THE CELEBRATION AT CLIFTON SPRINGS.

GENEVA, August 7, 1856.

MR. EDITOR:—The First of August Cele
bration at Clifton Springs was certainly one
worthy of inscription on the historical pages of
this country. A better and more convenient
spot could not have been selected for such an
occasion in any part of this State. Water, of
course, which is a very essential element at
such times, was profuse and close at hand—About
seven or eight thousand persons were
gathered at the place of action. A more in
telligent, respectable and orderly crowd, never
gathered together, at any time or in any place.

Although the Hon. Gerrit Smith was not
present to act as the President of the day, be
cause of this sickness of his wife, as was stated
to the audience, and the people seemed quite
disappointed in consequence thereof, yet when
the name of the Hon. H. Bradley, of Penn
Yan, was announced as the substitute, there
was a general satisfaction. A President more
dignified and courteous to occupy a chair on
any great occasion is not wanted.

The exercises were opened by Prayer from
E. J. Adams, of Philadelphia, after which Mr.
Clark, of Rochester, introduced the Song of
Freedom; who rolled out notes melodious and
heart-melting upon the breeze, which now and
then brought forth from the vast audience deaf
ning applause. When the song had ended, the
renowned Garnet was introduced to the audi
ence. And had Henry H. Garnet, been one
who had risen from the dead, he could not have
been looked upon with more anxious eyes and
greater respect, and hailed with greater applause and listened to with profounder atten
tion. He reminded the people that we cele
brate the first day of August, because, the
American people had given us no other, and
that we are obliged to go to old England for
a day to celebrate. In his speech, he confined
himself mostly to the act and the effect of the
British West India Emancipation. There
could not have ben one selected who could
have spoken more eloquently upon that subject;
having resided several years where the effect of
the great act took place. He spoke of it as
one experimentally acquainted with its history,
from first to last. How then could he be other
wise. He was logical, majestic and sublime—I venture to say that Mr. Garnet never was
more eloquent than on that day on such an occasion. After Mr. Gr. took his seat, Mr. G. W.
Clark introduced and interested the audience

with another beautiful Emancipation Song, by
which the ladies seemed to be more enchanted
than by any thing else. Oratory for men—mu
sic for women. I suppose it is because woman
is more poetic in her nature than man.

Now Mr. W. J. Watkins is introduced to the
noble assembly, and it does seem to me that
more polished strains of eloquence never fell
from the lips of any man, white or black, that
he uttered that day, it was certainly a treat
to hear him. He was 'mighty, clear and forci
ble.'

Mr. Watkins, like Mr. Douglass, when he
came into this world, he brought eloquence
with him. It flows out just as free as water—there
is no straining to get off eloquent words.
Although the people seemed to be somewhat
restless, and began to hurry off when Mr. Gar
net took his seat and music no longer enchanted
the crowd, yet Mr. Watkins had spoke no long
er than ten or fifteen minutes, before the multi
tude began to be attracted as by some magic
power. He had the people wrapped around
his very tongue. There were the D. D.'s and
M. D.'s, and all sorts of men, women and children standing and sitting with mouths gaped
wide open, eyes glaring and ears well set; and
every few minutes, rapturous applause would
break in upon the silence. The audience were
more than two thirds white in complexion, and
all colored as to excellent deportment. I have
never heretofore had any great sympathy for
First of August celebrations; being of the
opinion that nothing much could ever be effect
ed by it for the amelioration of the condition of
the black people of this country, and the op
pressed; but now I am convinced otherwise—
and my conviction is, that it is one of the ef
fectual ways of reaching the hearts of a great
portion of the American people who are calcu
lated to wield an important political influence
in behalf of the oppressed of this country, for
on such occasions both political and intellectual
qualifications are exhibited to a fair advantage,
and whenever and wherever manhood has a
good opportunity to show itself in all its noble
form, prejudice and complexional distinction,
must tremble fall and crumble.

There were several speeches made after din
ner; among them was one from Miss Steward,
of Canandaigua which is said to have been a
noble exhibition of intellectual qualification. I
did not hear it: I only saw the lady, whose cranium indicated a more than common ability.

E. J. A.