Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-11-17
A Southern "Jint Discussion. "


loud and prolonged cheers, accompanied with
"llail Columbia" from brass and string
band, and we find there is democratic mass
meeting here, and the speakers arrive with
US. The little fact that 200 soldiers are on
the same train seems to make no manner Of
difference to the noisy natives. White and
colored crowd around the troops as they
change cars, with cheerful salutatons, while
officers and civil staff are introduced to no
end of "cunnels" and "maj ahs." Que gentle
man Il think he was general" but AN
not positive), when introduced to me with
mention Of my business, said -
"Ah, that's a radical paper, amt it i? Now
you must just stop hcah day or two with
us. This amt one of our big meetings, but
it's representative. Wen try and get the
coored people to joint debate with US, and
it will be a good sight for you And we
want you to speak, too, if you will. Do
please. Give US the South C'yerliuy ques.
ton from a north'n standpoint"
Seeing no objection, stayed and soon
after dinner the fun began. Having declined
seventeen invitations to drink they use corn
whiskey here exclusively, claiming that it is
], Il
prise that no bar would be open after the
procession came in. 1t appears that the
rifle clubs arc social as well as military or.
CARNATIONS, and in some places have as many
ladies as gentlemen in them. Inc ladies
make it point to have everybody sober at
the meeting, aud, in accordance with their
request, the committee issued general call
to all dealers to sell no whisky. During the
entire day | saw but two men under the in
fueuce Of liquor. Evidently democracy
works on man different down here from
what it does in Ohio
There were already 200 or more negroes
in town aud few whites, when prolonged
cheering indicated that the procession was
on the move. They came in some 800 strong
mounted on all sorts of tackle" well sup
piled with red ribbons, aud making a very
gay appearance. There were no arms in
sight Midway in the line was very pretty
blue flag with white fringe, and in the cen.
ter n palmetto tree worked in white. At
every third or fourth house group OF Ia
dies were on the porch, and at every group
the leading horseman swung his flag and
cried Three cheers for the ladies' OF Branch
viIle" As the cheer was repeated all along
the line, with other cheers for local OBJ.
ects, and a big supply for champion aud
home rule" the yelling was pretty lively.
During the whole march there was not one
cheer for Tilden and Hendricks 1t was all
for Hampton and reform. On all sides the
negroes laughed and yelled for Chamberin
in answer to the cries Tor Hampton, till near
the end of the procession, when four black
men appeared in the line There
were white men to the right of them, white
men to the left Of them white men in front
and behind them but at sight Of
themthe negroes on the street burst
into a loud Ki.yi ki-yi see 'em go see EN-
GO" most Of which appeared to be directed
at one black man in the line, who looked
like preacher. Just then regular black
giantcss, the biggest negress | ever saw,
rushed out of a cabin, and shaking her fist
like ham of meat, yelled after him "Soo-
e-o the big bull calf! O.o.o.o, see tho big
bull calf to the infinite delight Of her con-
goners.
1t needed but a touch to complete the
comedy, aud that touch was supplied by an
old SOW, but a SOW of kind that is never
seen at the north. She was surely the lean
est longest, spotteiGst black.and-sandy beast
that ever rooted for "goobers," From the
root of her tail to the end of her nose was a
perfect arch; the latter organ projected like
bowsprit aud her forequarters were reared
like those of an elk. AS she attempted to
cross the procession just behind the black
democrats an inconsidcrate terrier dashed at
her the conflict set all the mules in the
line to plungng, and soon gave the SOW fight.
ing room, when she turned on the dog and
whipped him in fair fight, to the great
amusement of the blacks.
Speaking began at 3 p. m, and continued
till dark. There was an in'ermission of an
hour for supper, after which bonfres were
lighted, and the speaking resumed and kept
up till | o'clock. | call it speaking, but it
was hardly that so much as dramatic dia-
logue of political character 1t must take
rare presence Of mind and pretty quick wit
to speak to such an audience. At every
turn the negroes interposed with questions or
loud comments to which the speakers re-
piled good-humoredly, or the whites shouted
such suggestions as, 1.-The Peabody fund,
majah hit 'em whuok on the Peabody
fund !" "Tel em about Chamberlins letter
to Parker" GLOW about the school money
Miles G Parker got away with ?" ETC., eto,
The first speaker was knowlton Brown
ing, a northern man, who came here, a few