The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-02-14
The excitement now became intense,

The excitement now became intense,
cries of "put him out,' she's no
gentleman" she's disgrace to Wash
tenaw county Bar" &c. were heard on
every side, mingling with cheers and
groans for the same gentleman, max
ing dreadful confusion. Mr.. Welch
finally gave way, but was again nomi-
mated by drunken fellow, who had
taken the stand and was damning the
Black Republicans and Abolitionists
as one thing, and all niggers. In the
meantime Mr.. Pillsbury was introduced
to the audience, and was received with
applause and Kisses, and SO great was
the confusion and uproar, that he could
not be heard. The opponents of the
meeting, said that they claimed the
right to discuss the question of the day
and appoint their own officers, but Mr.
Pillsbury returned that the Convention
was called at his request, and that they
should choose their President, and hav-
ing come this distance to speak, he
would not make terms with any set of
men, as to how long he should speak,
or what he should say. At this period,
the question as to the nomination of
Welch as President of the meeting
was put in the Affirmative, but not in the
negative, and he declared by the rab-
BILE as elected, and hurried to the desk,
amid cries of "down with the traitors" !"
the pelting of eggs and the breaking
down of pews, which were heard at
short intervals above the uproar, as
they were crushed with their weight to
the floor. One of the members of the
Convention attempted to maintain his
position on the platform, and with this
act general fight began which lasted
for some time, when the Sheriff ap-
pered with his Deputy, and declared
that they would now take possession
of the church, and ordered the crowd
to disperse, which they would not do.
The officers soon left, and the fighting
again began in good earnest, and as it
now became dangerous to remain
around the platform, and the surging
mass were crushing pews, &C., your
informant assisted several ladies out OF
the window, while Mr.. Pillsbury and
the members of the Convention made
their escape out of another. Order
having been partially restored, Welch
again took the stand and proceeded to
speak, when those opposed to such
usurpation cried "down with him." "put
him out" &C., and again the fight
8 commenced and lasted until the lights
were all extinguished, and then by the
light of the moon, these persons sacked
the church, tearing down pews, stove
pipes, Gc., and with sticks, crushing
the windows from top to bottom, while
above the dine was heard the voice o.
the drunken rabble, crying, "You cant
preach treason here" There were bn
four pews left standing and they in :
shattered condition, while the Other
things were in about the same state
, 1t was now after o'clock and the
crowd began to disperse. We believt
that no one was seriously injured al
though a great many were bruised ant
cut.
On Sunday We did not attend th'
Convention but understand that Mr.
Pillsbury spoke in the morning ani
> afternoon, and although riotous spiri
was shown, yet it was promptly frownet
: down and the freedom of speech vim
dicated.
The avowed intention of Welch AM
his party was to take possession of tn
church, and not allow the members O
. SOutcuIiOu W dCt, HOIWituStdhuiii;
:, they had engaged the church and ap
pointed the meeting and we think tha
Mayor Barry should have been on ham
with sufficient force to quell every al
tempt to disturb the meeting and th
peace of the community.
While / have named Democrats i
y connection with this, / must say tina
% they were the grand moving spirits
!. and openly boasted of what they woul
n do. Yet it was not the respectabl
part, but the tavern wing only, the re
spectacle portion frowning upon a
. such acts. Yours, r.
: FIRST GUN.-A boy got his gran
at fathers gun, and loaded it, but Wa
III afraid to fire; he, however, liked I'll
:. finn of loadinu and so mt in anothe