Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-11-25
Frem ~ LgaeAbarg E.ggin.an.
NEssRs. GIIwER AND IRVING.

4
MEsSRs. GILMER AND IRVING.
From all quarters, we learn that Mr..
\ frying's triumph over the Elk Governor al
AlbcmarIc, was complete and acknowl-
edged-ihe latter Quailing under the hea-
Wy and hot FIRE of his gallant opponent.
/ The Charlottesville Advocate gives an IN
tercsting account Of the debate between
them, which we regret that we have not
been able to crowd into our. columns.
=" Mr.. Irving Git says) appeared before US
almost an entire stranger, except by lame,
which ascribed to him talents, skill IN de-
bate, a bold eloquence, and manly IN
dependence OF character, which It would
be uoiusl in any impartial observer, OF the
days history TO deny that he not only sus.
tanned, but surpassed. We CLEAN from
the Advocates narrative few incidents.
Gov. Gilmer, in adverting 10 the appro-
priation TO the widow Of Gen. Harrison,
had very unfeehngly expressed the appre-
hension, (Which he must have known,
from the yenerated character of that no.
BILE woman, was wholly unfounded,) that
" she might marry some coxcomb, who
would expend the amount votee to her be-
fore the honeymoon was over. This
remark was Indignantly replied to by Mr..
Irving, who justly regarded her remnant
Of days as being wholly associated with
the memory of her ilustrious husband,
"around whose tomb, 1.-THE orator beau
tfully observed) Death and Glory would
keep one eternal Sabbath"
In reply to Mr.. Gilmer's assault upon
the great Kentucky Statesman, (whom
Mr.. G. so warmly eulogized one brief
year ago. Mr.. Irving was brilliantly ell
oquept. Referring particularly to MIR.
Clay's gallant bearing during the mad
excuses of Jackson's administration, Mr..
Irving said: "When all was darkness and
despair--when the best and purest patri-
OTIS in the land were ready to abandon the
unequal cor6ict--when State after State
had bowed The head Of ignoble submission
when that resolme and willul man,
backed by on overwhelming popularity,
seemed like Colossus to stride over
PROSTATE constitution he had sworn TO de-
fend and preserve, and, like the gigantic
figure in the vision of the King Of Baby
lon, with feet of iron and arms of brass,
defied all oppos,ion-it was he who stood
foremost in the almost hopeless ranks OF
resistance-it was he whose voice was
heard amidst the thunders Of the popular
tempest, and whose sword CLEANED through
the darkness of the storm, and pointed
while it LED tbs way to a triumphant de-
liverance. And when this perilous con-
hict was ended-when the sober second
thoughts of the people had dispellei the
illusion by which they had been mist d,
did he SCHEME for the Presidency? Did
he ask for his share OF the spoils F! No.
History will record his dsnterestedness.
He stood then, where he yet stands, al
ways al the post Of duty, and like the
Cherubim which guards the gates Of Para
disc, welding his flaming sword every
way, against the enemies of his country"
This is a jus, tribute worthy alike of the
orator and of his subject.
Mr.. Irving is said by the Charlottes-
vile Advocate to have discussed The cou-
siiiuiionalty of a National Bank in style
a, once novel and original. 1t promises
a sketch ofhs argument hereafter, (which
elected high praise from distinguished
gentlemen who heard him, and which was
presented in style as modest and diff
dent, as the argument itself was mastery
and novel;" Mr.. Gilmer did not attempt
to answer him--preferring his tavorlte
mode of replying to arguments by anec
dotes.
In the course of the discussion, Mr.. lr-
wing compared MIR. Gilmer to the Sun a
compliment which was too much for the
Governors modesty, who thought thai he
more nearly resembled the Moon.-" 10
one respect" promptly interp' sed Mr..
Irving, the resemblance is complete
the Moon, you know, changes once u
month 7"
Gov. Glmer still persisted that he had
not changed If he has not, both of the
great parties have--as the Wings now re-
nounce, and the Loco Focos now embrace
him! Strange that he alone should stand
still, while so many thousands Of both par
ties, have changed front!