The Monmouth inquirer., 1865-10-05

The Union meeting held at Newton on
Thursday night, was one of the largest po-
litical meetings ever held in that county
The meeting was addressed by Gen. Swift of
Louisiana, Col. Bemente, of Tennessee, and
Gen. Fitzpatrick. A letter from Gen. Sick
les, who regretted his inability to be present,
was read and received with tuniutuous
cheers. The meeting proceeded, notwith-
standing the large number present, without
troduced, when Jack Rogers and his copper
head crew made every attempt to drive him
from the stage, both by violence and abuse.
We subjoin the following sketch of the pro-
ceedings from the Tri6une's report of it:
Gen. Fitzpatrick was introduced, and received
with demonstrations of the widest enthusiasm
song had been sung the moment before he
rose, entitled The Squirming Copperbead."-
This song had been interrupted time and again,
by a noisy crowd on the outside of the meeting
On rising, Gen. fitzpatrick said Some of You
noisy people on the outside don't seem to like
the song you have just heard. Well you will
hear before get through speaking what you
will dislike still more. An effort was then made
by individuals in the audience to intimidate the
the speaker by hooting and yelling, and it was
evident to all that the Copperheads in the
county of Sussex, led by the Hon. A. j. Rogers
member of Congress for the 4th Congressional
District (who was present, and repeatedly in
terrupted the speakers), and others of the same
stripe were organized, and had made every
arrangement to prevent the freedom of speech
a fair discussion of the questions at issue, and
prevent Gen. Fitzpatrick from being heard but
in this they signally failed. They found, to
their great chagrin, that the little cavalryman
could talk as well as fight. His voice rang out
clear and loud, and penetrated to the outer
circle of the immense audience. He handled
his subject with copsummate skill, and made
every interruption tell. He silenced with
word, one after another, the Copperhead lead
ers who attempted to answer and repulse his
vigorous attack.
Mr. Kelsey, of the NeV Jersey Herald, who,
the speaker alledged had wilfully and deiber-
ately slandered him for weeks, was present in
the audience and was roughly handled by Kill
patrick He was unable to make good single
charge alleged in his paper and in reply to one
of Kilpatrick's bold aud vigorous attacks upon
the leaders of the Copperhead party and their
platform, cried out =" General Fitzpatrick, |
never meant to injure you l never had any
thing to do with forming the Democratic plat
form of the State of New Jersey"
The General accused Hon, A. J. Rogers of
sympathzing with treason through the rebel
lion, with advising him (Kilpatrick) to resign
in 1861, and have nothing to do with coercing
the States of the South, with having discour-
aged enlistments, with having recently advoca-
ted repudiation and with being at heart as
great traitor to-day as the vilest rebel of the
South. Mr.. Rogers did not deny single
charge save one, and that was done in true
Copperhead style, and occasioned considerable
excitement. The honorable gentlemon sung
out from among the audience -" never ad-
vocated reputation of the National Debt, and
| here brand the man who says | did as an in
famous liar" Several voices You did,"
= Tou did" Tremendous excitement. during
which some stones were thrown, one of which
knocked lady down who was standing near
the platform. During the excitement a respect
able looking gentleman ascended the platform
and said -" Mr.. Rogers, you have advocated
population you have urged it upon gentle
men of this town and county, and we can prove
it,"
The honorable gentleman at once subslded.
From that moment Fitzpatrick had it all his
own way He struck right and left, ridded the
platform of the Copperhead party, and indicted,
before that large audieLce, leaders of the party
present He spoke for upwards of two hours,
and made an impression that will last. He told
them in conclusion that the time had passed
when bold, bad men like the Hon. A. ] Rogers
aad the leaders Of the Ccpperhead party of the
State of New Jersey could openly denounce
and abuse loyal men and go unanswered; that
he and his friends were now the attacking
party that he had gotten the Copperhead
party just where Grant finally faced their old
friend, Gen. Robert E. Lee, or the defensive,
and like hat doughty chieftain, must sooner or
later surrender.