The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-11
LOCAL MATTERS.

The BOWLING GREEN MEETING ON
MONDAY. -Authentic advices concerning
the political speaking at Bowling Green,
Caroline county, on Monday last, have
reached us to-day. A large concourse of
people was called together by the appoint
ments of both the Republicans and Gree
leyites, as well as by the question of select
ing supervisor. The courthouse and
grounds had been engaged by the Greeley
ties, and as all overtures Of the Republi-
cans for joint meeting were rejected, our
friends were compelled to hunt up con-
venient locality for the accommodation of
audience and speakers. The large vacant
house, formerly occupied as hotel, facing
the courthouse yard, and separated from
the wall by space of only few fceet,
was finally procured.
The Greeleyites did not seem to relish
this proximity of the Grant orators, and
they found no difficulty in getting their
crowd into the building, which, with close
packing, will not hold more than two hum
dred persons. The Greeleyites suffered no
inconvenience, however, on account Of the
size of the room.
The crowd which assembled in front of
the hotel building to hear the Republican
speakers was quite large, and it was noticed
that many groups of persons, who probably
had no tastes for the new doctrines set be-
fore them in the courthouse, augmented the
crowd as the speaking progressed. Colonel
William James, of Hanover, was the first
speaker who mounted the verandah Of the
hotel. He opened by apologizing for the
absence of j. Amber Smith, our nominee
for Congress, he being called to the bedside
of his sick wife.
The speaker eloquently referred to the
many traits of character which render Mr..
Smith eminently fit to occupy seat in the
national Congress, and entitle him to the
confidence, respect, and support of the
people Of the Third district. While Gen
eral Grant was being arraigned and abused
in the courthouse, the speaker, in a very
impressive manner, eulogized the President
for his retiring modesty, for his yalor and
extraordinary genius in the field, and for
his far-sesing and practical craftsmanship,
quoting Greeley, who said, General
Grant is man of the people one in heart
and feeling with the men who dig, and
pillow, and weave" He truly set forth the
many great, good, and generous deeds Of
the President in promoting the national
pTOspcIlLy WClidlC VI Sltl-
zens. lie pointed to the Republican plat
J form, which is printed and circulated
SO that all may read and understand, as
the embodiment of the principles which
General Grant and the people are striving
to establish, and closed with an earnest APP
peal to his hearers to give the present ad.
ministration a hearty support and to do all
in their power for the success of Grant and
Wilson and j. Amber Smith.
Judge Boiling, of Buckingham, followed
Colonel James in sharp, powerful speech
lie asked the audience what justice there
was in arraigning man and refusing tc
hear his witnesses, as they were doing in
side the courthouse. He laid IL. q. GU
straight, and asked what good reasons Vir
ginians have for supporting the great
est foe they ever had. 1t wa.
plain that his remarks had telling
effect upon those who had drawn nea
from The courthouse. Messrs. Turkey
Brooks, and Lewis Lindsay, followed il
brief speeches. The colored people arr
almost unit for Grant, and the honest
white people of the county who have here
tofore acted with the Democratic-Conserva
tive party, are gradually opening their eye
to the fact that there is danger in the Gree
ley movement. The meeting of Monda
will have powerful effect in clearing u
the doubts in the minds of such men.