Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-09-17
The "BrOugh Meeting"


large crowd sf people is expected to as
semble in town next Tuesday. on the oc-
casion of the cornerstone laying of the
new court house. In this connection,
another memorable occasion is called to
mind.
In 1863, in the very white heat of the
great struggle for our nationality, the
so-caIled Democratic party of the State
nominated for Governor Mr.. Clement l..
VallaBdigham, who had in Congress and
elsewhere proclaimed his sympathy with
the rebels and his detestation of the ma
tional cause. The formidable defenses
of Vicksburg had surrendered to the
vigorous pounding of Grant. Lee had
invaded Pennsylvania, and from the
heights of Gettysburg was hurled back
by Meade. Light had commenced to
dawn. Patriotic people hoped the great
struggle was approaching a successful
issue. The allies of the rebels, madden
ed by defeat, nominated Mr.. Valiandig.
ham for Governor. The challenge was
accepted. Against him was pitted John
Brough, one of the mightiest men the
State has ever produced. A very large
meeting of the Vallandigham people
was held at st. Clairsville in the latter
part of August. Union people were
thoroughly aroused by it, and at once
determined that such a demonstration
should be made upon the same ground
as would forever put that affair to
shame. At it they went with tremen-
dous energy. Governor Brough opened
the canvass at Marietta. his birth
place. The day before his meeting at st.
CIairsville the town was filled with peo>
pie. For many days before the patriot
ic ladies had busted themselves prepa-
ring to take care of the multitude that
would flock within our gates. The
houses OF all Union people in the town
were public eating houses-"meals at all
hours" most emphatically. All night
l1OuS VI JAC 1OSAl VI OORbg OnSCA AACb
worked hanging flags and banners across
the streets, and these, with arches over
Main street, decked with evergreeDs and
flags, made the town look like "a bride
decked for the altar" Soon after SUM-
rise Main street was literally swarming
with people. Before daybreak the sui
len roar of cannon at Wheeling awoke
the people of that and all the towns
Roundabout, and at sunrise the mighty
hosts from the east were marshaling the
finest procession of the kind ever seer
in this part of the country. The Union
people of Wheeling, led by the late VIM
Tallant, E NJ Norton, A w Campbell
and others, treated it as their own affair
and if ever people made a display tc
be proud of it was then aud there. From
Washington, Pa, Steubenville, and Other
distant points, came crowds of people
Harrison county almost emptied itself
into st. Clairsville, and so did the south
ern part of Jefferson; Guernsey and
Monroe poured great throngs of people
Into the town. No thought of day
simply, but the night before and the
day following the roads swarmed witt
long lines of vehicles. The procession
passed through the town in double lines
and in it we're many elaborate devices
the most notable being gunboat
mounted on a huge wagon. the contri
button of the iron workers of Wheeling
The procession from the east was turned
, in a field short distance beyond tn,
; point now occupied by the .tollgate ives
, of town. Several thousand people nevel
f reached the fair grounds, where tht
, speaking occurred. Speaking frOn
, three stands commenced after dinner
Governor Brough spoke from a stand OF
) the site now occupied by the dining hall
and facing him the hill was covered
with people to the summit Careful
men estimated that $4,000 people attend
f ed the meeting. 1t was an inspiration
I to Governor Brough, and for almos
three hours he plead with the peopl
with tremendous power to stand b.
their neighbors in the field and by th'
! integrity of the Union. The procession
was moving through town from abOu
ten o'clock until three, and during al
that time the air was filled with tn,
blare of bands and the shouts of tn
people. Its like was never seen befor
nor since in the town. and probably ney
er will again.