The Arkansas banner., 1844-07-10
LAST SATuRDAYi

We have again met the enemy, and defeated him in his own strong hold
 According to appointment, Col. ASHLEY address, ed the people, at the City Ha in this place, last Saturday. MT CocKE present by invitation, and undertook to answer him and being the chosen leader 'big gum of his party it is to be supposed that he made the best defence of Whiggery to be procured in this part of the political battle ground.
 Col. Ashley led off in a speech about two hours long, in which he discussed the subjects of Ma tional Bank and a Protective Tariff; and taking a short but strong view of the Distribution and Bank rupt Bills, he entered. at length, and with great ability and effect, upon the Texas question. The main force of his argument, upon Bank, was d- rected against the constitutional power of Congress to charter such institution. His argument was comprehensive, close, and conclusive, this all important points as was, also, his views upon the question of eXpedency. The Tariff question was, also, most admirably handled by him. The greatest question of his discussion was the last he touched--the annexation of Texas. It were un- necessary, here, even if 1t were practicable to re- iterate his array of facts and arguments and the pa triotic considerations he suggested, in favor of neXation. Suffice it to say, he handled the subject like patriot and statesman; showing conclusively that Texas was ours by right; and upon every con- sideration of National honor national interest duty, self-preservation, and humane feeling, she ought to be immediately reannexed to the Union. He very properly assumed that this was our great national question: of present paramount importance that upon il our Presidential nomination had, of right
 turned; and that upon it, aso the Presidential cleo lion would, and Of right, ought to turn.
 Mr. CocKE followed Col. ASHLEY in a speech of about the same length But in length alone was there any parallel. The one was all argument-the other all Reclamation. Col Ashley had dealt in ar guments; and arraying them in admirable order, and impregnable strength had hurled them with overwhelming force against the hosts and fasnesses of Whiggery. Mir Cooke met facts with assertions, and arguments with words. With high sounding terms venerable names and well constructed peri eds, he sought to hoodwinll the case, dodge issues which he could not face and turn aside blows whose force he could notwithstand. In the very beginning of his speech he expressly declined discussing the constitutionalty of National Bank which was the first, and one of the main issues, Col. Ashley had rendered him. Why did he decline this discussion3 Was it for want of time? Not so; for he had the afternoon before him. But instead of offering an ar gament he said t was enough for him to know that Washington, Madison, Sc, had sanctioned d Bank And here he did what every Clay Club candidate in the State seems bound to do--he repeated portion of Mir. Fixes speech before the Whig Convention We were sorry for this--we had hoped that he, at least, would exhibit more manliness and independ- ta ,,lo Tho NT. any else-we had hoped that he at least, would draw upon his own resources, and leave to those "mousing oy9ls,' Dr. Gibson and Dapy EValter, the slayish dntY of reciting anothers speech But so it was, Mr. Cooke repeated the text and commen- tary prepared for the Whg party by their head heart-and acknowledged master in Arkansas. With the exception of what he repeated of Mir Pikes speech, Mir. Cocke's discourse was turgid stream of Reclamation; consisting mainly of stereo- typed culogiums of Henry Clay, which were prepos- terousIy extraYagant in the beginning, and have grown thread-bare by repetition. As declamatorv harrangue, Elr Cocles address was not wholly de- fcient in merit; for, although by no means classi- cal, pointed, foreible, he is very fluent, and sometimes, pathetic speaker. But even in its best points, it was very apty suggested to us, by by stander, that it might have been much beter eff the speaker had worked more with his head, and less with his hands, Mr. Cooke did not reply, or even attempt, so far as we understood him, to reply to Col. Ashley's arguments. On the subject of Texas his views were certainly inconsistent, if indeed they were ineligible. If we understood him, and we eEdeayored to do so, he first declared annexation to be ridiculous humbug-a mere hobby-horse which small politicians had caught up, for the pur pose of riding into office; but which would soon break down, and leave the whole concern, of horse and riders, in the lufeh He characterized Texas as
 sink ot sin and iniquity-a place of refuge for calls of all sorts and minated pretty clearly that he thought 1t ought to be held in its present condi- ton for that purpose At this point of his discourse the applause of his friends failed him; when .eem Ing to fear that he had gone tte too far, with ad mirabe versatility, at least he turned suddenly. and ran almost as far upon the opposite tack He now seemed to rise and swell with the occasion, and pro- nonnced Annexation a "great national measure,'' which it were sinful to touch with the sacrigious hand of political party. This sudden change of po- sition was the source Of some amusement as well as surprise. One moment annexation was rdicu- lous humbug and the next, great national mea- sure, too sacred for the touch of a partizan In conclusion, hr. Cooke complained of the Baltimore Convention, and charged all sorts of misdemeanors against them, for dropping Mir, Van Buren, and mo- minating Mir. Polk lie attempted to sheer at the name and character of Mir Polk, asked who he was, and inquired of Col. Ashley why he had not eulo- gized him.
 Col. Ashley replied for about ten minutes, with great spirit, and every word he uttered told upon MT. Cooke, as the blow of sedge hammer onA Ais head. He yindieateo Texas from Mr. Cocke's ifl- furious imputations, and paid just tribute to our neghbors friends and relatives, who inhahit that country declaring them bone of our bone, and flesh of our lesh," and entitled to sympathies and support. In conclusion, he called or Mir. Cooke to say, in plain terms, what he had yet concealed whe- .her or not he was in favor of the annexation of Texas to the United States' In some confusion, Mir Cooke attempted to answer this question. But whe- .A