Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-05-07
The Meeting In WesimoreIand Co.

Correspondence vi Tie -AeAuuul Ia UaAcltc.l
MoNTRoss Va, May 9, 1872 The Spring
term Of our Circuit Court closed on Thursday
last, after session of four days. No case Of
any considerable importance was adjudcated,
the time of the Court being chiefly occupied 10
the trial of few petty issue causes III which
iures were waived and decisions submitted to
the Judge. The most remarkable incident
which transpired on the occasion was public
meeting OF The citizens held during the dinner
recess of the Court on the first day Of the term
A formal report of the proceedings of that meet
ing has already appeared in the Gazette. No
previous notice had been given, and not a score
of the large number of people who responded
to a simple call made at the Court house door,
for "a meeting" knew what the object of tina;
meeting would be. The gentleman selected as
Secretary certainly knew nothing of its object,
but being of an accommodating turn he con-
sented to act. | have not tune to undertake
full account of all that TRANSFERRED, and must
content myself with bare outline. 1t vas not
Only large but very Erely meeting, asst turned
out. At first. when the Chairman relieved curl
osity SO far as 10 state that the meeting had
been called in the interest OF those who needed
the adoption of private rellet measures, no
one was found to offset, AMI everything went
merry as a marriage bell. \ series OF resolutions,
previously prepared, were read; the mover of
them made lively speech-his maiden speech,
by the way, as he announced-the vote was
taken. and the resolutions as whole unani
mously adopted. The Chairman suggested
that motion to adjourn would be iu.order, but
no motion to that effect WAS made Another
speech was called for. Time was, when our
people could afford the luxury of public meet
do, but not so now. 1t is not often, in these
hard times. we can command leisure, and when
we do meet oar orators must all contribute
something to our entertainment, On this uc-
casion call was made for our representative IN
Congress, who was present. but who had not
heard the resolutions read. or voted upon them.
He expressed entire sympathy with the object
of the meeting so far us he understood 1t to
pertain to ''rylicf' and pledged his influence,
both personal and official, to procure that oh
iect, under any Just and reasonable plan.
To proper understanding OF what followed,
it must be stated here that the series OF rcsou-
tons as originally drafted and first voted upon
and adopted by the meeting, contained two
that were particular y severe in their bearing
upon the legal protessiou-beiDg re echo of
the sentiment which, it is affirmed has been
fast gaining ground of late in some quarters.
that the lawyers Of the State are mainly re-
SponSihe for the defeat of all relief measures
heretofore. And it must he further stated that
the members Of the bar Of our county. portion
of the class thus placed under ban, were all
temporarily absent from the court room during
the first stages of the notwithstanding accom-
panied His Honor the Judge, to dinner. They
returned while our H. c. was speaking, and
from the peculiar expression Of their couute-
nances, it was evident that they had heard
something, or now smelt something besides the
fumes of the Eavanas $, with which each
was RECALLING himself. The pending speech
was concluded, and for minute or two not a
word was spoken, but you could almost hear
the inquiry made from each pair OF legal hips.
whats been done since I've been gone? 2
Another speech was wanted, and some one un-
Willingly called out a prominent member OF
the bar. That gentleman plead inability to re-
spond properly without some understanding OF
the object OF the meeting, and requested that
the resolutions be read This request was COM
piled with. and now came the tug of war. 1t
was amusing to neutral to see with what dc
liberation the Blackstone artillery numbered
their guns. one after another, aud turned TIM
in merciless fury upon the heads OF their IS
sailants Grape and canister, hot shot I'd
shell we're thrown fercey for ali hour. The
champion of the resolutions bore the onset
bravey and with his single gun, which was
opened with spirit at intervals, made most
gallant defence But the contest was too m
equal, and he finally sent forward the white
flag with terms for capitulation. The two OBJ
noxious resolutions, sort of Alsace and Lor-
raine, were surrendered upon conditions that
the rest should be retained.
Peace was now established and friendly eftoi is
made by the. most prominent citizens OF the
county to have the resolutions rccommtted for
more mature and deliberate consideration a.
the May term of our County Court. Many
strong arguments were made in favor of such
action One of the speakers challenged the
meeting to produce as many as ten of its
members who could explain the terms, or knew
anything at all, of the matter referred to in
the first resolution, the Equity Bill recently
offered in the House Of Delegates by Mr..
Thomas" But these arguments were all I'M
availing, and the resolutions as heretofore re-
ported, were ordered to be published.
Another meeting to consider the same sub
ject, is announced for May Court. B.