Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-07-02
To the Editors of tie Enqnifcr !:

To The Editors Of tie enquirer:
CrLpEpER, June II, 1871
Shelton +. Lcakc, Esq, OF AlhemaIlc county,
being on visit TO this county with his family,
and 1t being announced that he was present, ut
being Court day. and many being anxious 10 hear
Mr.. Leake, a meeting OF the Democratic Central
Committee for Culpeper was held, and il was
unanimously
R@lrcd, Isl, That Committee Of three be
appointed 10 wait upon MIR Leake, and request
him TO address the people OF Culpeper this day
2nd. That The Committee he empowered 10
make such arrangements as 10 time ana place, as
may be suitable 10 the occasion. Accordingly,
the following gentlemen We're appointed 10 wait
with the first resolution, viz : "A. p Hill, John
W. Bell, and John s. Barbour, Jr-Capt
Hill, Mr.. Bell, and Mr. Barbour, waited upon
Mr.. Leake, who with some reluctance consented
10 address the people. Whercupon, Proclamation
was Immediately made, that Shelton +. Leake OF
Albemarle, would address the people at o'clock IN
the Court House. The hour came, and MIR. Leake
arose before a large and anXiously expecting
multitude, and entertained them, for IN hour, III a
speech, strong in his premises, lucid ana arga-
menlalive in his reasoning and conclusive IN ms
deductions He said that there were, at THIS
time, two important, viay important questions,
WHICH, HON uCtplN anu llHCllS'iN
People of the whole United States, Whlch ne
would take leave now 10 dScnss-lhc AnneXa-
ton of Texas 10 the U. States, and the Farm
The first he discussed with much fcel'hS lhSe-
nuity and force He exposed clearly lhe NEON
Sis,ency the double-dealng and shameful duPlici-
" of Mr.. Clay upon the subject OF The annexation
of Texas 10 the U Sand, without gong ii:to
detail 10 prove il IL You, will say, taal ne ac-
mons,rated beyond question, 10y series OIL iacls
pu
CLAY 10 the vile fanatics OF Abo!i,lonism al the
North, for the unworthy purpose OF procuring
their votes
With the Tariff question he showed himself
familiar and perfectly conversant. His speech
upon this subject aboundcd in beautiful and apt
illustrations. He ridiculed the idea, and proved
10 demonstration The utter impracticabillty OF
| home market as one of the most prominent lea
| lures of the great American system. lie touch
cd slightly the interesting subjects OF Bank and
Distribution. and here closed his first speech
AT this period Major Broadus, our delegate,
was called upon 10 answer Mr.. Leake, when he
proceeded apparently with much confidence III
himself and satisfaction 10 his hearers especially
mon the question OF annexation. Upon this
subject he lamelv defended MIR. Clay from the
charge oiinconSi>eucy and bending subscgvicncy
for electioneerins purposes. Upon the Tariff and
! Bank questions he quoted Mr.. Jefferson and an
ANONYMOUS paper printed at Richmond, the pa
,erpiiy of which no one will admit. lie allu-
ded 10 the youthful appearance OF Mr.. Leake,
! and tainted him as preSumptuous TO declare a
Bank Protective Tariff, and Distribution as I'M
constitutional orcven ineXpedient And here the
Majors hour expred-and pity lis, ii did! |
feel assured if he could have anlicipated-il he
| had had even the slightest suspicion oi-his entire
deteat-hiS full complete. signal and ever memo
rable overthrow he would have occupied the pre-
cous time of the People ''iill the crack OF doom.
| Mr. Leake reoned, and in one of the fullest
most finished and mastery efforts al reply ever
| had the good fortune To listen 10. Throughout his
reiointlcr the wall reSounded with loud, long and
| continued plaudi,S ofthe assembly | had heard o
| the reputation which Mr. Leake had acquired
| from his successful forensic combats with his Ia
| Tented opponent, Souihall of Albcmarlc-l had
listened 10 the stirring cloquence Of Wisc-l had
heard the torrent defamation of Smith, had
been charmed with the sweet and graceful clocu
ton of Barbour; bu, this effort Of Mr.. Lcake
would not have diminished, in my humble con
ception the credit or the reputation OF either Thai
| Mr.. Leake should venture 10 assert The unconsti
iutonalitv and neypedency OF Bank, Prolec'
tive Tariff and Distribution, was, in the eyes OF
! the "eldcr" most INDUSTRIOUS AND UNPARDoNABiE
| II was true. Mr.. Lcakc said he was but boz, a>
! his venerable friend" was pleased 10 call him. III
his venerable triend' but he would ASK his we
nerable friend" il, in 1882. he was moi member
OF the Barbour Convention, dcnouncing pro,
| tective Tariff aS unwSe, unconstitutional, and
| inexpedientl Did not his venerable friend vote
| for Andrew Jackson after he had vetoed the laic
| United States Bank. and after the test questions
upon which the reelection OF Andrew Jackson
turned. were Bank or no Bank; veto or no veto
Here Mr. Leake was truly eloquent: his sarcasm
was burning, and his manner inlmiiab!e. Ar lhl>
period, | thought the whole house was electrified
and every member in ecstaSv-here there were
roars of laughter and storms OF shouts. Mr.
Leake's whole rejoinder fell upon the ears OF the
people like Os>ian's mighty spirit OF Lola in The
roar of ten thousand storms, scattering battles
from lis eyes"
This is no exaggerated picture-no Pigment Of
| the rancy Would that | were able 10 WELD a
graphic pen, TO give an accurate sketch ot The
whole scene While do mol mean 10 deprcci-
ale Major BroaduS, Tor esteem him as gentle
man, must say. that he utterly failed 10 sustain
| himself upon the subjects OF Bank, Tariff and
Distribution, while he suffered total defeat aad
dis.naying overthrow. Mr. Lcakc sat down
amid the deaeaing plaudits Of The thrilled and adj
miring multitude, when the welkin rung with
glory enough for one day. +.