The southern aegis. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1857-1862, 1861-07-20
CORRESPONDENCE,
PLEAsANryILLE. Julv 5th. 1876

called patriotism, concluded TO have de-
monstration on the 18th of July. in order
that the world should not " burst in igno-
rance" of the fact that there were still
loyal citizens in Hartford They selected,
accordingly, a locality in convenient prox-
unity to the unconditional of our midst,
and proceeded with due decorum, and with
a solemnity BETTING the occasion, to make
the aforesaid demonstration. Still claim
ing small "tenancy in common in the
4th of July with these men, we thought it
no improperly to be present at this cele-
bration, and accordingly we aoere present.
There were 'patriots" of all shades of
patriotism assembled-the unconditional,
however, appearing to be in the ascendan-
cy--and we even noticed one whose pa
triotism being Of the actiUe kind had liked
to have resulted disastrously to him.
However, they all appeared to mingle llar-
moniously, and they commenced proceed
ings. But,
"The best laid schemes O. mice and men
Gang aft a-gley,"
has sung the poet, and they proved them
selves unfortunate in extending an invita-
ton to gentleman to read the Declaration
of independence to the assembled multi
tnde, who rendered it to them with due
emphasis on those parts which justified an
oppressed people in throwing off a form of
government when they could no longer
participate in it on an equality. Then was
seen beautiful exemplifcation of the AK
ION of Shaking virtue of necessity
for the patriots could not object to the De-
claratlon of independence. They consoled
themselves, however. There was yet
something in store for them in after pro-
ceedings wherewith to edify their minds.
Well, old Time sailed on with even
wing-as he will do, even on the 4th of
Jul y-and the hour arrived at which the
orator of the day was to address them.-
Due precedence of position being assigned
to the ladies present-which is never for
gotten on any occasion, however moment
ous--and the crowd ranged round in at
tenive silence, and with becoming forth
tude and resignation "bore with' a gen.
tleman of the .jack-plane, as he styled him
sell, who harangued them for about an
hour, more or less, as the lawyers say
Then came the regular grafton, which, in
all candor, seemed to us very appropriate,
breathing as little partnership in sentiment
as seemed fitting for the 4th of July. 1t
is true it did not Justify bloody civil war
ana4D -Am.Ariran, -i.d
not justify assaults by the government on
the rights of persons and property in our
midst--nor even extenuate the outrages
committed in the arrest of our citizens
without shadow of cause. Neither
was secession countenanced, but it was
advanced that it would have been we'll for
the government to have conceded some
thing, and not endeavor by force Of arms,
an impractical experiment, to subdue mil
lions of free people who are fighting for,
or 'cho think they are fighting for, their
dearest rights.
l do not give this as any synopsis of the
Grafton. They are merely few random
thoughts culled from it, and bear little re-
levancy to my description. But this was
somewhat the tone of it, and as such it
was presented to the patriots for their di-
gestion. But it did not sit well; for, on
examination they found-horror of hor-
rors what +? that IL acas not unconditional
Its principles smacked Of Southern Rights
as well as Northern Rights, which was
worse than strychnine in cakes-not to be
swallowed.
Could it be that they had listened to
such heterodox sentiments And then
some Of the most-what they called
"ultra Southern doctrine" was applauded;
for, Mr.. Editor, would inform you in pa
renthesis, that there did appear to be good
spfiDkling of these ''horrid Sontherners''
in the crowd. 1t was incredible. They
looked at the orator as doubling his iden-
tity; and one man, who did not chance 10
know him, remarked to his neighbor that,
as no good thing could come out of Ma
zareth, he must be from Bel .an. But
shortly then and there arose the wrath of
the jack plane gentleman, who mounted
the stand and pitched into the address We
hemently; and in the course of his re-
marks, among other things. to his own sa-
tisiaction and to that Of the patriots, he de-
molished Chief Justice Taney's decision
in the Merryman habeas corpus case. He
was followed by another gentleman, who
seemed to be determined not only TO ami
hilate the chief heads of before mentioned
regular address for the day, but to tie dopn
each particular hair on these heads, as poor
CULVER was served by the Lillipu,ians.--
Affairs were thus progressing finely, when
the chairman of the patriots meeting, re-
membering probably that overzeal hath
destroyed many good cause, cut short
proceedings by adjourning the meeting.
might 60 on, Mr.. Editor, to tell you
how it was recognized, and how the hor-
rid Southerners, thinking that if it was to
be free discussion they might as we'll be
heard too, had speech from one of their
own men,-how little boy, seduced by
the instigation of the unconditional, Kissed
the speaker in manner the patriots hadn't
the 6 spunkn to do.-and finally. how n