Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1865-09-16
SP i ECH
OF
COL. j. G., FREEZE,
AT THE MOB MOUNTAIN
MEETING.
Wednesday Morning, Aug.30, '65
REPoRTEo RY D. F. MURPHY, ESQ.

ninB mas Deen ueVoted 10 the review OF an
episode of the late war, popularly known
as "the Columbia County Invasion" and
il has been assigned to me, TO perform
that duty, The false and malicious rep-
resentations made and published broad
cast over the land, concerning it, were in.
tended to poison and mislead the public
mind, and thus make cover for the gu.
thors of this foul wrong and deep outrage,
from the just indignation of all honest and
rightminded men, The time has already
come when thorough exposition is re-
quired, and there can be no more fitting
occasion than this, when the citizens of
the county interested in the thorough vcn-
tilation OF this euormity, are here to cor
roborate the fact. adduced and many
people from distance, for the first time
shall become fully acquainted with the
gross insult and deep wrong to our popu-
lation when in peaceful and quiet com.
munity, the evil passions Of bad men, stir
red up to feeling of intense hatred by
disappointed political ambition, called
upon the military to avepge their private
wrongs, and in direct violation of the law
and the Constitution, made the civil power
subordinate to the military,
The suspension of tue writ of U26eaS
COrpuS was fitting and necessary pre-
lude TO this crusade. Without that, not
one of the men who were subsequently ar
rested on false and frivolous charges,
which it is proposed now to investigate,
could have been taken beyond the
county could have been denied trial in the
civil Courts, or could have been convicted
therein; because tho rules Of legal ovi-
dance, and the constitutional right to a
trial by jury would have protected limo
cence, and exposed the malice and rancor
Of political partizanship.
l say therefore, Fellow Citizens, and !
hope to satisfy you before close, that this
Invasion OF Columbia County was pure
ly political raid, and the local leaders Of
the Republican abolition party arc guilty
of an outrage, which will make such a
record against them, as many OF our citi.
zens remember against their fathers DUR
ing the Revolution. They have made a
history which they shall not escape -they
have made a record, during their short
lease of place and power, which will re-
main forever against them; and which
their sons will blush to read, if public
virtue and private recttude shall ever
find lodgment in their breasts,
On Saturday evening, Aug. 18th 1864,
the quiet village Of Bloomsburg, the Coun-
ty seat oil Columbi County, was suddenly y
disturbed by the appeara ance en- its streets
of eighty cavalry and forty infantry and
two pieces of artillery. The town was
Instantly in an excitement The exuta-
ton of the aboltionsts was most intense,
their eyes sparked with delight, their 10y
al tongues were loosed, and threats against
the Democrats and Democratic printing
Offices, and statements that the troops
were to "scour the county" were in the
mouths of Loya Leaguers and their fol,
lowers. Very many expressions, showing
the 0ninus oithe opposition have been ta-
ken down aud are remembered /; and the
fierce desire on the part of some Of them
to inaugurste a reigu of riot and blood
shed, was painfully appcraut.
On Tuesday morning following, Major
Gen Couch, commanding the Department
of tho Susquhanua, which included Col
umbia county, with $50 more ps,made
his headquarters in Bloomsbury. Kein
lorcoments continued to arrive and within
a few days A" The Army oil the Fishing
creek" numbered one thousand meN.
And you will observe, My Fellow Cit.
zens, that i. was not until after the State
and Presidential elections in tho fall fol-
lowing were over, that it was found thai
the "Fishingcreok Rebellion was at al
ond-Then the political object having
been fully accomplished, those one thou
sand armed mon were all Withdrawn from
your midst.
In order to show you more fully lhC
deadly malice which actuated these men,
shall refer you to a letter published il
that general receptacle of lalschoOd, folly
and sensation stories, tho Philadelphia
hp~ircr, dated "Camp Cadwalader, Col
umbia County Penua, Sept, 9th 1864
But undoubtedly written in Bloomsbury
aud but ono man there, III MY opinion
could have had tho baIllhqqd to writ