Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-01
The OccOouan Disturbances.


Our readers already acquainted with tine feel
ing caused by the erection OF a pole by The Black
Republicans at Uecoquan, Va. and the determina-
ton of the citizens 10 cut 1t down In consequence
of this person named J. O. Athey came down TO
Washington, aud telegraphed to Gov. Letcher fol-
lows:
We the citizens of 0ccoquan, are threatened with
invasion by an armed moo of three hundred men
from distant part of the county, on Friday next at
twelve O'Clock, NJ, and call upon you for protection
in this emergency; otherwise we shall have to defend
ourselves. W. G. ATHEY, on behalf of citizens.
To which the Governor responded instanter, as
follows:
Orders will be issued at once to Gen. Hutton for
the protection of your citizens" JOHN LETCHER.
The Governor accordingly sent orders to Gen.
Hutton, who directed Colonel BrAwner to hold a
troop of horse in readiness give such protection
was necessary.
We quote from the Alexandria Gazette:
Whilst in Washington Athey made arrangements
with certain Republicans" to furnish 40 or 80 fire.
arms of approved make, with ammunition therefor,
which were to be sent to 0ccOquan ON Tuesday
night by wagon. The despatch of Gov. Letcher,
however, induced the abandonment of this plan.
At the meeting at 0ccoquan. and amid great enthu-
siasm, it was resolved that the pole should be de-
Tended to the death unless the assaIants numbered
more than three to one Of the Republicans. EEl
THE WOMEN ATTEMPT TO CUT THE POLE DOWN.
On the night of Thursday several of the wives of
the residents at 0ccoquan fearing blOodshed would
occur the next day attempted to demolish the pole.
In the attempt the wife of Mr.. Duty was seriously
wounded by blow from her axe. The men gath
cred, however, and took the women away from
around the object of their attack
THE 9TH OF JULY.
On the morning of the 18th yesterday the Re-
publicans' hoisted the American flag and the party
ensign bearing the names of Lincoln and Hamlin %
During the morning most Of the women left the
village, and the place seemed quite deserted but no
preparations were made for defence, and the me-
mortal to the colonel asking protection was pre-
pared and numerously signed.
At 81 o'clock the Prince William cavalry, Capt.
Thornton commanding, entered the village and rangi
ed themselves in the neghborhOOd of the pole. They
were followed by company about forty strong,
under command of Capt NJ. Fitzhugh and Major
Carter, who, paying no attention whatever to the
horsemen quietly formed in a hollow square around
the pole, facing inwards.
Whilst this company was surrounding the pole
Mr.. Joseph 7. Janney, advanced to the captain of
the troop of horse and claimed protection for his
property upon which the pole stood.
At the word of command, Jas W. Jackson, of
Fairfax, stalwaPt yeOman, sprang forward and
gave the first blow others followed, - re doubling
stroke on stroke" During this time there was no
interruption, save the republicans and others, who
stood at the corners by, would cry out, "Aint
your axe dull ?" "Hope your having good time, y
&c. In few minutes, however, there was a cry
of "stand from under" and the pole came to the
ground and shivered Instantly the crowd gave
three cheers, when the republicans responded by
three cheers for Lincoln and Hamlin. Ali were
quickly at work on the fallen pole. and in less time
than it takes to tell it was chopped up and the
pieces carried Off The flag was sent to Brents-
vile.
So soon the flag pole was leveled Captain Fitz-
hugh ordered about face. and his company march ed
of, saluted as they went by mingled Jeers and ap-
plause.
During the evening there some excitement,
and personal recOntre took place between Col.
Brawner and Jos. I. Janney, in which the latter
considerably injured.
The crowd cleared away during the evening. and
at shutdown all was quiet. The republicans say they
will put up another pole on the same site.
BRECKINRIDGE's SPEECH TO HIS OLD CONSTITUENTS.
The speech of Mr.. Breckenridge to his fellow
tOwnsmen and old constituents at frankfort, which
we publish elsewhere to-day, is one of those sharp,
clear buge notes of OratOry. that always marx
victien on the part OF the speaker, and the exist
ence of distinct and well defined principles in the
cause for which he is cOntending.
Men fighting for the right have need of long
winded eeches and a multitude of words to cover
up their meaning. Il am an American c:tizen-a
Misunderstanding never did an act cherished
thought that not full of devotion to the COnsti
tuition and the UmOn." SAID he to the friends and
neghbOrs who were gathered around HIM; and if
there is any place where denial 10 these proud
words could be found it would be in Frankfort the
scene of all his political struggles with older aud
dextrOus candidates for pOular favor and where
peaed canvasses in hot political times have tried the
mettIe and the principles that in him. He
knew that it was not necessary for him. there, in
the midst of old trends and constituents who had
known every step OF his public career to deny the
absurd charge that he a dsuniOnist; but it
meet that from that spOt where political opponents
could most easily send forth denial of his words
If they were untrue, he should deny the accusation
before the whole country
Short as the speech is. there other points well
put, and well worthy of attention. He sought not
the nomination, but the nomination sought him. and
being in he feels that the position he occupies to day
is right, and he accepts it with all its responsible
ties conscious that he is not animated sustained
by hot ambition. He exposes the abSurdity of
calling convention composed of delegations from
majority of the States, including the two the Pa
citic, Pennsy vania New Jersey, Connecticut and
Massachusetts sectional convention; and he claims
that our double form5of government State and Fed
era has been the most successful in demonstrating
that free institutions may be established over a
great population and a large of territory
sistently with public order and that the cOnsttu-
ton and the equality of the States should therefore
be preserved.-N. Y. Herald