The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-10-14
RANDOLPH COUNTY.

CHEAT RIVER, October 10, 1868.
Editors of the Register:
To-day, we witnessed the most impo-
sing demonstration that 1T has been
our fortune to sec for long years in the
good old County of ofRandolph. Early in
the day the citizens came pouring in
from the mountains and valleys of our
county, and by twelve o'clock at noon,
goodly numbers of the honest yeomanry
of the counties of Randolph, Tucker
and Barbour, had collected at the town
of New Interest, to, take part in the
grand demonstration in favor Of Demo-
cracy. The meeting was called to or
der, and A. c. Bournan appointed Presi-
dent. Upon taking his seat, Mr.. Bour-
nan thanked the convention for the
honor, and then introduced David H.
Lilly, Esq, of Beverly, to address the
meeting.
| Mr.. Lilly began by recurring to the
first principles of our Government
showed how the oppression of King
George in levyiHg a tax upon tea and
in quartering soldiers in time of peace
upon our ancestors, had reused the
great spirits of Hancock, Washington,
Franklin and others to assert their
right to Independence, and infused
spirit of patriotism into the Colonies
that finally secured to them the bless
ings of free government, and with what
fidelity they had labored to transmit it
untarnishe1 to their posterity. He then
descanted upon the blessings we had
derived and enjoyed while we kept in
view the landmarks of our fathers, and
now that we had departed from them
there was no beacon of hope but to re-
store them again through the well
beaten track of Democracy.
He regretted the existence of war,
and now that it had been, mercy should
be the province of the conqueror. He
quoted largely from Wallet to show how
that clemency was the duty and prerog
ative of the conqueror and that our only
hope lay in tranquilizing the brutal feel |
inEs that war had engendered. Re- |
tired amid loud shouts of applause.
Capt. Phillips was next introduced.
He in an able and powerful argument
exposed the corruptions of the Radicals;
showed that their financial system
would bankrupt the country, and under
the present system of fnanciering we
could never even hope to pay tho inter-
est, &C., &c. He then adverted to the
iniquitous expressions of the ten South
ern States; deplored the diabolical spirit
that had prompted the guardians of the
nations welfare, to resort to such meas
ures against their offending brethren.
In conclusion he gave vivid picture of
the destitution of the Southern States,
the starving hundreds of wretched
white people, while the idle, prohigate
negro was clothed and fed at the public
expense. Immense applause. He
finished by appealing to all parties to
carefully consider their duties and on
the third of November faithfully to per-
form their duties to their ancestors,
themselves and their posterity. Re-
tired amid cries of eve will, we will"
and three prolonged cheers.
Major Harding was next introduced.
He gave the reconstruction acts of Con-
gress q minute review; showed how
they had been framed to rivet upon the
Southern States negro supremacy; that
instead of reconstructing they were
only destroying the vital energies of
the country, cries, "That's so,"l and
encouraging negroes in idleness and in
yiting them to commit crimes that CIV
ilized men would shudder even to con-
template. lie then referred to the
finances of West Virginia; showed they
were squandered to keep in power set
of useless and extravagant office hold
ers; how they had sought the perpetual
tion of their own party through corrupt
influences, and wrung from the honest,
hard listed men of the country their
earnings to swell their own purses.
He then passed in review the Repub-
lican platform, and clearly elucidated
the undeuiable fact that their National
and State candidates accepted the plat
form with its ambiguity to cover their |
intention of universal negro suffrage;
that it was their intention and plan he
was now prepared to prove. He then
went into a disquisition that l charge
the world to refute, quoted largely
from Senator Yates speech and other
high Radical authority, and conclu ded
by saying you now vote at your State
and National election, either Tor white
mems Government or forever fasten
upon you negro suffrage and social
equality of races. he then retired amid
the loudest applause.
Mr.. Thompson, of Beverly, next ad-
dressed the meeting, and owing to the
exhaustive arguments of the previous
speakers and the lateness of the day, he
was brief, but earnest and logical. His
remarks were convincing and instruct
i've. He gave a few well-timed anee-
dotes, and left the stand amid thunders
of applause.
The meeting then adjourned, it being
half-past five. l
One thing worthy of comment is that
no ungentlemanly remarks were in-
dulged in with regard to any OF the
Radical candidates.
Truly yours, RANDOLPH