The New York herald., 1872-08-03
Grand Barbecue and Jolliflca-
tion in Lexington.
OPEN ARMS TO NORTHERN BRETHREN.
Hopes of a Union of Hearts
and Hands.
Feeling Speeches and Immense Enthusiam-
Homer to the Old Flag and tho Boys in
Blue-Denunciation Of Grant and
Cheers for Greeley-Exorcism
Of the Demons Of Discord

LExINdTON, n.y., August q, 1877.
All Lexington to-day Is enjoying barbecue, and
many distinguished people from this and adjoining
states are present and participating in the eating
speechmaking and cheering. Leslie Coombs, ex-
Governor Jacobs, General George b. Hodge,
candidate for Elector at Large; Colonel
W. C. p. Breckenridge, Judge Kinkead
James B. Beck, M. c.; william M. Cooke, and
multitude or others are on the grounds. The
scene Of the barbecue Is grove west of the town.
and there are c0ngregated in the vicinity about two
hundred and fifty carriages, one hundred saddle
horses and three thousand persons on foot. Two
long trenches, filed with live Goals, are covered
with the carcasses OF forty Southdown sheep
Bread is piled up in hilocks and burgoo
Is sending forth its aroma from score
Of caldrons Among those in attendance
there are at least six hundred ladies. These
have brought In their carriages nicely packed ham,
pers, and private cOatlOns spread ut intervals
throughout the grove. During the forenoon
speeches were delivered by congressman James B..
Beck and Captain Joseph Blackburn. Both were
brimiul of enthusiasm, and arraigned Grant, bit
terly denouncing his course in office. Blackburn
said 'Grant had placed upon record in the archives
OF the nation his statement that the South had
ACCEPTED THE ISSUE
Of the war manfuly, and the Southern people were
disposed to peacefully abide by it. In that report
the cl0se-seaed lips OF the President General had
let slip, perhaps, the greatest truth he ever ut
tered.
The first speech of the afternoon was that Of Gen.
eral Hodge, who said he would vote for Horace
Greeley because Greeley rendered amnesty pos
possible. Not only would he accept Greeley,
without crossing single or dotting single /.
The speaker then read Mr.. Greeleys letter OF ac-
ceptance III. The frs first clause When divested Of
secured to them and shall be in perpetuity, "and
to that clause he could, with all his record behind
him, boldly say "Ay.n He added :-'ThrOwing aside
our prejudices and our beliefs,
THE LEGISLATION OF EVENTS
has decided the enfranchisement Of the blacks
and the legislation OF events Is more powerful than
that OF kings or legislatures. In regard to the
amnesty clause you all know what that means.
SSensation;l 1t means that the dead past Is to be
indeed buried and that we for instance right here
may show the love and admiration We ali feel for
John Q. Breckinridge. (Cheers) 1t means that
the great heart of the people North and South will
not beat in unison In vain; that their charity and
good Will may fill up that bloody chasm which the
demons of Grants administration are determined
to keep open. And OF tho clause relating to
THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS OF THE UNITED STATES,
would say, and l know every cOmrade of mine
who was in the Army of the South will say all
honor to the brave men who lost limb or life in de-
Tending the ensign which is now ours, and which
represents our common country. l have heard
some say they could cheerfully support Gratz
Brown, but they could not support Greeley. 1t re-
minds me OF the anecdOte in which
BAD NEGRO CAUGHT PLAYING CARDS
apo0gized by saying he was mot playing for his
self, but it was anudder niggers hand" Any man
who refuses to vote for Greeley practically votes
Grant. Grant, whose heaChmen and satellites have
preycd upon the South, already Impoverished 10y
the war-whose carpetbaggers have not only gob-
bled up the receipts Of reckless taxation but have
seized the States themselves and buried
them beneath Enormous public debts. Ala
bama owed four millions before the war and her
expenses OF government were a little more than
$S0O0G0 per annum. 1t cost the people for the
Carpet-bag government last year $4, ,9OO,0 900, and
the State debt increased to $19 600 900. Georgia
owning her railroad, reaching to the Gulf was
never In debt. The carpet-baggers seized the rail.
road and heaped upon the State a debt of
SIC, ,000, 900. The remainder OF the speech was an
eloquent, but bitter denunciation OF the admins
tratiOn.
Colonel Breckinridge followed in an address OF an
hour and half, which was mixture Of the
passionate and ludicrOus, keeping the audience
alternately convused with laughter ana roaring
with cheers. In both these speeches and the pre-
ceding ones
THE SPEAKERS WE'RE DEEPLY MOVED
when they came to mention the old nag and to
picture the whole union their common country
once more, only greater and better now
that Old sources OF bitterness were taken
away, and new and generous impulses, bringing
the whole nation nearer together. At such times
the people cneered laughed and clapped their
hands, showing feeling OF delight that was almost
childish. After the speeches there was dancing on
the green by OF country people, and the fes-
tivties were kept up till nightfall.