Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-09-25

Proceedings in Harrisonburg.


Proceedings in HarrisOnburg.
On yesterday week, being the first day of the
County Court of Rockingham, there was polit-
ical discussion in Harrisonburg between the
Douglas and Breckenridge wings of the "harmo-
NOUS Democracy" The claims of the Douglas
ticket were advocated by Mr.. Gallagher, of Bal
timore city, and Col. A. NJ. Barbour, of Harper's
Ferry, and those of the Breckenridge ticket by
Ex.Gov. "Superfuous William" vulgarly de-
nominated ssExtra Billy" All who were present
concur in representing the proceedings as pre-
seuting scene which beggars description. The
confusion of Babel and the madness of Bedlam,
suggest ideas of order and decorum, sanity and
silence, when compared with the proceedings OF
the loving and harmonious Democracy" on
that occasion. Even the very classical smile of
ten thousand tom-cats in a garrett, yowing, cat
erwauling, splitting and scratching, fails to sug-
gest such a beautiful scene of concord and har-
mony, kindness and brotherly feeling asWas ex
hibited at Harrisonbnrg during that friendly
discussion between brother Democrats. 1t would
seem that in anticipation OF their reward they
W0iO pIdCtiCAuS f0ucdFSdl vi tuO pa 10 WY Va
pect to perform in Pandemonium.
The Buckingham Register" in speaking of
the sdoings" on that occasion, says:
"We have lived in Rockingham county for q
number of years, and we have been abroad we
| have seen some strange things at home, and
great things away from home, but we confess
that Monday last, taking all things together,
4 W. tho tQot dow wa
read in the Bible of the day of Judgment, and
we have heard preachers discourse upon "the
dreadful day for which all other days were
made :" but if it beats Monday last, we shall be
nervous then as sure as gun, that is, it we are
there, and we wish to be present to look into the
| faces of some of the miserable wretches who
never pay for the Register. Well Monday aoas
great day. If it had not been cloudy all day,
we should say it was one of the most notable
days on which the sun ever shone.
| As early as Sunday night, it was heralded a.
broad that the town was full of big orators and
so it turned out There were Breckenridge
speakers, and Douglas speakers, and Bell speak
ers There wBs Ex-Gov. SMITH, and GALA
CHER, of Baltimore, and Ex-Lieut Gov. LEAKE
and A. M. BARBOUR, and J. M. Boris, and Gen
HARMAN, and good many others too tedious te
mention. Every gun was loaded to the muzzle
some with ball, some with grape and canister
and some with paper wadding. We saw in the
morning that there was to be grand massacre
We expected to see the earth strew ed with the
killed, wounded, and scalped, and so it was"
Arrangements had been made for discussion
at night between Hon. Shelton F. Leake, Brock
inridge, and Gen. VIM. FL. Hartman, Dougla,
Democrat But there was no discussion a.
night, as Mr. Leake failed to come to staw.'-
In the polite phraseology of the day he wa
I''indisposed."
"Kings may be blest. but Tam was glorious,
4 Der all the ills of life victorious"
Hon. Jno. M. Bolts was ''chasezled' out of hi
speech on that day, though hundreds went Their
Especially to hear him. He will speak there OF
the 5th of October at a mass meeting of tn
f friends of Bell and Everett. Rockingham viii
! give Bell a majority over Breckenridge.
Whilst sweet "superfuous William" was speak
ing, he alluded in contemptuous manner to tn
Union party, when one of its friends, in lou,
clear voice, huzzahed for Bell and Everett
extra" thinking there could be but few, an,
that the response would be very weak, ex
claimed: "That is right, hurrah for Bell" Il
response to this invitation to the friends of Bel
, to speak out, there went up such loud and nu
merous shouts for Bell for several minutes tina
all were surprised, and "Extra Billy perfect!
Gst0unded.
He found that he had unexpectedly Weakened
t the wrong passenger. He did not request then
/ a second time to shout for Bell We would no
be much surprised if Rockingham should get th,
prize banner of the State, for we think her pro
lportiOmate increase on the vote of 1856, will
probably be greater than that of any other coun
ty. We believe she can increase her vote sc
per cent, if the proper exertion be made. She
should remember that there is no palm of vic
tory for the sluggard "Nulla palma, sine pul
0ere." If Augusta does not exert herself to the
greatest degree Rockingham will take the State
banner.