Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1861-08-15
VOL 4---NO 33
Exciting Scene at Flushing.


The Celebration Of the Fourth of July
at Flushing beautiful suburb of New
York-gaye rise to an unusual aud excl
ting scene. An immense concourse of
people assembled in grove to listen to an
Grafton by Theadore Tilton. The chair
man was John II. Lawrence, well known
as a prominent Democrat and bank Presi.
dent in this city.
en taking the chair he made brief ad.
dress, preliminary to introducing the ora
tor of the day, in which he went out of
his way TO utter an invective against men
protesting anti-slavery opinions; mention
ing. with manifest bitterness, a class of
persons whom he stigmatized as "misguid-
Ell abolitionists, fanatics, and agitators."
Mr. Tilton, apparently taking no no.
tice of the gratuitous discourtssy. not TO
say insult, which had thus been cast upon
I him in the face of several thousand peo-
ple-to whom his antisayery opinions
must have been known-prOceeded for
/ full hours length in a discussion of vari-
ous aspects OF the present condition OF
public affairs, when, suddenly turning to
+ Mr.. Lawrence, he said:
II feel bound, in good conscience, be
fore | sit down, to pick up the gauntlet of
criticism whicn you threw at my feet at
the beginning of the hour" and, immedi-
ately quoting Mr. LIS abuse of the aboli-
tionists. added. "The shadow which you
thus launched from your high chairman's
seat upon those men, dropped midway
upon me! | stand at this moment COW
cred and darkened with it, not only in
your presence, but by your hand. And
vet. sir, accepted not unkindly the Sc
verest word YOU spoke, for you honored
me only too highly by the unexpected
compliment of such reproach. | know of
no nobler work for any man, not even, sir,
for such man as you-certainly not for
such man as than to give ones hand,
and heart, and brain, to the cause to the
poor. the down trOdden, and the oppress-
ed. Nor sir, can you point me, even with
your own finger, to any nobler fame in
history than that Of a man like Wilber-
force, who went up TO heaven bearing
eight hundred thousand broken fetters in
his hands, SO far as your words were
censure only upon me, have forgotten
already, they vanished away like the
breath with which they were uttered; but
30 far as those words brought OBJ oluy uT on
many better men than linen of true
hearts, of pure lives, of noble aims-men
of genius, of learning, of eloquence-nay, t,
sir, men of whom the world is not worthy
i can only say in reply, Would to God
that by taking to myself share of their
reprOach, might win to mvselfa share
of their honor! Tell me sir, havo you
ever heard of the legend of st. Humbert?
After the good saint had been buried n
hundred years his coffin was opened,
and branch of laurel, that had lain in
burial with him all the century, was taken
from his ashes in perfect green, unfaded
as if newly plucked, fresh as if wet with
morning dew! Perhaps, sir, when these
men, whom YOU seek to load with dishon-
or, shall come to their graves TO be buried
laurels will, in like manner, be buried
with them; but believe the hand of I'm
partial History, before the end of a hun
dred years, will reach down gently into
their graves, and lift their laurels into
resurrection, to bloom green and perenni-
al before all the world
At these words, the entire audience
rose to their feet, and shouted with
spontaneous applause. The chairman
also sprang to his feet, and exclaimed
"Since the gentleman has avowed him
self an abolitionist. must leave the
chair" and Immediately quilted it, retir
ing at once from the platform.
Mr.. Tilton said to the audience: 81
charge YOU good people. to remember, for
my sake, that your chairman was exiled
from this platform by no word from my
lips which ought to have fallen unkindly
upon his ear"
The applause which followed this state
ment assured the speaker that he had
gained what the chairman had lost, the
sympathy Of the entire multitude.
But just at this moment, another cpl
sode occurred. which kindled the general
feeling into still greater and almost in
describable enthusiasm Sitting in a car
riage near the platform, with his family,
was the Hon. Luther {. Carter, ex- mem
Der Of Congress venerable white hair
ed man--who, as the audience had thus
been deserted By their chairman, stepped
gracefully down from his carriage, ascen-
ded the steps of the platform, and took
2 his seat in the vacant chair.
d The outburst Of applause at this biz Of
2 gallantry was thrilling. TIE orator, turn
f ing TO the new presiding officer, bowed.
and remarked. 81 need not say, sir, how
thank you for bringing yonr gray hairs
to lend honor TO a Young man. Iremem-
2 Der how it Is written, a hoary head is a
crown OF glory"
Amid storm Of applauding voices, the