Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1866-10-03
rKtE GREAT MEETING.
An vnprecedented Gathering.

The greatest meetings probably ever
held in this county came off on Thursday
of last week and Monday last-the first a
coalition meeting, the latter Union Re
publican. The coalitionists ransacked the
county from one end TO the other, and be-
tween money, threats, entreaties, and
free passages, supposed they could get up
a demonstration that would tell too effect
ually to be overmatched. The day was
fine, and their procession large, but as for
their speakers there was little said above
mediocrity, the main themes being de-
nunciation of Congress, Gen. Geary, and
other Unionists, with any amount of Mig
ger. About all any sensible man could
have gathered from their arguments was
that rebellion was no crime, and that if
we would not forthwith re-admit these
rebels to all the political privileges they
had before enjoyed and at the next appor-
tionment give them still more, there
would be another war-but who was to
make or get up this terrible war even the
valiant blatherskite who talked of wading
knee deep in blood did not tell.
The Union Republicans not being able
to secure speakers on any other day, Were
compelled to take Monday, which pre-
vented much preparation that might 9TH
erwise have been made. But the ladies
went to work with Il will-the men like
wise-and in 4 few hours Lewistown pre-
! sented a scene of decoration never before
equaled politically. Nreaths, flags, paint
| ings, flowers, &c, met the eye in all di-
! rectiOns, so many Of them worthy Of spe
/ cial notice that we would not know where
! to begin to particuIarize. By ten o'clock
! with human beings passing 10 and fro,
! fully indicating what was to come.
/ About an hour afterwards, Brig. Gen.
/ John p. Taylor, Chief Marshal, with his
/ aids, appeared at the head of the various
/ delegations from the Valley, Derry, De-
catur, and portion Of Granville. A long
/ line of horsemen, so long that it filled
/ Third street from one end to the other,
/ passed before the wondering crowds on
! the walks, and still the cry arose that the
end was not yet. After a while came wa
gons and other vehicles filled to their ut
most capacity, nearly all decorated with
! evergreens, banners, and other devices,
conspicuous among which We're several
! live ducks live coon, &c. The appear
! ance of this line decided the day, for those
coalitionists who had imagined and hoped
/ there would be but feeble demonstra-
| ton, at once caved in and acknowledged
| the corn, for men were in its ranks who
/ had not been seen in political professions
| for many years; besides, they knew that
/ even then another vast outpouTing of the
! people, headed by thirty-siX ladies repre-
senting the different States, was approach
ing from the west, the yeomanry of
Wayne, Newton Hamilton, Oliver, Brat
ton, McEeytOwn, and upper Granville
having furnished delegations of which
they may well feel proud. We have
neither time nor room to particularize-it
is sufficient to say it was the greatest and
finest political demonstration ever made
Oh the streets of LewistOwn.
Old Armagh had . company of Boys III
Blue mounted. who We're Justify applaud
ed There were three hundred and ten
horsemen from the valleys, and one hum
dred and eighteen wagons, carriages, DC.
Preceded by the McVeytown Band came
the Cp-River delegations, headed by a
carriage, in which stood a little rosy-faced
elf, Miss IL. V. Stephenson, of McVey-
town, daughter of Rev. Stephenson,
Il, t1
personate Victory; her bearing, her beau
ty, and her golden ringlets, made asplend-
id picture and evoked yOciferOus plaud-
its. She was followed by thirty-siX la
dies dressed in black to defy copper
shriekers, who rode most gracefully
Then came two hundred more horsemen,
and wagons innumerable; the whole con-
Stituting a procession seldom equaled in
our large counties. 1t is impossible to de-
scribe the enthusiasm that pervaded the
immense concourse that filled the square,
streets and houses, or to more than men
ton the names of the eloquent speakers,
Generals Hartman, Lee, Pierce, Hons.
d. Krause, and p. f. Smith, Prof Mil
Ter, and John NJ. Kennedy, Esq, whose
powerful arguments, truth-teIling thun-
ders, and unfoldings of the Copper-John-
son sophistries, occupied the whole after
noon and evening. The speakers stand
was erected in front of the Lewistown
House, and with its decorations reflected
much credit on all concerned in its con-
struction and tasteful arrangement. a
Glee Club OH portico above the speak
ers stand, interluded the proceedings
with appropriate rational and other songs,
drawing forth thunders ofappiause. Thus
ended one of the grandest days ever wit
messed in little Miffiin. Niger Shrek