Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-08-10
~AIAVERAS CHRONICLE.
SATURDAY, ::.:::: :~AUG.l0, 1867:


On Thursday evening last, was tine most Ia
mentable fzzle in the political line we ever
saw. From the appearance of our streets no
one would have mistrusted that anything out
of the usual routine of every day life was
going on. At the highest calculation not
over fifty persons, all told, were present, and
There was no cheering, no enthusiasm. lhe
words of the speakers fell like ice upon their
diminutive audience. They seemed to be
ashamed, astonished, thunderstruck, at the
paucity of their numbers, and were appar-
emily afraid to attempt to make noise, ior
fear they would fail in that even. Ittorcloiy
reminded US of Republican meeting In 'o9'
The first speaker to take the stand was MI
w. d. Sawyer, a gentleman who may De
well known where he resides, but whose fame
has never extended to this locality. lie pro-
ceeded TO eulogize Mr.. Haight and MIR. ray;
in fact, it was some time before we could
determine which of those gentlemen he was
supporting for the Governorship. Finally
however, he advised everybody to vote for
Mr.. Haight. He said he wanted him elected
by $4,000 majority, but would try and be sat-
isio d with less. In very poor language and
worse grammar he rehearsed the Sacramento
Union's dreary platitudes against Mr..
Gorham. He made the same sweeping
+Ia+r 70 he
Unio,. daily treats its readers, without ad-
ducing one single word of evidence to sub
stanuate them. He talked about the Rail
road Bill, and Tide Land swindle in a manner
which proved that he was entirely ignorant
of the facts or grossly misstated them. 1t
was heartrending to witness the intensity
with which he sympathised with the poor,
mistreated Republicans. They had been so
foully wronged-so woefully mistreated.
Mr. Fay was such a nice man-so pure, so
patriotic, so disinterested.
The speaker read extensively from Fay's
and Bidwelrs letters, and devoted nearly one
half of his time to prove that there were dis
sensions in the Union party, but had not a
word to say about democratic principles
After indulging in the usual TRADE about the
niger, Mr.. w D. Sawyer quit. The only
effect his speech had, was upon himself; he
was little hoarser than when he commenc-
ed. His audience were SO "spellbound'' by
his oratory that they were speechless. \
pin could haye been heard to drop when he
vacated the platform.
Mr.. Sibley, an old line Black Republican,
now put in his appearance on the stand.
lie went on to apologize toT being found in
such company as he is now in. The man
evidently ashamed Of his position. but
unable to extricate himself gracefully. He
said ''he supposed that his old Republican
friends were astonished to see him on the
democratic stump" May be they were but
we failed to hear any astonishment or regret
either expressed at the course pursued by the
distinguished gentleman. He seemed to be
tormented with the idea that the negroes
were going to injure him in some manner,
and his speech was mainly devoted to ex-
horting his democratic friends to 'look out
4og tde niggeg.'' He misconstrued the doc
trines of the Union party on every question
of Importance, but failed TO tell his old Re
publican friends that the democratic plat
form is opposed to reconstruction, and in
favor of admitting upon the floor of Congress.
representatives from the seeded States whose
hands are still red with the blood of their
brothers. He told his audience that slavery
is abolished, when he well knows that the
Constitutional Amendment has not been rat
ifed, and that the vote of this State is re-
quired to pass it. We have not the space,
time or inclination to follow the gentleman.
His speech was tissue of Misrepresentation
and falsehoods, from beginning to end. and a
majority of his hearers were aware of it.
Taken together, it was the "sickest" speak
ing We ever heard from the stump, and in
point of numbers. the meeting was the small
est We recollect of seeing in Mokelumne
Hill.