Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-01-21
LENA, o., january sth, lSG


lCommuncated.l
LENA, o., January sth, 1864
Editors Emyirci-The old Democracy Of
Miami, Shelby and Champaign counties, met
on Christmas dayat Brother James Wilson's,
near Lena, Miami county, and celebrated the
day with the usual exhibitions Of gladuess, as
we have done from childhood to old age. The
design Of the meeting, however, was to pre-.
sent to the daughter OF Rev. David Scott, Of
Champaign county, a horse and furniture -
She is emphaticnlly the singer Of the Demo
cractie party in this region, and composed
and sung the song attached to this in favor
Of c. l. Va~llandigham. The horse was pre-.
scented by MissJoseph ne Hill of Miami coun.
ty, in the following beautiful and appropriate
speech. tu..
NJ iss Callie Scott: In the name of the old
Matt onal, Unionloying Democracy, | present
you withfthis horse, purchased by them for
you, as n present for your devotion to the
cause. of freedom. You stood up nobly, and
sung libertys songs under the old flag; thous-
ands heard and applauded you; many hated
you for the hrmness you manifested in stand
III ~ II A"t IN - ~ Elbpll llI
that noble patriot, G. l.. Vallandigham, and,
as Democrats, we determined to show the enc
mics of freedom that even a little girl who
loves liberty aud the National Democracy,
shall not go -unrewarded. And not Only your
self, but your fathers untiring energy and
patriotism in a time when many mems hearts
failed them from fear, be dared to speak and
dared to vote the old Democratic tieket-l
When men reviled him, and spoke all manner
of evil against, he still battled for The freedom
Of speech, the freedom Of the press, and the
freedom of the ballot-boX. In feeble health, |
he labored with that iron will hat makes the
body strong Even when weak he pressed
forward in llherty's cause, and still he lives
to again, we hope, ca" the hosts OF freedom
to the Presidential contest Of 1854. And to
one OF the few ministers who does not nitro
duce politics into the holy pulpit, we hope he
may long live to preach the gospel of the Soul
of God; and may he also live to see the day
when peace and prosperity shall again smile
on the land that is now filled with mourning,
desolation and sorrow. That day we hope to
see soon, bntI am very apprehensive we will
not witness IL until the Democracy tako the
reins of government again.
| am young like yourself, and we have but
a slight personal acquaintance; but | hope
that in future fife we will be friends, and ever
sing, ever labor for the triumph ofDemocratic
principles. And may the great Ruler of all
bless you and prosper you in your gilt, is the
earnest desire of the Democracy who have
given it. , !
Miss Hill; Not only the gift presented by
the Democratic party, but the manner of pre-.
sentatiCn by Yourself, and the kindness OIL
yonr manner, is an honor TO the old Democra-
ey. am a poor Fir, and my mother 10 long
since dead; but whilst have the kindness ofa
my heart often inrns to tho one
gave me birth; she sleeps in the dust. III
visit her grave, and when | do so
think, "Oh, my mother, she died christian
and if angels look down from heaven, they
you'd say with her, God bless you for your
Kindness and affection to her poor orphan girl
did | expect last fall when / tried 10
compose and sing a song in favor ofthat noble
and statesman c.. Il. Vallandighnm that
1 would AVE that amount of sympathy exhib
tied so nobly and kindly as has been done to-
day little did ! expect two weeks ago to have
been hero to-day, and presented with so noble
a gift by what they used to call the unterifed
Democracy and they still DESERVE the name
Oppressed as we have been by the strong arm
of military despotism, whilst provost marshals
and ropes, bullets and h~ayonets and spies as
thick as the locusts in Egypt lowered over the
land, yet the spirit of liberty that landed at
jamestown and Plymouth Rock still dWells 10
the bosom Of the Democracy, and they still
battle for the right given and cemepted by the
blood of our fathers, We were once freemen,
but for a time it seemed as il we must be
slaves, bnt the unanimous nomination OF c.
l.. Vallandigham was well understood by the
Administration to be the uprising Of freemen,
and we gained the liberty of speech and the
freedom of the press, and the unterriHed will
keep them. Democrats, be faithful to yout
constitutional rights, and never under any cir
stances bow to despotism. And while ] am not
a member Of any church, and suppose have
no right 70 pronounce blessings upon any, yet
from my inmost soul | say, God bless you al
your noble gift. must close.
After the presentation it was moved and
seconded that the proceedings Of the meeting
be published ia the Columbus Crisis, Cincint
natl Enquirer and the Dayton EMPIRE, which