Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-05-30
DISCUSSION ON MONDAY.

The political discussion at the Courthouse on
| Monday, between John LETcHER, Esq. of Rock
bridge, who appeared here in compliance with
an invitation given to him some time since by his
Democratic friends in this county, and our able
and ever-ready champion of Wing principles,
A. III. III. STUART, Esq. was conducted in most
agreeable and courteous spirit OH both sides, and
was listened to with great attention, and we hope
with profit, by the numerous audience that had
| assembled to hear 1t.
The discussion was opened by Mr.. Letcher in
speech Of one hour and forty five minutes, in
which he entered into formal arraignment of the
Wing party for unfaithfulness to their promises
made In l94O-none of which he said had been
redeemed. He charged them with ruthless pro-
scription of public officers for opinions sake,
which they had SO strongly condemned when out
of power-with extravaganza in the Public Ex-
penditures-with leaving the Treasury of the Ma
ton under the unrestricted control of the Execu-
tive, after repeating the Sub-Treasury act-with
making dangerous concessions to Executive pow.
er by going to the President for Bank bill
and with violation of the Compromises act,
which they professed to hold sacred, by the pas
sage of the existing Tariff, which he regarded as
most iniquious in its operation-as unjustly tax
ing one portion Of the country for The benefit of
another.
Mr.. Stuart, in reply, said it was true the Wings
had not redeemed all their promises, but it was
because they had not had the power to do so.-
The early death of the lamented HARRISON, and
the seduction of his successor Capt. TYLER, from
the path of duty and honor, by the Locos, soon
after the assembling Of the Wing Congress- left
them without the power to fulfill them, and there
fore they were not responsible for the failure
but, that they had honestly desired to do so, the
country had abundant evidence. In defence of
the numerous removals from office which had
taken place at the commencement of the Wing
administration, Mr.. Stuart said they had been
rendered indispensably necessary by the previous
course Of appointments. Many uniaiihfuI and
/ incompetent men were found TO be in Office, and
their dismissal had been fully justified by the result
| Before the Wings came into power, the whole
country was ringing with the frauds and defalca.
tons of public officers. Now we heard nothing
OF them; and he called upon the gentleman TO
cite single instance of defalcaioD, if he could,
which had occurred since the reforms in this par
ticuar by the Wing Enthusiastically was IA
poser-none could be mentioned. In regard to
The charge Of extravaganza, he demonstrated that
! 1T was without The shadow of foundation
The Wbig Congress had found debt upon the
country OF unadjusted balances and outstanding
appropriations, little short Of thirty eight millions
OF dollars, with scarcely more Than half mil
lion OF dollars in the Treasury to meet it, and a
revenue so reduced as to be altogether inadequate
TO pay current expeDses--the credit of the cCun-
try Prostrated, and the wheels of Government al
most ready to stop. 1t was this state of things
which had induced the lamsnted Harrison to con-
vene them IN extra session, and it is 10 the abors
of that Congress alone that the country is indeb-
ed Tor its pfesen! measure Of prosperity. As to
the charge Of Mr.. Letcber that the Wings by the
repeal of the Sub-Tfeasury act, and the failure to
make any other provision on the subject, had left
the Treasury Of the Nation at the mercy Of the