Wilmington journal., 1876-09-29
Co

Il
1 Hsws From Sampson.
MIR. EDITOR: The announcement
that Gen. M. W. Ransom would reach
Clinton last Thursday evening created
| quite q hutter In our midst, and the
| people turned out en- aaassc 10 receive
him. An imposing cavalcade of fifty
| OR sixty enthusiastic members Of the
Clinton Tlden and Vance club, 40
companied by the Clinton Cornet
Band. went out in time 10 meet the
General q mile or two from town and
escorted him 10 the hotel Marching q
into Sown, the band discoursinR SONS
of it's iveliest and most soul-stirring
music, the Generals progress was re-
peatedly interrupted by groups of
fair ladies-mothers and daughters-
who gathered in the streets to do him
honor. II WAS q triumphsl entry.
Arrived at the hotel, a few words of
welcome from Edwin W. Kerr, Esq =,
and of fattering thanks from the Gen :
eral, who seemed confused in the
midst Of 90 many evidences Of affec-
tion for himself, were followed by in
Productions and hand -shakings and
joyous meetings Of many who with
him yielded to overwhelming num-
bers and resources" at Appomattox.
A continuous rain from early Friday
morning till the middle of the day
prevented the arrangements of the
managers from being carried out end
compelled the most of the country
people to remain at home. The grand
stand was therefore abandoned, and
the announcement that the General
would speak in Faison Hall soon filed
that spacious room to overfowing ard
half the crowd were still in the street
under their umbrellas. Deafening
applause and "Down in front" greeted
the arrival OF Ransom. He vas intro
duced by Mr.. Keer, and before he had
spoken two minutes the impatience of
the outsiders became unmanageable,
and they drowned the words of the
speaker with "Ransom" "Ransom!"
'"The rains over!' "Come out here!"
The cry became general, and, although
the rain was not quite over, all par ties
repaired to the grand stand. And
here six or seven hundred white men
and perhaps fifty negroes stood in a
rain and listened for nearly
three hours to speech which have
not words to characterize. Often the |
intimated a purpose to close,
but the crowd objected, and told him |
to go on!' He dealt in plain facts;
he knew the people he was talking to, |
and he knew they did not come to hear,
nor did he have time to give them
any of the flowers of oratory. The
issues before the country were too
grave. and the interests at stake too
weighty for other than plain words.
His language was temperate almost to
Qn6 Uhos1 ol0oinr ~ |
lis terrible counts against Grantism
1e called Morton and Edmunds and
Butler "bad men," his words were
more than echoed by great waves of
swelling and surging in
he breasts of his audience. The in-
fable diabolism and the fiendish
granny of Radical!sm, as exposed by
lim, brought many tears into eyes
unused to them.
The speech over, the band struck up
The Old North State Forever /" and
he vast crowd gathered around the
General to shake his hand. It was q
,lorious day for the Democrats, and
was a whitening day for Grantism.
1any of the intelligent negroes who
eard the speech have avowed a pur
'ose, I understand, to stay away from
he election, and one prominent leader
mong them said that if Ransom told
be truth, ''the Yankees had treated
IS mighty bad"
cannot close this paper without
living a piece of news that cheers all
ur hearts. Saturday Edwin W. Kerr
ddressed large assemblage at tOwen-
lille, LittleCoharie Township. .andword
ONES into Clinton to-day that fifteen
'hite men heretofore voting the Radi-
al ticket joined the Tilden and Vance
lub after the speaking, and vowed,
lany of them with tears in their eyes,
lat they would nevef vote 3 Radical
49, -o-:-- o. - AL---- ~. hAan
ne fdus Achates of Caltom Seasons.
This news was brought by Mr.. Jas.
White and is undoubted.
OBsERvER.
CLINTON, Sept. 25, 1875. /