The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-05-16
1--WE dnd the following amusing sketch in the
VIRGINIA ELECFIoNs.-MEssRs JONES
AND BOTfS.

! VIRGINIA ELEC TIONs.--ME JONES
AND BOTfS.
Correspondence Of Ae Net0 Hapsn Conn., Register.
RlcHsoND, Va, April oath, l643
Messrs Editors As many of your readers may ne.
yer have attended at Virginia HustDgs, custom
different from any thing have at the North, an ac-
count CT one may be received with some interest.
Last Saturday afternoon the pie of this district
met about mile and half from this city, at place
called Bacon Quarter Branch and there, upon plat
form, in the open air seated by small table found
the two Congressional candidates for this district Mr.
Jones aud Mr. Bots both ready to address the people.
Around them are gathered some six op eight hundred
individuals OF both partes-some on horseback others
on blocks, benches, an, ID ng they find To put
a foot upon. IL is agreed between the parties, that
each one shall first speak AN hour and a half, and
then close with another speech Of half AN hour in
length.
Mr.. Jones, the Democratic candidate, first rises 10
address the meeting In him a about forty
five years age plain in s personal appearance, and
with counenance marked by deep thought and stu
dy-he was formerly member of Congress- and at
the time, ! think, member OF the Committee Of
Ways and Means. He commences his speech by cali
ing the attention Of the audience TO the present pot
cal aspect OF the country and increasing in energy tie
enters into the discussion of the great political ques
tions of the day. and with bold and arless spirit
he throAs his whole hope of upon the issue.
With them he is willing to sink swim, TO live or
die. There is no trickery, no lodging, but plain
open statement of facts. lie calls upon his opp nent
10 do The same--to no longer cloak the issue before
them as they had formerly done, of Bank no
Bank, but TO give to the people the of each
party, and let them decide. The great and unequal
equal eXactlons of the tarh-the distribution of the
public lands, was discussed, with every other mea-
sure OF the extra session of Congress- of which his
opponent was SO conspicuous member; but like
horse over race course he is timed TO the twentieth
part OF minute by the watches in almost every
hand, and MIR. Bolts, the Wing candidate, rises to
take his place need not tell you who MIR. Bolts is;
he is well known throughout this whole country;
and whether his reputation is envable one, will
not pretend to say but had expected in the re-
nowned and celebrated champion of WhIggrry, the
impeacher OF the President, the header Of Captain
j. er different man from the before me-
Could it be, that | in that man--boated and
suush in appearance--abo forty years Of age,
with pitcher OF brandy punch in hand, and a
glass In the other, the great Mr.. Bolts rubbed my
eyes and looked, and rubbed and looked again, and
turned to this and that ] inquired whether they
that it was Mr.. Bolts? Yes, it was he
and oh fancy what cheat!
But hush, he commences his speech. 81 tell you,
JoDes-(stop-more punch-more hard cidcr-Bos
ton and Fashion before me) l say, Jones, you are
good looking fellow, but the people have not found
It out yet Stand up here, and let us look at YOU
countenance as mild, as peaceable. Why man,
you would not quarrel. No, no. Jones--interest in
terest would keep you from il. But do you expect
this chap, and these old coons here to believe what
IL .
and will now tell you why did it, though | never
told it before. About seven days after John Tyler
took the Presidential Chair, / called on him, and
from the conversation | had, found that he intend
ed, Gas one then bound for the term to
use all his power and influence, during these four
years to build up party Of his own, and one that
would make him President the next eight years.
Says !, John Tyer-Q swore them by Cd, If you
expect to prostitute this whole Wing party to your
purposes, you did have, nor never will have a
he Kohl
jump before you ara spurred-ihis Cabinet is one
of General liarrison's, and shall want of my
old friends, and where shall l look for lhem bat
in my own State But was not TO be bribed, AID
II was then that l renounced hint, and have ever
since. Well, Jones' what do you think Of that
But you said we did not make the United States
Bank political question during the last Presidential
Electon--and you read Wing Address with
some old letters and speeches Of General Harri-
sons 20 prove itbut will bet that the writer Of
the Address IS Loco now-and as for the speeches
and letters, they prove nothingfor you know, and
know, and every old here knows, that it al
issue, and Is now the head and front Of the grea, NJ
tonal Wing party. but, more pune ~ Jones,
have bet on you $50 have $50 have l-respond-
ed several voices. And one crawling along up be-
hind him, whispered, Bots say Bolts, dom, drnk
too mueh.O Yes, have bet, that you do not an
swer this question Which are you for, Van Buren,,
Calhoun q will answer when my turn comes to
speak Answer me now ] am for Harry Of the
West-the Mnboy of the siashes-shrt tail and all s.
But will follow him no farther in his remarks
The same strain continues through ms hour and half
Mr. Jones then responds and III a calm and mild way
attempts TO draw hrs quxotic opponent into discus
sion of the measures of each party But if no
use Mr. Bolts response was nothing but log cabin
same old cOon-moTe puneh-Mil-boy Of the Slash |
es-meal bag-hard cder-and to close he said he |
would quote from Sermon of one Of the Reverend
Dvincs OF this place. "Now, my hearers leave il /
with you You have it all before you-the straight |
and narrow way, and the broad road But his time
up, and each tying up the bundle of papers be-
lore him, descends the PLATFORM ready for the stump
IN the next town.
As walked towards home, could not help but
thinking OF what had seen and heard Could il be
that had just witnessed strife for the Office Sc
eond to but one in the gift Of great and free people
and IN that guzzler of punch, | had seen one who
had held that Office! IL SO, il was a reason WHY TO
use his own words, "he found the city Of Washing
ton vast sink Of iniquity II was a reason WHY
people TO a sense Of their situation. But oh States
men and Legislators, do not put your country to an
open shame
Assume virtue, if you have it notr
Do not extinguish the already Pickering flame upon
the altar OF freedom DO not, by frizhtful reyelry
and song, drive the bird Of liberty from this his last
resting place. Here, where he has sought shelter
from the strife and prosecutions Of the Old World
from the wreck and ruin Of Empires do not by such
uncouh eVity extngush the last hopes Of the friends
OF freedom, and TO be written upon this fair
est fabric OF liberty-Pouton, pollution heap Of
ruin.
But they will not do it. The questions of vice
and virtue are too plain TO be misunderstood Truth
and patriotism will not be dethroned by falsebood
and reckless ambition. The question is too open for
deception-rca-on Is at work and you may expeot 10
hear OF a most complete triumph in the election that
IS to take place next Thursday.
Yours, truly, s.