The Portland daily press., 1868-07-11

Great Sass Meetinq-Ihe Campaign opened IN
| Kennebec-County COnUention dc.
AUGUSTA, July TO- 1868.
| To the Editor of the Press: .
The political campaign was inaugurated in
| this county last evening by grand Republi-
| can mass meeting in Granite Hall, Elk Gov.
| Cony presiding. 1t was the largest and most
enthusiastic ever assembled at the Capital I'M
der our banner. Every seat and standing
place in the hall was eagerly sought, and hun
dreds unable to obtain either, hung about the
doors and on the stairway, anxious to hear the
words of the eloquent orator from Ohio and OF
our own honored Representative. The well
come which greeted Hon. James G. Blaine,
must have been an emphatic assurance of his
triumphant reelection in Septe mber. AT the
conclusion of Mr.. B aine's speech Mr.. Bing-
ham Of Ohio came forward and was received
with three hearty cheers and rounds of ap-
plause I shall not attempt to give an alb
stract or even an analysis of his address. But
it was regarded as unquestionably the most ell
oquent, exhaustive and truthful exposition of
Republicanism ever heard IN this part of the
State Some old Democrats who came in to
get look at the chairman of that committee
WHICH eulDOuteS Iut COHb6mpO vi Tic AmcTl-
can people for Andrew Johnson" hing ON his
words from the beginning TO the close. After
explaining the grand mission of the Republi-
can party, and triumphantly answering all
the ca rpings of its enemies, on financial and
on all other questions, he adverted to the NOM
inees of the New York Convention. "Let Ho-
ratio Seymour look for his support to that
mob of conspiritors in New York, whom he af
fectiouately called his friends" and not to the
loyal men OF Maine" said the orator. ''That is
just what propose to do" replied an intelli-
gent Democrat at my right, in an undertone.
1t is needless to say that in view of the NOM
ination at New York and this magnificent rally
last evening, the Democrats of this city con-
stitute very long-faced fraternity.
The Republican convention for the nominal
ton of our county officers will occur on the
18th of August. As nearly all of the old in
cum5ents will be re-nominated, the event
will excite but little interest. The
only change will be a new candidate
for county treasurer to succeed Mr..
Pike, deceased. 1t may be confidently an
nounced that Thomas S. Lang Esq of Vassal-
boro will be the choice ofithe convention for
Senator, and Hon. Alanson Starl5s of Augusta
for county treasurer. -.lltf.l IA 80
The exposure of the real character of that
CHASTITY fizzle, digniied by the name of the
Conservative soldiers and sailors conven-
tion," and organized under the Democratic
banner on tie 23d of june, in this city, has
caused the highly virtuous. witty and literary
correspondent of the Argus from this city, to
wIithe with modification aud wrath. L had it
on the authority of two of the most reliable
citizens of Augusta that Ed,cdrd Keyes,
who was from our Jail the night before the
convention, marched in their procession and
at some stage of their little play bore one
of the dags.-These witnesses now reaffirm it;
and it is an ing, nious subterfuge for this vir-
tuOus gentleman TO claim that it was WI
tam +. Reyes and not Edward Not wish
ing to "fire down hill"I pass by his small
personality. DAMON.