The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-06-07
The Late rebel nfeeting.

used at the late Rebel meeting held In
Westminster, on the 10Th inst, as oneof
its Vice Presidents, permit me through
your columns to say that it was wholly
unauthorized. have been an uncon-
ditional Union man throughout the war,
and do not deem myself fit subject for
reconstruction at this late day; especi-
ally such reconstruction as must follow
at the hands ofthe men who composed
that meeting, and who have opposed the
war and the very existence of the Gov
eminent during its darkest hours of
trial. Yours, &C.,
JOHN T. WAYS.
We copy the above from the Sentinel,
of last week.
We can assure Mr.. Ways, that his
name would not have been put on the
list of Vice Presidents of the late John
son Meeting at We ;tminster, had not
the Managers been assured on response
bic authority that he was thorough
johnson man, had promised to attend
the meeting, and could be relied on. IF
it was wholly unauthorized, We are very
sorry that he has been placed in false
position but we can assure him that it
was intended as an honor, no matter in
what light he may consider it. We are
particularly sorry, because there were
enough consistent Union men present
from Freedom District, who would not
have backed out from the honor.
We are sorry too that Mr.. Ways, in
indicating himself, should think proper
to characterize that meeting of the sim
cere friends of President johnson as
"Rebel Meeting" IF he thinks the
epithet justifable, because the most who
attended were Democrats, we would ask
him to designate what proportion of the
latter he considers Rebels. The DEM
ocrats of Carroll county, pretty general
ly disliked the war, because they con-
sidered it the result of Northern Adolf
tion agitation, and consequently felt
exceedingly great pain whilst they saw
their fellow citizens butchering each
other. Yet they disapproyed. also the
course of the South in appealing to
arms; and, during the war, paid their
taxes, and furnished their quotas, in
support of government, quite as we'll as
their neighbors; and we might add, if
it be any credit, that they paid for sub
stit~tes quite as freely as the most ex-
cessively loyal men around them. With
what justice then does Mr.. Ways under
take to charge that the men. who COM
posed that meeting were those ''who
have opposed the war and the very OK
of the Government during its
darkest hours of trial?"; He should
know that the meeting was made up of
original Union men, and Democrats, all
Of whom were filed with joy at the
thought that the South is not lost to the
Union and that, under thelead Of Pres
ldent johnson, the miserable fanatieal
crew from the North will soon be hurled
from power, and the government be re-.
as near as possible in its old
We would not be surprised if Mr..
Ways, at one time, like nearly all the
Union men of Mar gland, condemned the
Northern agitators. Though they STAR
ted right, he may remember that it was
not long before the feelings engendered
by the war brought most of them to the
bosom of Father Abraham" And
now We would not be surprised if very
many of them, unless they cut loose
from party prejudice, may soon find
themselves basking in the bosom of
Father Thaddeus (of Lancaster.)