The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-08-10
Republiean Meeting.

didales on the Republican ticket for Con-
gress and Stats Treasurer, would address
tho people Of this city on Friday evening
of last week. The faithful were COM
handed 10 attend and they obeyed the
command. The most Of the Republican
county nominees and all they could inAu.
cncc, were present. to cheer and encourage
tho distinguished speakers. To render
the meeting attractive. to relieve it from
tlrcariness and to awaken some animation,
hand Of musicians was engaged and post
cd on the balcony Of the thcater. But
even tho CnllvCning music Of the band,
while It drew a crowd, failed to elicit the
least enthusiasm. The upper part Of the
thcatcr was well fillcd-thc lower PAT I,
however, presented beggnrly account
Of empty boxes"
Our enthusiastic friend, Postmaster
Rogers, who is always on hand aud ready
for any emergency, called the meeting to
order about = o'clock, and nominated b.
r. NickCrson, Esq, Stewards PrOtCge,
Chairman, aud Benjamin r was declared
unanimously elected, to the manifest cha
grin Of q recent convert who expected and
desired to I'LL the position. Gracefully
Benjamin mounted the stand and gra-
ciouSly thanked the meeting for the honor,
&c. lie was rather hcfty in his eulogistic
remarks on the distinguished speakers
who were to follow him, and raised cxpcc-
tation littlO higher than was prudent
under the circumstances. All wcic i'm.
patient to hear Mr.. Phelps, and when they
did hear him, all were dissatisfied and dis
appointed. Although he made n plain
sensible speech aud repeatedly pointed at
aud referred to the GLORIOUS stars and
stripes" which were placed consricuously
on the stage, yet his speech was cOllly
received and fell with chilling effects on
his audience. 1t was n tame, spiritlcsS
meeting, and seemed to have depressing
influence Oh the irrcprcsSibics, who look
cd detected and gloomy. lie Iaborcd car.
ncStly but Intellectually to arouse tho feel
ings Of his brethren. They listened Mt.
tcntivcly but with provoking iciness, and
manifested by their silence that it was
mot the entertainment to which they
i were invited" Mr.. Phelps made some
good hits and many silly ones. We have
not the inclination had We the space to
criticisc his speech. lie showed, in a
clear and fOrcibc manner, tho inconsis.
: tency and inSincerity Of the Conness par.
~ in claiming TO be Democratic, while i,
indorscd the Administration aud adopted
more ultra Republican platform than the
Republican Convention. lie proved, from
authentic documents which he read, that
the Douglas members Of the late Senate
with Edgerton at their head, were in favor
I Of and voted for resolution "condemning
the employment Of force to preserve the
Cnion," and stated, Of his own knowledge
that they wanted to and would have alii
lated with the Breckenridge pnrty, haf
not tho news Of the fall of For, Sumter
reached here just in time to change pub
lie sentiment. AT that time they were a,
rabbi scccSSioui>ts as any man in tho
Breckenridge rankS-now they profess t.
be more violently opposed to them thar
the Republicans. Mr.. Phelps conclulct
with a thrilling npoStrophc to the star
Spangled banner, which awakened littll
enthusiasm.
y faint call for Ashley brought thai
gentleman on the stage; and he com
mcnccd speaking in a sing song manner
which had a moving effect on the audi
cnce. Even the faithful became restless
uneasy and wearicd, and "Silcntly stole
away" /. was severe punishment t.
be compelled to listen to the dry, dull,
tedious speaker, who related some point.
less anecdotes and repeated the sayings
Of others, without animation and in q
whining tone. The iniiction was insup-
po' table, as was plainly indicated by the
crowd MISUNDERSTANDING which,
Ashley abruptly subsidized
The first Republican meeting Of the
campaign in FL Dorado county was fail.
urea humiliating failurc-a failure from
which the party cannot recover. 1t un.
mistakably showed that the people have
no confidence in the Republican leaders
no faith in the Chicago Platform. They
regard the latter as an exploded humbug
and its indorsers as fanatics.