The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-06-08
Public Speaking Mt Ashland -" The
People Interested.

Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.
.,a> ASHLAND, June 3, 1869.
For several days past we have been hnsily
preparing for our barbecue" which was
held to-day on the grounds of Mr. iicni.
Saunders, one of our citizens. ABOUT oIt-
fourth of mile from the railroad, III h's
fine sulphur spring. or course we ca 49, n ~.
speakers from Richmond. ana upon elie 'i
rival of the - O'Clock train were dehShtea
IA 500 Messrs. IEolladav. Griswold, Guy, and
Daniel. stem forth, in company with Colonel
G. W. Richardson, our county canvasscr,
and Messrs. Lumpkin and Cowardin. the
county superintendcnts. At l O'Clock Il
considerable number of persons from our
village and the surrounding country having
arrived at the seats which had been con-
structed in the beautiful grove near the
spring. orr old whccl-horsc, Chas'ain
WHITE. who was master of ceremonies, m
PRODUCED to the audience Mr.. {. y. GIFTS
void. Of your CITY. Many OF us had heard
MIR. Griswold at the Hanover bar, and ad-
mired his ability rs 4 lawyer; but we con-
fcSs we were hardly prepared 10 cXpccl
from him the speech which for an hour
claimed our undivided and unrcmittcd al
trntion. With q power and force of clio
aucnce we have seldom heard surpassed he
advocated the necessity of adopting the eN-
nurgated constitution and elcCting Walker.
His appeal in behalf of Walkcr-thc
adoptcd son of Virginia-stirred our souls
from thcir deepest depths, and was only
surpassed by his whitening attack upon
Wells the carpct-baggcr. ;.
After Mr.. Griswold concluded, the audi
cnce was greeted by aspecch from Mr.. Dam
icl. Of your city. OF course it would DC car
ryinc ''coalS to Newcastle" even 10
attempt to describe to you, who have heard
him so often. the effect Of his speech upon
The crowd Keen as the Toledo and bright
AZ the Damascus, most trcnchant were inc
blows he gave the uneXplrgatcd constllu-
ton and its advocate, ii. II. Wells, the
"hero of the missing letter" His speech
was a treat to us rusticS, and greatly we en-
loved if. AT its conclusion, Colonel White
announced dinner, when the crowd dld
ample Justice to the substantial meal which
had been cooked upon the ground by some
of our Conservative colorcd fciow-cltlZcnS.
As soon rs dinner was over. the dark ana
angry cloud which had made Its appear
ancc in the western horizon admonished us
Ia seek some more substantial shelter Than
that afforded us by the grove; ana the
crowd eagerly repaired TO II large room, the
Use of which was kindly pro1crcd ny MI.
Tnoelkinr. one of our merchants. Alex
andcr r. liolladay, Esq, of your city, then
entertained lis with speech of remarkable.
power and eloqucncc. With cogencl OF
reasoning and IN cloquence of expression
we have rarely heard surpassed he I'M
pressed upon us the necessity of securing
The very best government possible uhdcT
our present circumstances; ana so ablI ana
so eloquently did he contrast Walker ana
the cXpur.atcd constitution with wells
and the uncxpurSatcd fhnStna' our ,lliiuS
were driven to the unavoidable conclusion
that our political salvation depends upon
the election of Walker and the adoption OF
the eXD,lrcatcd constitution.
Colonel John II. Guy, Of Richmond, next
spoke i'm strains of cloquence and with Il
kecnness of satire which displayed fertility
of wit and genius which ever and anon
called forth tears in the startled hush of
laughter.'' Guy was the 5. :. Ircntiss of
the day. Many and strong yet ! Wccn VIII
he the blows of this able champion III be-
half of Virginia and her fair daughters.
Colonel George w. Richardson, our county
canvasscr and our cX-COmmonwcalth 5 at
torncy, lrith has head utiy' has arm, made
his bow 10 the audience, and entertained
them in his usual happy style for short
time, when he gave way to the candidates
for the Legislature. DIR. Thompson and
Colonel VIM. These gentlemen made Ia
vorable impressions upon all, and acquitted
themselves very happily. The crowd then
wcl-iimed remarks. rccciycdfrom the crowd
demonstrations OF that wonderful popularity
which he has ever possessed with whites and
blacks.
Bulrwell Tolcr (thc rcvcrcnd), colorcd
Radical candidate for the Legislature, was
then called for, and made his appearance;
but before he had finished his predatory re-
marks some bv-standcr desired TO know OF
him whether he was il favor Of the test
oath or not. This 80 much diSgruntlcd
him that he refused to speak farther; and
thus concluded the day, much to the gen
cral satisfaction and the promotion of our
cause. Your correspondent noticed but one
thing of which there was the slightest cause
10 complain. and Of this he will write i'll
some future letter. AUSTER.