Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-10-08
DEMOCRATIC ASSOCIATION

The Democratic Association held us usua
meeting in the Concert Room ot the Exchange
lio'cl. on SATURDAY. nighi--Mr Francis Wicker
in the Chair, and Mr. William Allen Secretary.
The room was crowded with large ana iespccia-
Die aueicnce-Whias as we'll Il Democrats
Mr.. Grecnhow Introduced John NJ. Patton,
E,c.--f,r,ncrly Il member Of Congress from VIZ
gii;i-who assembled he platform, and rad one
OF the most pow crtul spcccEc, We have hea'd
iuing!hc Who'll. al this busy aud rro'raciet cam
paian lie went over the whole irl! OF discus
sion commcncin-; with the personal qualifications
o. the two candidates. with both ci whom he
was personally acquainted. and with both oi
whom h. had served in the councils Of thu nation.
He awarLc,! Ia each the praise, 10 which, IN hlS
opinion, they were entitled and stated his convic-
ton that both ot tfcm were cmincn,ly qualified
10 conduc; the Executive Government. lie then
proceeded io examine the po!dte0t piHf'piTS on
which they were likely 10 conduct the admins
lruton--in regard 10 The great measures OF The
Bank. the Tariff, the Distribution, and, above all,
the Annexation OF Texas. To This last measure,
he attached an immediate importance even supc-
rior 10 The resi-, because, whilst q Bank, a Tariff.
&c might as he con'endcd wait for years. The
destiny of Texas could noi hc postponed, ard
might he decided in few months. He discussed
all these great subjects with profound ability, and
with the hand Of master. There was nothing
crude. nothing jclunc in his views or his state
men,> He had evidently studied the whole sub
jccl with great care: and came forward with full
mind, and an honest spirit, 10 pronounce his most
deliberate opinions. and take his part IN the poll
teal drama. Upon all these measures, he de-
c!arcd himself firmly and decidedly opposed 10
Mr. Ciay-uniled with the Democratic party, ard
determined 10 support and 10 rate Tor MIR. Polk
We could scarcely irGsi ourselves - The time
with speaking of the speech, which We had is,
heard We cll as il Spcli-bound by The wand OF
the Magician. Nor was the ctlcc; confined to Il
lcw oil his auditors. Ii was the deep and general
impression OF most vi linz spectators. lie spoke
To- three and quarter hol!s-and yet, during all
that time. there was sense al fatigue exhibited
~ his numerous audience. whom he kept together
III the last Hos could il be otherwise We
ourselves had never had the pleasure of hearing
Mr.. Patton deliver a set speech bciorc-but We
had not listened half IN hour, before wc lound
ourselves in The presence of 4 master OF his art
His voice, his action, his language, his clear and
powerful arguments, The brilliant figures, the racy
anecdotes. end the poignant Wit. with which he
occasonal; interSpcr>cd the staple of his argu-
mcni constituted TUFTS cascmbic of an Orators
qualifications, which we have never seen stir-
passed, amid the many and accomplished ora
tors whom this excited canvass has called into
the public arena. We pay this tiihu,e with The
more pleasure, because the Richmond Wing OF
Yesterday morning has made a bitter, an unjust,
on illihcral attack upon Mr.. Patton. And no
WONDER The orator j. TO common man
He has shown no common share CT moral iIlm-
ness in taking the part which be has exhibited
he was aware, OF course. that he was exposing
himself 10 all The violence oi party dcnuncia'ion,
and to all the ihun,!ers Of a Wing press, which
spares no man in lis wrath--and would offer hec-
atombs OF character 10 propiiiate the names ot
its political idol. II. Clay. No wonder, too the Il.
Wing makes this attack upon J. NJ Pa,ion--be-
cause his speech is one Of those rcmalka bic Ell
forts, which made the deepest impression upon
every man who heard i,--anl is calculated 10 ex-
tend lis c!lcc.io every one wlo hears q Il.
Some oilhesc structures might have been withheld
if the Wing had but recollecicd the courtesy ial
distinguished Mr. F. >speechtawanis Mr. Clay and
his friends How many did he not spare them
And really we rccolloc, scarcely ono, which they
might have icl,, except j! lie The sood-humored and
opposite comparison tliat hn drew between them,
on reading TIC four successive Texas letters. and
the varying views which Polonius adopted from
Hamlel's lips, about the clond-frst camel, then
wea2e, next n whale. and finally the camel
again, (viz; the Raleigh ietcr)
The Richmond Wing attempts TO ridicuc Mr..
P.'s change Of posi'ion-but what justice or lib
crafty is there in his animadvcrsions ! Has no
man changed since 10 from honest motives .
What becomes Of the many honorable men, who
were Harrsonians then, and are now the sup
poricrs of Polk! Mr.. Patton, in his Introductory
remarks, took pretty much the same view that Jno
v L. Mcmahon gives in his letter, for opposing
Mr. Clay and supporting the Democrats. In 40
he said he was anxious 10 rcbuke Mr. Van Buren,
10 whose fine characterize did ample justice, for the