The free South. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1863-1864, 1863-06-27
ValIandigham and Free Speech.
INDIGNATION MEETING IN AccoMAC.

tailed, in Ohio, for simply advising the
intelligent masses to set fire to few
Union hospitals and go hunting after
American eagles by the light thereof-this
report, I say, excited amongst the loyal
but seditious patriots of stored Accomac
an indignation that was anything but
speechless. Shades of our Revolutionary
sires was it possible that citizen OF the
Republic could no longer speak pieces
without being arrested for speaking peace!
Ashes of the great! could it be, indeed,
true that, even where there were no po-
lice, mans personal liberty was no long
er safe! The people of Accomac, my boy,
were alarmed for their own liberties, and
at once held public meeting, at which [
happened to be present.
AS all the citizens who were worth $500
each sent notes to say that they had i'm
perative engagements to prepare for the
approaching Consumption, and could not
come, the meeting was composed entirely
of the other citizens, many OF whom en-
gagged in single combat on their way thlth-
er, for the purpose of making the distance
seem shorter. Punctually at seven o'clock,
P. NJ, gentleman of much music touched
off small field piece with such admira-
BILE precision as to break all the windows
for two blocks around, and then dexter
ously discharged two-pound sky-rocket
into the third story bedroom of vener-
able maiden lady living across the road.
The demonstration was received with JOY
GUS acclamations by the populace, nearly
e h,l o1r olx,o 1p6
a victim of Federal oppression, with a
very large stomach, mounted the platform
erected for the speakers, and said that he
would commence proceeding on this oc-
casion, by reading q short portion OF
Washington's Farewell Address from the
volume of Bancroft which he held in his
hand. Great applause. The honorable
gentleman then proceeded to read some
thing; but was interrupted by reporter,
who remarked that the speaker must be
mistaken about that being Washington's
Address, as he had certainly read it in the
Bible. The honorable gentleman then
turned his book over so that he could read
the title, and said that he had, indeed,
made slight mistake about the volume.
He would defer reading the Address for
the present, and begged leave to intro
duce Mr.. John Smith, the Hon. Ferdi-
nand De Percy having failed to be pres
ent. e..ea. ,.ss'-. .tH .p5s.g:.a.
Mr.. Smith said it was the proudest mo-
ment of his life, and he felt it an honor
to be there. They had met together to
denounce and spit upon an Infamous Ad-
ministration, under whose tyrannicai sway
no man was allowed to say one word
against it. A fellow citizen had been ar
rested in Ohio, upon the miserable charge
of advocating peace, when he was really
disturbing the peace all he could. How
long were such outrages to be endured?
He advised his hearers to strictly honor
the laws; but he would also have them go
home, organize into regiments, purchase
artillery, procure iron-clads, and destroy
every man who dared to speak in favor OF
an Administration under which the bold
est man dared not express his sentiments.
He would have them do all this peaceably;
but he would have them do it.
As Chesterfield Mortimer, the celebra-
ted Accomac patriot, was not able to be
present on this occasion, Mr.. Jones was
luGICOuCeu, duu utkttC ACW cCuolOiO AS.
marks. He said he had always been
hw-abiding man, and would always advo-
cate the strictest observance of the laws.
The wretched Lincoln, he trusted, would
be assassinated at an early day, by some
great-souled man-*
At this moment, my boy, the speaker
suddenly stopped short; stared at a white
object which had just appeared fiuttering
down the street; and then, dashing wildly
from the platform, tore furiously in the
direction of said object, which appeared
to be moving; followed spontaneously and
with frantic speed by his fellow-speakers
and the entire meeting. was astounded;
I was overwhelmed; for such a sudden
breaking up and precipitate flight OF
great indignation meeting was never wit