The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-19

The usual weekly meeting OF the Union AS
ISOLATION took place at Lyceum Hall last
night, S. Shinn, President, in the chair, and
O. G. Whittlesey, Secretary "a n
The band Of the: Eighty-eishth Pennsyl,
vania regiment opened the meeting with mu.
sic, and, after the usual preliminary proceed
ings, twenty persons joined the Association,
the usual oath being administered by Lieut..
Wagner. sHT ~ uaTKIgg
The President announced that unavoida.
BILE circumstances, would prevent either Mr..
Segar or Mr. Carlisle from attending. He
hoped, however, some of the gentlemen pre-
sent would entertain the assembly. ...=.
The President then read communication
from General McLane, requesting that the
American flag be displayed over the Lyceum
building, and kept flying as much as posi-
BILE. What action would the Association
take upon the matter?
r. H. Wade moved that q committee be
appointed to wait on Capt. Ferguson, and
request him to furnish assistance in raising
. flagstaff upon the Lyceum. The motion
was adopted, and Mr.. Wade named as the
committee.
The President then read an anonymous
letter, received through the post Office. The
writer desired to know, if the Union men
hoisted their flags, if the secessionists would
not be allowed to display theirs when the
British feet came up the river, and hoped
that, as Judge Freese had given instruction
Is to the method of tossing heads, the Asso-
citation would give instruction in tho matter
of flags. The President stated that as this
was his only method Of answering the wri-
ter, he would say he would be very glad if
every one would hoist their flag.
The band again discoursed excellent mu-
sic.
There were loud calls for Massey"
" Massey"
w. D. Massey took the stand, and was
loudly applauded. Mr.. NJ, prefacing his
remarks with declaration that he could only
offer to the meeting such thoughts as the oc-
csson suggested, proceeded with an address
supporting the position occupied by the Union
men in Virginia. He regretted that the Sc.
cessionists did not attend these mestings-
did not, indeed, with some honorable excep-
tions, permit Union men to talk with them.
He had met some Of these gentlemen, who,
a year ago, were loud in declaring for the
Union, the Constitution and the enforcement
of the laws-who were in the habit of abu-
sing certain party as the source of all the
evils which beset the country, one of whom
declared that South Carolina ought to be
whipped, and he had wondered how they
could now so stultify themselves as to be-
come secessionists. He avowed that he loved
Virgins as well as any one of her sons, but
that he loved his country better. Applause.
No man who knew him would accuse him
of pandering to the prejudiees, or arousing
the passions, of any class Of the community,
but there was report now before the So
called Legislature Of Virginia, submitted by
Mr.. A. H. H. Stuart, in which it was propos-
ed to substitute property qualification"
for universal suffrage" The people were
to be deprived of their share in the govern
ment-they were, however, to DO still allow
ed to do the ighting--the F. F. V.'s still
wanted the mudsills for that. He warned
them that the Southern Confedsracy would
be an end to their liberties. He dwelt at
some length upon the movements Of the U.
S. army, and declared that the flag waved
upon some portion of every one Of the orig.
inal States of the Union save two. He ad-
verted to the rumors of war with England.
and declared that he would rather fight then
surrender Mason and Slidell. The United
States could conquer the Confederates, and
whip England beside. Applause He con-
tinued at some length, advocating the cause
of the Union.
Calls for Hallowell -. succeeded, and q.
S. Hallowell addressed the meeting.
Mr.. H. said that he had been led, during
the day, to course Of reflection upon this
hall-:he reason of its dismantlement. He
had thought Of the memorable Oath Of April,
when he closed forever the fine establish
ment he had formerly conducted in that
building, and parted with those noble youths