Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-10-27
CIYIS.
October 2OM, 1870.
COMILN'Jc4vED

The interest which has been 80 warmly mani
Tested through this district, on the subject of ,s
next Congressional Election, and the zeal activity
ana energy, which have been displayed by the res
peeuVe friends OF the Candidate, will form in the
eyes OF the public, ample apology for thrus,ins =
upon their notice, few remarks upon the late
meeting OF Messrs. Giles and Archer nj Po,yb,tan
Court House. | should feel unwilling 10 inlrude
my own private opinions upon the public attention
on This subject, unless | was impslled to il nv a
sense oil justice, which, think, should ever be
awarded TO injured and prosecuted innocence-I
shouid De restrained from offering one " ord on a
SUBJECT OF 80 much private and public excitement,
II the warmest dictates OF my heart do NOT al
monsh ME, TO contribute the mite'' OF nv inf,,
ence, however small it may be, to the support of
that political Patriarch, whose long and useful life
mas ever been devoted TO the advancement of the
best interests OF his country and who. when
called IN its evening by the voice OF the people
from the peaceful enjoyment of domestic happiness
ana solicited once more to engage in the hustle of
pubic employment, instead of meeting that apDro-
Dalton OF his public conduct, which i, so much
| merits, has been cruelty assaed with charges so
absurd and ridiculous, that it would reflect upon
the understanding, even OF his warmeSt opponents
10 suppose Tor moment, that they could rea{i,,
attach 10 them that importance which they have nm
parentiy done
Mr.. Giles appeared at Powhatau Court prep,r-
ca 70 repel those charges, which had formerly been
brought against him, by his political opDonent
He read the challenge of that oppoueut 10 Tho
electloneerlnS arena, which - would nel,her give
or receive any explanation or apology. - He COM
menced MS address with miidness.- His aped and
venerable brow bore upon it the impress of con-
scious integrty-His countenance was sttongIv
marked with that expression, which we ma y
suppose 10 have rested upon the placid features OF
ihe great Socrates. when he stood before those
md IN ,,,ho
mind, and the Incorporating integrity of the dis
tlnguIshed criminal, were circumstances oniv cal
culated TO ensure his condemnation But more
successful was The eifo!t of the moGern Orator than
That OF the i!lusrious philosopher of astiouity-I
was me misfortune OF the one, TO address himself
10 envy, ignorance and corruption In the persons
OF his JudSes-but, the peculiar good fortune of
'ne other, 10 present his arguments to talents, pa
triotism & eng htened liberaty embodied in the in
tellsent people of Powhatan - His mind seemed 10
acquire strength as he advanced. The feebA condi-
ton OF his health, and that debility' the ne
cessary consequence Of advanced age, seemed 10
De Forgotten, while he eloquently explained 10 tho
attentive audience, the fulliiy of the charges al
legged against hlm-wbile he respectfully called
TO Their recollection, the important services which
ne hdu rendered TO MS country, and begged their
attention, while he should endeavor TO remove
those injurious calumnies, which the bypercritcal
scrutiny Of his opponents had alledged against him
NOR, did he endeavor in vain Each subject OF ac-
cusatIon, was in turn stpt of its clothing of So
phlstTy, and exhibited TO the view of the people.
IN the light OF sound reason, and Judgment. No
longer did the cloud of error seem to hang over the
head OF the venerable s,atesmsn-No longer did
ne seem to be borne down By the weight of poIit-
zeal sins but, the charges of his enemies when
represented In their proper colors to the people he
declared TO be the brightest feathers in his poit-
ical cap" lie spoke for nearly four hours. His
great and capacIous mind seemed TO scan each
SUBJECT presented TO II, with facility peculiar on
~ 20 itseii and, his arguments, lucid, Uigorous
and impressive, seemed to work conviction. even
upon prejudice itself Hence the remark of a
iIiend OF Mi Archer, " that Mr.. G. was irresisii-
oie' inat Ike second Antsus he rose with re-
newed vIgor against the continued attacks Of his
enemies and, like him, he dispersed them with
out difhculiy. )" 1t would be impossible in this
snort sketb, 10 give an adequate idea of Mr.. G. >
eort' and II would be useless to pursue the tire ad
oil his argument, as am informed, his friends in
tend to solicit its publication.
lie was answered by Mr. Archer and his an
swer was couched in terms of the bitterest invec-
i've could but observe the marked difference
between the cbasie and decorous language of MIR.
u, and the coarse indelicate exoressfons of bis
opponent They are too gross TO be rensstsd =
Ihey carry upon their face the stamp of the most
malignant feeling they seem to have been pronpt-
ed by an excitement of passion totally inconsistent
with the character Of great and distinguished
man. should insult the taste and wrong the
sensiblity Of the people Of Powhatan, to suppose
tor moment, that language, 50 indecorous, could
De acceptable TO them nor, can I believe, that
expressions, 70 unsuitable the character OF their
representative, will not meet with that reception
"nen they so eminenty merit had not ex-
pected such language from Mr. A., of whom
(though have not the honor of his personal ar
quain'ance) have always heard, that he was a