Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-08-29
DISCUSSION BETWEEN TIE ELECTORS.

DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE ELECTORS.
MIR. Editor,-llavine been present at the dis
cussion between the wing and democratic electors
for this district, which took place on the 10Th !
inst al HarrisonSurg, will endeavor to give you
some account of il, taough conscious Of my ina
bilily 10 do justice TO either of the gentlemen.
MIR. S,uar. led OF by remarking that when he
had last met his honorable friend at that place,
they had discussed the subjects of Bank, Tariff
and Distribution, which then seemed 10 be the
great objects OF controversy between the parties,
but since then another question had arisen which,
like great whale, had swallowed up all others:
he neant The annexation Of Texas, which seemed
10 have engrossed the whole interest of the de-
mocra,ic party. The proof of this was seen in
their having set aside the pretensions Of Mr.. Van
Buren, to the presidency, on the sole ground OF
his objectng TO that favoriie measuye-in the fac,
that In every town. village and hamlet all over
the country, democratic flags were aylng, on
which were displayed the lone star, with the i'll
scription Polk, Dallas and Texas. He would
therefore contine himself mainly 10 this (for
the democracy all absorbing question. But FIRST,
he would take some notice of the proceedings of
the LAKE Democratic Convention at Baltimore
lhis he did by portraying In vivid colors the anti
republican character OF those proceedings-,he
contempt with which that body had treated the
people IN disregardng their instructions and set
ting aside the man vi their CHOICE in favor OF
one unknown to them, unknown TO fame, who
had dore no single thing TO benefit his country or
deserve their graiitmde-with abilities utterly un-
equal to the high and difficult, station 10 which it
was sought 10 exalt him. And now the Texas
question. he would endeavor to eScHpiify this
by an ordinary sale and purchase OF land If
proposition were made to farmer TO sell him an
adjacent tract Of land, he would first cons er
whether he wanted more land, or had already
sufficient quantity TO employ his force; should he
/ come TO the conclusion that the purchase might
be advantageous 10 him, he would next examine
whether the seller had clear title to all the land
he proposed to sell; and then he would endeavor
TO ascertain whether II WAS incumbered with debit
ana lastly, whether there was no other claimant
with whom he might be involved in a harrassng
and expensive lawsuit. Now, do the United
States need more territory They have now
more than twelve hundred millions OF acres of
land unoccupied, quantity which can hardly be
settled within century. Has Texas clear III
Tie to all the land she proposed to cede in the late
treaty between that country and the United States!
Far from it. He showed that out of more than
two hundred millions of acres which she under
took TO cedc, she had not, nor ever had, either by
possession or In any other way, the slightest pre-
tension TO title 10 more than eighiy-three millions
OF acres, and that OF this quantity all had been
granted 10 private claimants but seventeen mil
ilonsot acres of the refuse; and this II zoo, 900
| acres OF worthless land was all that tho United
States could receive TO remunerate them Tor a
debt that they were 10 assume of indefinite but
enormous amount. On the subject Of this in
cumbrance the treaty was fraudulent upon it's
face; for, while it seemed TO hold on; the idea
that the United States Were not to be bound for
! more than len millions of dollars it's clear legal
effect was TO bind them for every dollar, not only
OF the existing debt Of Texas, but for as much
more as her government might choose 10 contract
previously To the ratification of the treaty-a debt
then supposed TO be from twenty to thirty mil
lions OF dollars, and which might have been in
creased 10 one hundred millions But with all
these objections, were the United States even TO
got quiet possession of Texasl BY no means-
| Mexico had been all along claiming and contend
! ing Tor The sovereignty of that county, and was
| at this time marching upon it an army Of fifteen
thousand men, soon TO be followed by fifteen
thousand more; and had the treaty been ratified,
We should the very moment after have been at
war with MeXico-an Ubiquitous wa with ma
ton with whom we are at perfect amity, and
rying on prosperous commerce, from which We
are deriving annually from twelve 10 fifteen mil
Hons OF specie, aiiordlng almost entirely the ba-
SIS OF the currency of The west. War was, I'M
der any circumstances, great evil-wan,only
engaged In II was one Of the highest of crimes.
/ Such war would have left foul stain upon the
escutcheon OF this great nation. But he had not
yet done with this treaty. 1t was d nefarious
scheme, gotten up by land and political specula-
tors and disunionIsis. They had but little diff
Guilty in persuading weak, vain and ambitious
man that the confirmation of such treaty would
be The sure means OF reseating MIN in the presi-
DENTAL chair. Such confirmation would have
put the holders Of Texas land and sclip (scrip
and land now almost worthless) in possession of
untold wealih-scIip that had cost but from three
to ten cents in the dollar would have been at
once raised to par vaue-and land purchased for
a mere song, made immensely valuable. TO the
dsun'ons,s IL would have afforded the almost
certain means Of forming a Southern coniederacy
ard affecting their diaboical design of dis
memberlng the union. What else could have
/ happened! They had only to demand of the non
sIaveholdln9 State, that the newly acquired terri
! tory should be divided into slaveholding States
on the pTetencc that this was necessary 10 the
protection of that peculiar Institution Of the
South snd to say that their further object was to
carry out their darling doctrine Of free trade, "a
thing only 10 be effected by the almost entire des-
tTuciion oil tie manufacturing and farming inter
ests,) TO revive with enfold bitterness that fearful
question which had nearly resulted in the divi-
sion Of the Union in the case of Missouri. But
must here close this imperfect sketch OF Mr..
StuaTts very able opening speech, which fear
is already too long TO entiile il 10 find room in
your columns. regretted that from the tone of
| voice In which it was delivered and the noise in
! the house, was enabled 10 hear but very little Of
Mr.. SamueIs' speech in reply, and the account
which shall here attempt TO give you OF il, was
obtained from those who had Il better opportunity
/ oil hearing him than myself. His speech, though
not aTgurnentative, and scarcely touching upon
the question discussed by Mr.. Stuart, il said to
have been delivered In fine spirit and eyincive of
much talent, humor and w.t. and drew forth peals