The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-03-15
THE BERKELEY UNION,

vas Hol 1lIZle, certainly, rs to numbers
Tor according to the Union Itself. there
were more rebels present than have
peeh seen since LEES Army passed
through on its way to Gettysburg" The
meeting was larger than any political
gathering we have witnessed in this
town during our residence in it. 70,
nearly year past. Neither was the
meeting a fizzle as to the object for
Viii III il was called. BY the unanimous
adoption OF q series of resolutions, which
Wepublish in another column, President
JOHNSON was fully and cordially en-
dorsed. Disappointment was felt at the
absence of speakers from Washington,
who We're expected, and vet, from the
enthusiastic demonstrations ofthe people
present there was no lack of interest in
the proceedings of the meeting. The
only fizzle connected with the occasion
was an ungentlemanly and abortive
attempt, by Radical, to prevent the
speakers from addressing the audience.
The first speaker, when interrupted by
this braWler, being ignorant of his
character and history, thought to quiet
him by courteously offering him an OPP
'Portunity to address the meeting, if he
would proceed sn order-but it soon ap-
pearing that he had neither the instincts
or sensibilities Of a gentleman, other,
and more fOrcible means were adopted
to silence the intruder, which proved
rnIS Of DIT
the meeting was a rebel fizzle" If it
means by this, that there were those
present who had been in sympathy with
the rebellion, and those who had been in
the rebelarmy, it's true, and wewere glad
to see them, and should have been pleas
ed to see every such man in the county
there. They We're there to declare their
adherence to the President of the United
States, and express their satisfaction
with the principles and measures of his
Administration. Such an act on their
part was proper and honorable, and to
condemn il indicates littleness of mind
and vindictiveness of spirit, which are
perfectly contemplate. When the dele
cations from Richmond, and other
southern States, which We're composed
almost exclusively Of gentlemen who
had favored the rebellion, visited Presi-
dent JOHNSON, and expressed their
confidence in him, and their approval OF
his plan for the restoration of the Union,
he thanked them for their visit, and eX-
pressed the pleasure which their decla-
atipns of confidence and approval at
forded him. The editors Of the Luioa,
i'll the superiority of their Judgment,
auisite accuracy Of, their use OF Ian
guage, would doubtless have inSulted
both the President and the members of
these delegations by terming these inter
views "rebel fiZzles," or, miserable
apology for rebels" But let this pass.
The Union also intimates that no Union
sncn were at the meeting. There were
a number Of extreme Radicals there, and
so far as they are concerned, we admit
the correctness of the Onion intimation
fer we believe with our President,
that the THAD. STEVENS and CHARLES
SUMNER school of Radicals are "TRAI-
TORS" to the Union and the Consti-
tuition, and to accomplish their selfish,
sanatical, and reasonable ends, would
not hesitate utterly to slbvert the free
and benelicent Government which its
venerable founders bequeathed Us. But
when this sheet insinuates that the
President Of this meeting, the Speakers
who addressed it, and all whose names
are officially connected with its proceed
lings, are not Union men, bat rebels, we
are justified in enquiring, by what stan
dard its editors measure the sentiments
of those gentlemen towards the Union.
= BY their fruits We shall know them.o
This is the rule given by inspiration for
learning the real sentiments of the
human heart. If this be a correct
rule then the man, whose love for the
Union was the strongest during the late