Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-11
FRANKLIN YESTERDAY.


Grand Conservative Demonstration
The Watch1lres of Liberty Ab1aze
ON Academy HEEI-Speeches by Ethe-
ridge and Others-The Regulars
upon the Ground and Order Pre-
served.
The grand Conservative mass meeting
held at Franklin yesterday was one
Of the largest gatherings that has greet
ed the great champion Of the rights
Of the people since the opening of the cans
vasa. The arrival of The sable Sumner and
his aeluded and ignorant mercenaries on
Monday was hailed as the harbinger OF
another bloody riot, and the dread fore
bodings Of the fearful lost none of their
force by the demonstrations of the militia
on Tuesday night, continued firing Of
nusketry having been kept up by them
until late hour, probably for the purpose
of intimidating the people. When the
militia left the cars on Monday, they en-
tered the town with all the pomp and cir
cumstance of a conqueTing army when
marching into the captured capital of q
powerful enemy. Rally round the flag
boys" and other battle-songs of the late
war were rung out defantly, and threats
were made that not only the citizens but
the regulars, would be cleaned out" if il
should be deemed necessary.
Mr. Etheridge arrived at quarter to
eleven, on a crowded special train from
Nashville, and large crowd greeted him
at the depot. The rich folds of national
flag, bearing the names of Etheridge, Pey-
ton, Temple, Trauernicht, Walker and
Driver, were thrown to the breeze, and a
stirring salute by two bands of music fol-
lowed.
The procession then formed. There was
no display of banners bearing notices, or
anything calculated to incite discord in
any way.
the procession, a party Of eolored men
marched, followed by two hacks with the
speakers. Next came the flag Of the fifth
district, and behind it many a soldier who
had followed the stars and bars until the
cause for which they were raised was lost.
Those once Rebel soldiers touched the old
banner reverently, and could but feel that
to il only could they look for protection
from the bloody despotism which is relent-
lessly dragging this great Commonwealth
to inevitable destruction. As the great
throng moved toward the center of the
town, its numbers rapidly augmented,
and the carriage of Mr.. Etheridge stopped
twice for him to receive two beautiful
bouquets, presented by Misses Curran and
McEewn in behalf of the ladies of Frank
lin. One of these, centred by lovely mag
nolia, graced the table on the speakers
stand few hours later.
The street in front Of the Thompson
House was blocked by the living mass as
Mr.. Etheridge alighted and entered the
hotel. Here a crowd pushed itself into his
room to welcome him, and it was with diff
ficulty that those in the street could be
kept back.
At about twelve o'clock the procession
again formed and marched half a mile up
Main street to the beautiful grove that
shades Academy Hill, where large num-
Der of people had already assembled.
Shortly after the introduction of Mr.. Eth
eridge, Capt. Burke's company of the 45th
United States Infantry, Veteran Reserve
CORPS, arrived and stacked arms beneath
the spreading branches Of a large oak.
1uGlI dibthudtiGG bCNh ANIuCotCh VI
Capt. Burke by the citizens, who even went
so far as to ask his advice as TO the carry
ing of banners with notices.
The speech of Mr. Etheridge was in sub
stance the same as his brilliant effort at
Gallatin. He again ran through the record
of the leaders in Brownlow Radicalism,
mailing every one of them, and exposing
their schemes of plumber and rapine.
He was followed by Judge John s.
Brien, Joe Williams, Elias Polk and Capt.
Driver The applause was loud and fire.
quent A large number Of the colored peo-
pie were present, and the whole crowd
must have numbered not less than four
thousand. There was not the least sign Of
disturbance, and not a militiaman was to
be seen nor did solitary Lacquer make
himself known.
After the meeting, Mr.. Etheridge re-
ceived an invitation from the committee of
arrangements for the grand ball which was
to have been held last night at Cages
Springs, but declined on the ground that
his duties would not permit him to accept
it. He will speak at Columbia to-day.