Smyrna times., 1863-03-19
Hon Nathaniel B. Smithers, Secretary Of


State.
Mr.. Smithers, in his usual eloquent style,
addressed the meeting, interrupted only by
frequent and hearty bursts of applause. We
shall not attempt to give even an outline of
his remarks. He paid handsome compli-
ment to the tirmn2sS and patriotism of Gov
Cannon, and bore testimony to his devotion
! to the Union of the States and his unswerv-
| ing determination to arrest traitors and
treason wherever found within the limits
OF this good old Commonwealth. The
speaker gave one or two evidences Of the
rascality Of some Of the mean tools of trca-
son recently in high places oftruSt, rs found
in the archives of the State Department
From the document read, the reasonable
designs of the miserable old seceSsiOnst
who recently filled the GubernStoral chair,
and some Of his cronies in office, were SO
apparent'ehat the utmost Indignation was
manifested by the audience The people
have never fully known how near the brink
of ruin they were carried by the late State
administration and its abettOrs in political
intamy.
When the applause which followed the
retirement of Mr.. Smithers from the plat
form, had subSided, the President announced
the Hon Ex-Governor Pollock, of Pennsyl-
vania. as the next speaker. He was re-
ceived with three deafening cheers, and the
clapping of hands by the whole house lie
opened by paying one of the most beautiful
and telling compliments to the patriotism
and loyalty ofGov. Cannon, that we ever
listened to and spoke Of Delaware as a
State that must and ,uH be free from the stig-
ma of human slavery. The idea of the
State seeding was ridiculed. Pennsylva-
MIA would not let her go out of the Union
even if she were disposed to 90, much less
would the great keystone of the Federal
arch permit her to be dragged out against
her will by Iagabond politicians The
speaker declared without qualification OF
reserve, that any person who in these dark
days Of the nations existence would stand
off and find fault with the government about
minor matters, when he should throw al
his influence and heart into the cause, is q
coua,d and a scounchvL Here the applause
became vociterOus beyond expression. The
speaker then went on to review the course
of the President in suspending the habeas
corpus act, and gave it his entire approval
lie said that he had not yet met loyal mar
anywhere who complained ofits suspension
and those who did murmur belonged to :
class of men whose reasonable prOclivities
gave them a great deal of uneasiness when
ever they heard the word " suspension >
used. To them it was a suggestive term
indicative ola tight, tickling sensation about
the throat. Gov. Pollock touched upon the
cry Of "peace," " freedom Of the Press, .
: subjugation,' &c, and with thrilling pow
er defended the Administration in its every
act for the suppression of rebellion and thC
punishment of traitors His allusion to tht
applicability of the term co3perAead to thu
sham Democracy was apt and ludicrous anC
created much merriment and pleasantly
among the audience.
After Gov. Pollock, came Col Wilmer O
: Smyrna Following such powerful effor
l as had just been listened to, Col. Wilme
detained the audience but few moments
He made some happy hits at treason and it
+ sympathizers. Being himself a slave own
f er, he could appreciate the argument usec
| by the power now in rebellion, and knew
exactly the intrinsic value of slavery wher
2 it is brought in conflict with the dearest in
: terests of the nation and the peace of tn
: world. He gave it as his deliberate con
viction that the permanent peace, happi
Y ness, prosperity and unity of the Republic
: could only be secured by the total extinc
: ton of the foul and accursed system o
: slavery from the land and, STAKEHOLDER a
e he was, he was ready to strike it or an,
: other institution down that might stand il
t the way of the Union, or interrupt its on
r ward march to glory and prosperity.
= Col. Wilmer closed amid cheers, afte
: having paid a pretty compliments to tn
J iirmness and patriotism Of our much beloy
e ed and popular Governor.
o The meeting throughout was orderly, ap
{ preciative and enthusiatio; and adjournet
Y with hearty and long continued cheers fo
4 President Lincoln, Gov. Cannon, and tn
: speakers.
REBEL NEGRO SoLpTERs.-The pickets O
the enemy along certain portions of tn
: line on the opposite side of the Rappahan
= = mock, are onc-half negroes and onc-hal
= white men. The negroes are armed an,
= uniformed the same rs the white. The fac
\ appears beyond a question, only 100 to Isl
yards intervening between our pickets ant
. those of the enemy, and they are plainl
: ! to be distinguished without the aid of
a glass.
PATRIOTIC RESOLUTION. foIowin,
g resolution was recently adopted by tn
Legislature of Ohio: Resolved, That W,