas meeting was first held, and then
gave way for the Secessionists. After both
meetings had adjourned, the people assembled
were addressed by Ex-Gov. VIM. Smith, Ex-
Lieut.. Gov. Shelton F. Leake, DR.. Saml Moi
felt, of Rockingham, Gen. Hartman, Jas. q.
Skinner, Esq, Jno. A. Hartman, Esq, and the
Castor and Pollux of Democracy, Jacob and
George Baylor, Esqs.
AS our form was nearly made up when these
meetings adjourned, we have been prevented,
for want of time and space, from commenting
upon the proceedings and speeches as we would
otherwise have done. 1t was the universal ex
pectation that Messrs. Smith and Leake would
boldly attempt to
M sBeard the lion in his den
And the Douglas in his hail.,
but the people were sadly disappointed, for they
s'roared him as gently as sucking dove"
| DR.. Mofett's manner showed very clearly that
| he was prepared and was anxious to meet the
celebrated champions of the secessionists if thew
were disposed to enter the lists; but as they re-
Trained from discussing the issues between the
two wings of the party, and as the olive branch
was rendered and accepted in the resolution to
which we have referred, he was prevented
from making vigorous onslaught upon the Sc
cessionists, as he would have done under other
circumstances.
Without any purpose to disparage the efforts
of tie other speakers, we must say that there
was more good sense and patriotism in one SEN
tence of the speech of John A. Hartman, Esq,
than in all the other speeches together. He
said that lie would take back all he had ever
said against the Union-that- he was now I'm
ion man up to the hub, and was in favor Of
throwing all the dsunion democrats over Hoard.
He said, too, that he did not want any more
"silk stocking, hifalutin swell-heads"-t they
had too many of them now.s
| The Union doctrines are beginning to take hold
upon the hearts of the people. The Union men
supporting the Union ticket have great 1encour-
agement to prosecute vigorously their good
work. 'Look with hope for tomorrow" for a
glorious victory is reckoning you to its embrace.
She will not slight you and "kick" you, as the
girl did Extra Billy, who gave him the "rule"
and the 'smitteD," but not her heart and hand.
Work in the good cause, and "look with hope
| for to- morrow"
At the close of the meeting, Jacob Baylor,
Esq, stepped upon the rostrnm, and swinging
his hat over his head, shouted, 'Three cheers
for the United Democracy" But the cheers
were not fortbcoming-lik the ''spirits of the
vastly deep" they were called for, but would not
appear. The Democrats were dumb, and the
assembled Wings burst into laughter at the very
ridiculous spectacle presented.
| Want of space prevents US from publishing
the resolutions Of the two meetings in this issue.