The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-09-06

FAIRFIELD, Iowa, sept. d, looo.
Mr. EDITOR On Friday, 3lst ult, | attcn-
ded the great Republican Mass Meeting at
Keosauqua, Van Duran County, which meet
ing was, from the best information | have,
the most complete success of any political
gathering that has been held in this State
since the opening of the present campaign.
Indeed, have not seen anything equal to it
since the memorable campaign of 1910. 1t
was general outpouring of the people. =
Men of three score years and tcn'' were
there children of days. old ladies and
young ladies innumerable were there. Such
an array of beauty, chivalry, virtue, intelli
gcnce and patriotism of the land, | never
saw. Banners, transparencies and flags
bearing almost every conceivable inscription
and device, were in the procession. | will
notice the inscriptions and devices on a few
Of them. On one transparency was a repre-
sentation Of the 'irrepressible conflict" at
Charleston. Two steers, one representing
Douglas and the other Breckenridge, were
engagedsin a deadly combat" That the
combat was deadly one to both the Doug
las and Breckenridge parties, will more fully
appear next November.
On another transparency was caricature
on the Douglas platform. Douglas was
mounted upon two ponies, the one going
North the other South. The one going North
was labelled Squatter Sovei eignty, and the
one going South was labelled bred Scott
Douglas was standing with one foot on
Squatter Sovereignty and the other on bred
Scott.
On another transparency was represented
''thc wedge what split EN-" Douglas and
Breckenridge were being bisected 10y the
"Irrepressible niger " Form the mouth of
Douglas proceeded this expression go, that
Irrepressible Niger !" The Niger was en-
ulting over the fact that he was ''the wedge
what split EN-" When Douglas and Brock
inridge get to the head of Salt, they will
doubtless find this same "irrepressible mig
SeT lauSllilS dI tuelT calallllty.
In the procession were $40 wagons, esti-
mated to contain over 5000 people. One
hundred of these wagons were from the vi.
cinity of Birmingham. | think | am safe
in estimating the entire crowd at 1000 per-
sons.
Able speeches were made in the afternoon
by Messrs. Grimes, Wilson and Bromley
The speaking took place from two stands,
Messrs. Miller, Weaver, Semple and Cald
well spoke at night. Weaver, Miller and
Caldwell were speaking at the same time
Mr.. Caldwell spoke in the Court House.
The best of order prevailed. The Democrats
behaved admirably.
regret to state that an estimable citizen
Of Keosauqua whose name l have forgotten,
was injured in the morning by the prema-
ture discharge of cannon. A drummer
belonging to the Birmingham Wide Awake
company, fell out ola wagon at Birmingham
just as they, were starting for Keosauqua,
and broke his leg.
The Wide Awakes from Birmingham,
Bentonsport, Winchester, Vernon and Tren-
ton, to the number Of 225, were on hand,
and formed torch-light procession inr the
evening. The imposing spectacle they pre-
sentel can be more easily imagined than
described.
The Republicans latch, strings were out
all over the city, inviting the Wide Awakes
to walk in and partake of the good things
prepared for them. Your correspondent par
took of an excellent Supper at the house of
Mr.. Hays.
An interesting discussion, on the political
topics of the day, took place in the Public
Park Of this city, on Saturday night last,
participated in by six young men of this
county. The speakers acquitted themselves
in manner satisfactory to their political
friends. WILMoRE.