Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-09-25
Mass Meeting at Ninety-Si1.


GheeEin% indication Of the spirit and
enthusiasm which perva,lo all sections,
OF the District, from its northern to
ITS sou thcrn,s from its eastern TO its
western, limits. The people arc every
where impressed with the greatness
of the issues which are involved in
the present contest, and realize how
all-Ilnlortant it is to the future wei
fare, of tho country thai we should
.ath hicvc Democratic victory in No
.rcipbcr. Hence, everywhere in our
District we arc unfuriny our stand
ards, marsll:.ling our hosts, and wag-
ing 4 contest fast and furious"
which, VIC trust, is TO reward our Ct.
forts with that blcst consummation-
,Iuccess.
The Democracy turned out en- n,assc
On the occasion. Ncwbcrry,
Taurcns and Edgclicld furnished
their contributions; the regular extra
trains brought large acccssons, whilst
The Immediate ncighhorlool, noted
Tor tho spirit and Intelligence Of its
population, for its 'fair women and
'brayc men" made up the brilliant ar
ray. Distinguished speakers had
been invited and were present, n band
.of milsic from Grccnville was in at
tendance, and nothing was wanting
;vhich could lend interest or impart
enthusiasm TO the occasion. Near by
and almost in sight was the historic
,iurt, and all around were scenes cn-
.le..rcd TO lis by 4 thousand inspiring
.rccollcciions, and which called upon
us hy all tho memories Of y
glorious past TO make one moro CT
fort to preserve the liberties which
our fathers have bcqucaihcd us.
The stand had been erected in the
pleasant grove near the depot; upon
1t were seated the officers Of the day
and the distinguished speakers,
whilst before and around wcro the
ample seats which had been pro
:vidcd for the accommodation of: the
audience.
VIM. X. Blake, Esq, the President
of the day, in announcing the objects
and introducing the the speakers Of
the occasion, delivered IN eloquent
.und stirring address which awakened
jthc enthusiasm and evoked the frc-
,qucnt applause Of his audience lie
spoke substantially as follows:
Twelve years ago, the citizens Of
Edgeficld and Abbeville Districts CON
.vcned in this grove at public dem
onstration in honor OF the
services Of the lamcntcd 2. S.
Brooks. We were then fl shLing the
battles Of the Constitution. For
twenty years prior to that period,
this contest has been wased with the
most determined energy on the part
of the South. At three successive
periods, when this contest would have
reached it's crisis and when we were
about to seize the banner Of Consttu-
tional victory, it has eludcd our
grasp. In 1850 VIC were deceived
and betrayed by the introduction of
palliative measures, and when those
measures were acccded to on the part
of the South, they instantly ceased to
be executed. Again in 1867 We're the
principles of the Constitution violated
by the application of the doctrine Of
rInattcr sovereignty to the Terrific
ries Of the United States, designcdly
in opposition to the compromise ira
lures Of the Kansas Nebraska act Of
1851; and thus, in every instance in
which the South has been BETRAYED
by the introduction Of these Trojan
monsters, bearing within the clements
Of death, they have been tho work
1nanship Of men from the South. So
great We're the tissensions in our own
ranks, that in 1860 they were enabled
10 Triumph without the aid Of com
promise. They avowed their deter
animation to put their own construc-
lion upon tho organic law of the land,
and to require the literal iulfllmont Of
that construction at onr hands. In
vain then were all efforts at compro
mise to avert the approaching storm
They took complete control Of the
Government, from which resulted one
Of the most disastrous wars that over
sonvulsed any nation. The results Of
that struggle pro patent to us all.
Where now are those noble heroes
and Beloved oitizen-soidiers wke were
with 'us on the occasion Of the memo
rablo' Brooks dinner? They lave
fallen martyrs to Constitutional libcr-
~ and victims 10 q miserable compro-,
mise, 10 aid ambitions afell design,
~ ~ II w.sis ;asQC.