Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-08-28
POLITICAL.


7F,o-7 ~ - --s-1 17-g star .31.n-t 20J
TIE FINGA$TLE DISCUSSION.
Monday the eth, day wa'ch Will long be re-
membered in old Boletour; Formal notice having
been uivcn that NIr. Rvcs would address the people
on that dav and it bring known that several genie
men of the Democratic party had, IN pursuance OF F."
resolution passed at the Jelly Court, been invited 10
attend and address the people at that tI"", nnch m
,erest was felt as 10 the result. The uncertainty Is
10 whom their chosen champion would have to en-
counter added not little 10 the anxiety with when
the Feds looked forward Ia the rcsGt their attempt
10 operate upon this good old Democratic strong hold
Expectation tip-toe, and wien u was hnaIi!
known that James Mcdowell, Esq, of Rockbrdgr
would be present the excitement became intense The
hrh reputation o. both gentlemen and the tact maj
they met for the first time, but added TO The zeal OF
their respective friends. Extreme preparation had
been made to accommodate those who might turn out
Yet il was not sufficient The day fine one, and
Rockbridpe Roanoke and Bedford, each furnished
LARGE delegation and old Boetourt havlngas she al
WAYS does-done her duty, the crowd wGs immense
Not less think than from twelve 10 heen hnnareu
persons were in attendance, and the "Hnre faws
and "But, Enders' might be in surprisingly close
contact with the Gapper dandy broad cloth, all beng
intent upon the object. At quarter before
twelve the Orators took the stand when it was an
nounced that the committees appointed by the two par
ties had agreed upon the by which the discussion
was TO be conducted, and two timers having been
chosen Mr.. Rives, in pursuance Of the arrangement
opened the discussion IN speech OF rather more than
two hours
He commenced his speech with the bold assertion,
that Mr. Van Buren, h7d, rom Tie outset cf his 3dmf"
istration the prescott tire pursued course ct policy
in direct conflict with all his pledges and professions,
made previously 10 his election :" hagrant, and out
rapeous had been these violations, that he was bound as
an honest Republican, 10 hold him up the indignation
of his coun,ryncn He spoke not OF single measure,
but Of long train o: measures, all tending to the same
end-hartng IN vew the concentration Of all power IN
the hands of the Executive lie charged the President
with Federalism and proof OF this charge. adtnced
his recommendation of the Independent Treasury,
which he asserted, took the money out OF the control OF
the people Repesc natives and placed u "cnt'rsty
under the control of the President Here lie passed or
into TRADE of slang about the union of the purse and
sword in the hands of the Executive, and the effects OF
that union upon the freedom of ;hc nation. lie then
charged the President with attempting TO subsldize the
Banks and bring them under the control OF the Federal
Governments and that too directly in the teeth of his
rec concentration Of the divorce between the Govern
rnent, and those institutions,
The next subject Walls Report, and never was
a paper more grossly misrsprescnied His Argument
upon this bra nch Of indeed i: should h" dignifed with
such name) was as pitiiul and feeble any thing
we have heard from any man, great or small. IL"
maintained the doctrine that because man was dcemi-
ed worthy Of Office by has Government, lie ought not
to be allowed expression of ms views the great
political questions which frequently cngross public
attention The doctrine is in direct conflict with all
the prime Piles held dear by Republican ancestors,
whose excrtions secured for the liberty
10Y. SucN doctrine wei USCOiHtS WHO
are now warning against the Republican measures Of
this Administration
Then came Ponsetts Militia recommendation, which
he denounced as 'Standiag .7rmy" On this point,
he said nothing new. He repeated all the demagogca
slang with which the newspapers have been filled for
months past He abused Mr.. Ponscu, and charged
him too plain TO be misunderstood, with hav
ing swallowed his words to please the President
Charged that v Buren, had SEEN and read the Plan and
had recommended it, in his Annual Message
lie Ind aDIa 'TreaS
was nothing than his various speeches boiled
down, Ills old idea about "t'co carrcRcies, which by
constant has become thrcatbarc again repeated
in connection with the Wing misrepresentation OF
Buchanan and Tappan Speeches. lie talked OF the
reduction of wages and all the starvation and misery
which were to follow The adoption Ct this measure
Told the people that the President wanted the public
money TO eectoncer uponaad closed this part OF his
speech with the assertion, that this measure had
thing recommend It, the fact that several Of
The ',corn out oaarchics Of Europe had adopted IT,
Then came the Bankrupt Law, winch was another
measure Van Burcn bad adopted I" strengthen the Ex
ecutve arm The little fellow seemed have great
sympathy for the rotten and suspended banks-he re-
garded it a awful business to make them pay
up their just debts--had idea Of placing them upon
the same ground which IS occupied by the industrious
farmer and mechanic who struggles daily Tor the
of subsistence for himself and his family. Any man
who has the slightest curiosity 10 read his argument,
can be gr.i.d by reference to the columns Of the
Madsonian, or the Richmond Wing.
Expcndturrs-Oh, how prolisatc and cxtravagant
What terrible waste of the public mon"y Eut he
particularly careful 10 play ''Hum in regard 10
the itens lie could not single ten, which
was either prohigate extravagant We were expect
ing every moment to hear him introduce III. furniture
of the White House; but disappointed Mr.
Smith of Culpeper used him up awiullv at Madison
on thus subject, that he VIII never introduce il ararn
de then passed of 10 attack ~rpon Grundv, "Sind.
tor Niles, as he called him. 'oid Tom R&,die, Amos
Kendall, Strand Biar -Woodburv-"F iadcr" hi,
two at Roane- Office Holders gcncrallv-and finally
General Jackson, and Mr.. Van Buren, He closed his
speech with eulogiun upon Harrison COMMUNICATING
his military services, but taking especial pains TO say
not one word about his opinions the Tarr-Bank.
or Internal improvement
Mr. Mcdowell followed in Speech Of The same
length To those who acquainted with his digni.
fed and impressive style OF oraory It's only necessary
to say that it Of his best efforts. He fol-
lowed Mr. Rives through all his winnings, met every
issue which he rendered and overthrow completely his
argument by shelving the utter ialsity Of his premises
The shallow attempt 10 convict the President of Re
deralism BY assuming tina: the Strengthening ofthe Ex
ecutive the proper test and that the Sub-Trca
sury, BY placing the purse III the hands of the Presi
dent, effected that object, most riumphany retn-
ted. In commenting upon the radical difference in the
position OF the two parties Mr. Nc Dowcl was fecitous
in the extreme lie pointed GU, the great diversity of
interests which II expected of the Admit
s,ration to harmonise, showed how easy it for the
Opposition, who pat forward no measure themselves, to
raise clan,or upon mniacral issucs-to distract the
public mind Ivy urging multiplicity Of charges, them
selves the result Of the imperfect structure Of all govern
ncnts as constituting sufficient cause for change CT
ulers and exposed the nnurncSs Of snch attempts 10
ielude the people His Illustration Of this point was