Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-08-02
MASS MEETING AID BARBECUE.

ln0 attendance eC the III ass h06Glng ana OAR.
becue, at the Fair Grounds near this place on
Saturday last, equalled the expectations of the
most hopeful and sanguine. The number pres
ent was greater than was generally anticipated.
The proportion of whites to colored was also
greater than expected. We suppose there
were several thousand persons present. Gath
erem Halp' was filled and there seemed toSbe as
many at the time on the grounds near the Ro-
tunda. The spacious "Gathsrem Hail. was fill
ed with an attentive auditory composed of intel
ligent men and fair and lovely women, flank
ed' by number of well-behaved colored per-
sons, Eha enjoyed from II o'clock 4. NJ. to 3
p. NJ, the feast of reason and the aoY of sour'
dispensed by the eight speakers who, during that
time, delivered speeches brief and pointed, ar
gumentative, exhortatory, humorous and witty.
All o'clock, Col M. G. Earman, President
of the Valley Railroad Company. after few APP
propriste remarks explanatory of the object of
the meeting, ana stating that it was pleasure to
him to resign the Presidency of the Valley h. r.
Company in behalf of Gen. r. e. lee, read
letters, in the order given, from the following
distinguished gentlemen who had been invited
to be present, but who could not be- viz: John
w. Garrett, President of the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad Company, Gen. Jubal A. Early, Com.
Matthew F. Mapry, and last, but not least. two
from Gen. Robert i. Les.
The interesting letters from these distinguished
gentlemen. setting forth the importance OF the
Valley r. R., and counseling the citizens OF this
county to vote for the subscription of $780, GEO.
will be found published in this ISSUE
Attic conclusion of the reading of these let
tiers, after music by the "StoneWall Band" Gen.
John Echols, with appropriate complimentary
remarks, introduced Ex-Gov John Letcher, the
first speaker who addressed the meeting. I'VE
regret that the unusually crowded condition of
our columns this week is such not to leave US
room to speak of the speeches as they Deserve
and us we would like to do. If we had the space
we would be pleased to publish abstracts of the
speeches delivered but as it is VS. must content
ourselves with simply mentioning the names of
the speakers in the order in which they address
ed the meeting, and allude briefly end in gener-
al terms to the character of their speeches. AT
the conclusion of Ex-Gov. Letcher's practical
and pointed address, Gen. Echols, IN terms OF
high commentator, introduced Maj. VIM. l..
gutherIin, of DanIille, as the Leader of the Ag-
riculturists of Virginia, who delivered, as he is
in the habit of doing sensible and practical adj
dress
Gen. Echols then introduced G. G. Kerr, Esq, of
Baltimore. who expressed the kindly feelings
which the citizens of the city of Baltimore and
of the State of Maryland always manifest for
Virginia.
At the conclusion of each of the above men
toned speeches the audience was favored with
good music by the 'Stonewall Band' OF Staun-
ton Speeches were then delivered in the order
mentioned by Hon. Andrew Hunter, OF Jeffer-
son county: Hon. John T. Harris, of Rocking
ham: Capt. Robt. Moorman, of Roanoke; Col
Mccoy, member of the City Council OF baltl-
more; and Maj. James B. Dorman, OF kock-
bridge after being severally introduced, In q fe-
iicitous manner, by Judge 81. w. Shefey.
Mr. Hunters speech was logical and forcible;
Judge Harris stirring, enthusiastic and humor-
ous. appealing with effect to the laudable county
pride which is so marked Characteristic of the
citizens of this "good and noble old county -
Cant. Moorman's was witty, pointed and well
expressed Col. McCoy's brief, practical and sp-
nropriate. and Maj. Dornian's argumentative
and eloquent.
After the delivery of these addresses the vast
multitude repaired to the Rotunda building to
partake of the great abundance and variety OF
substantials so bountifully provided by the la
dies for the qualification of the sinner man -
The ladies deserve great credit for the part they
nerformed in making provision for SO many
Notwithstanding the vast number who partook
of the feast, there was q superabundanes and
many of the colored were supplied with several
loaves of bread each to take to their homes. The
weather was propitous and nothing occurred to
mar the pleasure of the occasion.