Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-11-07
For the Standard.
:"
GRAND BELLEVERETT POLE-RAISlNG IN
-a =. RICHMOND COUNTY

9 rtf
Having previously heard it extensively noised
abroad that there was to be grand Bell-Everets
meeting and poe-raisng at the Ellerbe Springs, on
the goth ult, and supposing from the fact Of this
precinct having heretofore been the stronghold of
Know Nothingism and Whigsm in Richmond coun-
ty, that 1t would be imposing affair, attended.
On the way met several coming from towards
the place Of rendezvous Twas somewhat surprised,
and asked they not going to attend the great
Bell meeting They answered that they were not,
as they did not wish ''to encourage such fix"
Well, we arrived at the Springs about eleven o.
clock, a. m, and judge Of our amazement, when we
looked around and beheld crowd of some thirty or
thirty-hve souls-little boys negroes and al-c0un-
ted. AS q matter OF course, all of them were not
for Bell, | noticed some five or six Breckenridge
men. In this vast concourse, the counties of Rich
mond aad Montgomery, and the States of Mssissip-
p, Tennessee and South Carolina were respectively
represented. = .-
Soon after our arrival a wagon, containing the
pole, and drawn by two oxen and two mules, made
its appearance The noble little band, with their
characteristic love of union, now gathered around
the pole and spiced it together with pegs and
bands of iron. But this being accomplished, very
serious difficulty now presented itself to them. 1t
was evident to ALL that since the pole was together
there was not Bell muscle enough in the crowd to
raise it. The leaders were now growing uneasy,
and began to cast about for means by which they
might bring their philosophy to the aid of their
weakness Although, after some little consultation,
leaving the workmen to make the necessary err
rangements, they called off and repaired to shelter
to make the speeches.
Twenty-Five or thirty men having assembled un-
der the shelter, S. Ii. Christian, ESQ., of Montgom-
cry county, was called upon and took the stand
This gentleman stated in conversation, before the
speaking commenced, that he honestly believed that
Lincoln, if elected, would, in every instance, faith
fully execute the fugitive slave law, and seemed to
think he would make very good President gener-
ally. shall not attempt sketch of this or of any
of the other speeches. it would require too much
space. / will, however, state that this speaker
charged the Democratic party with being the cause
of the present critical condition of affairs and of all
the misfortunes that have ever happened to our
country or people. won't assert that he said it
was the cause of the small pox or of the bad corn
crop this year. He read an extract from speech
published in the N. Y. Tribune. which proved John
Bell to be more uncompromising Southern man
than John C. Calhoun. He charged the Breckin-
ridge party With the avowed purpose of severng the
ties that bind together this glorious Union, and
dwelt most touchingly on the horrors Of civil
war; &C.
Gen. Dockery followed, charging on the subject
of civil war, and with many protcstations of devo-
T. tion to the Union the Constitution, and the en-
forccment of the laws"
Neither of these speeches seemed to enrapture,
+ in any degree alarm, their thirty hearers, no.
ticcd one man who sat very near them attentively
reading newspaper for most OF the time while they
speaking, and others eating grapes and apples,
forgedul of the terrible civil into which the
|, Breckenridge party were about to plunge the
+ country.
t. Col. j. ". Cameron now arrived lit being about
halfpast three o'clock) and was called on. He com.
/ menced speaking, but in a short time the workmen
! at the pole having got every thing ready, raised
shout for help. The Colonel did not seem to take
the hint and continued speaking. His audience
was fast leaving him and making for the pole, but
l. understood the thing and said he sorry to
interrupt him. but it took all their force to raise the
l. pole and suggested that he discontinue his speech
| until they got the pole up All hands now repaired
to the scene of action and by means Of kinds of pull
lies formed by attaching one end of a rope to the
! pole and throwing the other a limb of an ad
joining tree and with the aid of a very abe-bodied
| politician, who strenuously applied his shoulder
they at length, with considerable difficulty, sue
| ceeded in setting it up
| Col. Camcron's speech now closed the programme
! He is pretty speaker, and tells an anecdote well
but think he is at present to much occupied with
his professional duties to pay much attention to
politics.
Breckenridge will, think, get larger vote ir
this county than any other Democratic candidate fn
! President ever has. John Bell don't suit many G
his party men, and they are fast coming over to us
As for Douglas, don't know of man in the coun
ty who will vote for him.
ALPHA.