Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-08-17
Grand Union Demonstration

w.
Tuesday evening last, to listen to the distin-
guished gentlemen who had been announced
to speak on that occasion. Although Mr..
Gorham had been advertised as one of the
speakers, the knowledge that he would un-
avoidably be absent kept many away who
would otherwise have been present. The
desire to hear our noble standard bearer is
general throughout the county, and we sim
cerely hope that the wish may be gratifed
before the election.
Long before the hour for the speaking to
commence, delegations from Campo Seco,
San Andreas, Rich Gulch, West Point, and
many other precincts in the county, began
to arrive, and by dark the streets were
crowded with people. The large and COM
modious stand. in front of the United States
Hotel, was handsomely decorated with ever
greens. while surmounting all, the star
spangled banner foated in triumph. Mo-
kelumne Hill never presented more beautiful
appearance than on Tuesday evening last.
Main and Centre streets were brilliantly il
Illuminated throughout their entire length. and
the whole town was ablaze with bonires
The West Point Brass Band, which furnish
ed the music for the occasion, filled the soft
evening air with those soul-inspiring. pa
triotic strains SO dear to the heart of every
loyal man, while salvos of artillery, shaking
the buildings to their foundations, reverberat-
ing through the mountain gorges, its thun-
dering tones echoed back from the suround-
ing hills, mingling with the loud huzzas of
thousand voices, raised the en- thusiasm of the
Union men to the highest pitch and sounded
the death knell of Democracy. The bal
comics fronting the United States, Express
Office and the Odd Fellows Hall. were en-
tirely occupied by the ladies who graced the
scene with their presence. Any cause which
does not enlist the sympathy of the
ladies' and from which they withhold the
light of their smiles, has not the shadow of
chance of winning, and that they are in favor
of Union, their history from the days of
Mother Eve down to the present time, is
sufficient proof. No balconies were ever
more handsomely adorned than those 'front.'
ing on the public square of Mokelumne Hill,
on Tuesday evening.
At half past eight the meeting was called
to order by DR.. A. II. Hprchner, Chairman
of the County Committee. Rienzi Hopkins,
Esq, of San Andreas, was chosen President,
and a number of our most influential citizens
Vice Presidents. Upon taking the Chair,
Mr.. Hopkins returned thanks for the honor
conferred, and after few timely and elo-
quent remarks, introduced the first speaker
of the evening-Hon. w. NJ. Stewart, Z.
S. Senator from Nevada. Mr.. Stewart made
one of the most solidly argumentatve and
effective speeches, of nearly two hours dnra-
ton, to which we ever listened. Thoroughly
conversant with the political history of the
country, he reviewed the course pursued by
the "modern" Democracy from Buchanan s
administration down to the present time, and
showed up in all its revolving light, the efforts
which that party has made and are making
both North and South to disrupt, destroy
and overthrow the fair fabric bequeathed to
US by our fathers, and erect upon its ruins a
government which should be under their eX-
elusive control and devoted to the perpetual
ton of slavery. In fact, he completely
dissected the galvanized corpse of Demo
cracy, and after cutting through the mantle
of professed loyalty in which it has enveloped
itself for the purpose of deceiving the people,
he exposed the hideous skeleton concealed
within, the bitter hostility to our free insti-
tutions which in reality actuates its motives
and plainly showed how disastrous to our
prosperity nation a Democratic victory
would be. He explained the reconstruction
measures of Congress, compared the plat
forms of the contending parties, depicted
with fervid eloquence the benefits which the
right of the ballot has conferred upon all
classes Of our citizens, referred to the past
upon Union men the Importance of remain
ing true to their principles. His speech was
eagerly listened to, well received. frequently
applauded, and upon its conclusion three
rousing cheers were given for Mr.. Stewart.
His speech was masterpiece of eloquence
and argument, and his sentiments sank deep
into the minds of his hearers.
Colonel Hawkins. of Tennessee, was next
called upon the stand. The Colonel is an
able and effective speaker. Having served
in the Federal army during the rebellion, he
Is able to give an account of the privations
and sufferings which the Union people of the
South, and especially of the border States
had to undergo He showed up the rebels
the rebellion and the Democracy of to-day in
their true light, urged upon Union men the
necessity of supporting their nominees, and
showed that vote for Fay, was in reality
one for Haight. He related several humor
Gus anecdotes, at times convulsing his
audience with laughter, at others, by the ex-
preston of patriotic sentiments, rousing then
enthusiasm to such a pitch that they gave
vent to it in cheers. HIS address was re-
plete with wit, humor, sound argument, and
patriotism. At the conclusion of his re-
marks, with three cheers for the Union and
three cheers for Colonel Hawkins, the meet
ing adjourned. Taken altogether it was a
splendid success, and shows that the loyal
citizens of Calaveras are still true to the
principles of liberty, justice, free government
and equality.
HE Sacramento Union, not long since said
that s.if the whole Gorham. guerrilla nres,