Newbern weekly progress., 1860-10-23
Correspondence of the Progress.l
Mass Meeting i'm Chatham.
CHAPEL HILL, Oct. i3. /

CHAPEL HILL, Oct I3, 1860.
Dear Progress II have just returned from
the Barbecue and Mass Meeting at Williams
Mills, in the lower part of Chatham county,
and I can say with truth that it was indeed a
great success. There were present at least a
thousand people, from Wake, Orange and
Chatham. The occasion was graced by large
number of I" the fair sex " of the neighborhood.
never saw better arder and decorum prevail
in so large collection of people, and the pro-
found attention which was given the speeches
delivered showed how deeply impressed are
the minds of the voters is the conviction that
the crisis is one of vast importance to the
whole country.
The speaking was opened at half past eleven
o'clock by Henry W. Miller, Esq, douglas
and johnson Elector for the Wake Dstrict)
who commanded the attention of the large au-
dience for two hours. He maintained that
Douglas was the regular nominee of the Nation
al Democratic party that he stands on the
platform, in reference to slavery, which has
been endorsed by the whole South Democrats
and Wings, for the last ten years, viz: the
doctrine of Congressional non-interventton.-
He proved that in 1886 the opinions of all
leading Democrats, of Buchanan, Breckenridge,
Lane, Cobb, Hunter and others were Identical
with those of Douglas on the subject of Popu-
lar Sovereignty that the principle of Congress
sional protection to slavery is new and dan
gerous doctrine-dangerous to the South, and
destined if insisted on, to arouse to the highest
pitch sectional agitation, hurrying US to the
verge of disunion and civil war He insisted
that the only safe doctrine was to say to Con-
gress ''hands off," He exposed the inconsis-
tency of the Breckinridge leaders in proclaim
ing in one breath the duty of Congress to pro-
tect, when necessary, slavery in the Territories,
and the next refusing to afford such protection
to the people of Kansas. He defended Judge
Douglas against the unjust and ungrateful at
tacks of the Breckinridge leaders South =
showed how many of them had endorsed Judge
Douglas but a few months since, and demanded
to know what he had done since to forfeit their
confdencef He brought in steady view be-
fore his audience the fact that at the North the
Breck. Republicans are denouncing Douglas as
ga friend to the South'-as 'shaving done more
than any other man in their section to strength
principles" whilst here the disunion leaders
are ploclaiming that &c he is an enemy to the
South" Such conduct on the part of his enc
mics has no parallel in political warfare
He proved, conclusively, that the Democrat
ic Convention was broken up and the party dis
rupted by the leading disunionists ofthe South,
with view to bring about such condition of
A., 70 ifofo
the Cotton States into revolution" which
would end in disunion and Southern Confed-
eracy. He denounced in strong terms the dis
union movement, North and South declaring
that if Lincoln should be elected it would be |
the duty of all conservative, national men,
North and South, Douglas men, Bell men and
Breckinridge men, who are determined to re- |
sist the overthrow of the government, to unite
as band of brothers to rescue all we hold
dear from the grasp of the fire eaters and fana-
tics, North and South, who are seeking to |
'rule OF ruin =" the country. He appealed to
the Douglas men to stand by their colors-to
show by their determined action that they
are not to be driven away from the principles
they have so long advocated by the denuncia-
ton and threats of leaders, who, but a short
time ago. were proclaiming the same doctrine
as necessary for the salvation of the country
After discussing many questions connected
with the political issues of the campaign he
closed with an earnest appeal to men of all
parties to stand firmly by the Constitution and
the Union, against every species offanaticism
and sectonalism, come from eohat quarter they
may, and to the ladies he appealed to give their
aid in this hour of our conntrys trial and dan
ger to preserve that glorious form Of republi
can government, under the peaceful workings
of which so many and great blessings have
been secured to the mothers and daughters of
America and under the destruction of which,
producing revolution and bloodshed, they
would be the greatest sufferers.
have given but brief synopsis of parts of
Mr. Miller's speech. It was received with en-
applause The crowd then repaired
to the tables, which were we'll provided with
the appetite could demand, and do
not know that ever saw people enjoy them.
selves better
After dinner, Samuel +. Phillips, Esq, Of
this place, and Q. Busbee, Esq, of Raleigh, ad-
dressed the crowd-the former for Bell and Ev-
erett, the latter for Douglas and Johnson
Their speeches were able and eloquent-breath-
ing the most conservative spirit, and urging the
voters present to stand shoulder to shoulder
(however they might be divided on other ques-
tions) on the greav issue of Union or Disunion,
which has been made by the leaders Of the
Breckenridge party The ceremonies OF the day
were closed with very humorous speech from
Col Guthrie, of this place, member elect to
the legislature Huzza for Guthrie He is
whole soul fellow, and as true patriot as ever
lived. When the battles for the Union
comes he will be in the front ranks; so will all
who spoke, and all who heard that day, except
a few hot-headed Breckinridgers who are chain
ed to the car of disunion and revolution-drawn
by such men as Keitt, Rhett, Orr, and others
equally as fiery, and driven, whip in hand, by
William L. Yanceyl
wish, Mr.. Progress, you had been present.
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