Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-09-25
Mass Meeting at Ni1ety-Siz.

cheering indication OF tho spirit and
enthusiasm which pcrvalc all sections;
at the District, from its northern to
its southern, trom its eastern to lis
western limits. The people arc every
where impressed with the greatness
"f the issues which arc involved in
the present contest, and realize how
ail-important il is to the future well
fare of the country that we shonld
achieve a Democratic victory in No
vcmbcr. Hence, everywhere in our
District VIC arc unii,,'ling oar stand
ards, marshalinS our hosts, and wa"-
ing u contest "l,st and tiriouS,"
which, VIC trust. is 10 reward our CT:
forts with that bIrst conSuMnation-
success.
The Democracy turned out en- mosac
ON tho occasion. Ncwbcrry,
.I.aurcns ami Edgcii2ld furnished
their contributions; the regular extra
trains brought lar:t" accrsri"n&, whilst
the immediate n,i.%hhoihoo,l, noted
for tho Spirit and '::;cnco Of H.;
population, for is "l:;ir women and
brave mcn;" made UP tac i'ril!iant ar
ray, Distinguished speakers hai
been invited and were presents Il band
nf music from Grcenvi.c was in 1T
tendance. and nothing was wanting
which could lend interest or imrart
enthusiasm to the occasion. Near hy
and almost in sight was tho historic
fort, and all around were scenes en-
ioarcd TO us l,y q thousand inspiring
recollcctions, and which called upon
us by all tho memories OF a
glorious past to make ono more Of
fort to preserve the liberties which
our fathers have bc1ucathcd us.
The stand had been greeted in tho
pleasant grove near the depot; upon
it wcrc seated the officers of the day
and tho distinguished speakers,
whilst before and around wrro the
ample seats which had been pro
vided for the accommodation Of the
audience.
Mm. X. blake, Esq. tho President
of tho day, in announcing the Objects
and introducing tho the speakers Of
tho occasion, delivered an eloquent
und stirring address which awakened
the enthusiasm and evoked tho frc-
qncnt applause Of his audience. lie
spoke substantially as follows:
Twelve years ego, the citizens Of
Ed"cficld and Ahbcvillc Districts con
vcncd in this grove AT . public dcm-
on$tration in honor of the
services OF the lamcntpl L. S.
Brooks. We were then fyhtin. the
battles OF the Constitution. For
twenty years prior to that period,
this contest has been wagcd with the
most determined energy on the part
OF the South. AT three successive
periods, when this contest would have
reached its crisis, :psl when VIC were
about to seize tho banner Of Constiiu-
tional victory, it has cludcd our
grasp. In 1850 We were deceived
and betrayed by tho introduction of
palliative measures, and when those
measures were acccucd to On the part
of the South, they instantly ceased to
be executed. Again in 1857 were the
principles Of tho Constitution violated
by the application Of the doctrine of
fqWat.cr sovereignty TO the Terrific
ries of the United States, dcSigncdly
in opposition to the compromise fca-
turcs Of the Kansas-Ncl,raslla act Of
1854 and thus, in every Instance in
which the South has been betrayed
&y the Introduction of these Trai:,n
monsters, bearing within tho clements
Of death, they have been tho work
manship Of men from the South. SO
great we've tho dsscnsions in our own
ranks, that IN 1860 they were enabled
to Triumph without tue aid of q com
promise. They avowed their deter
to put their own eonstruc-
ton upon the organic law Of the land,
and to require the literal fnlilmcnt esl
that construction ut our hands. In
vain then werc all efforts ut comrro
mise 70 avert the approaching storm.
They took complete control Of the
Government, from which rcsultcd one
Of the most disastrous wara that ever
any nation. The results Of
that Struggle aro patent to us all.
Where now are those nobIc heroes
and beloved citizen-soldinrs who were
with us on the occasion Of the memo
yable Brooks dinncr2 They have
fallen martyrs TO Constitutional libcr.
t. and victims to Il mf,rrablr comrro.
mise, to aid ambitions fell dsisn,