Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-08-01
The Discussion at Long Creek.

lection of people present for the occasion.
We heard the number estimated at between
Two and three hundred. Mr.. Meares did
not reach Long Creek until about o.
clock. Gen. Mckay very courteously
waited his arrival, although the people
who had collected a; an earlier hour were
anxious that the speaking should com
mence .ong before that hour. Mr.. Meares
declined opening the debate on this occa
sion. We will not pretend to give ever
an outline ofthe debate, as the subjects, viii
some slight variations, were the same as
those discussed at Kenansville on the 22d
and Of which we gave rapid sketch in
our last number. Gen. Mckay common
ced speaking at one o'clock, and in an adj
dress of about three hours in length. de-
Tended himself in the most triumphant
manner against each and every one OIL
the charges Which Mr.. Meares has seen
fit to array against him. When he ascen'
ded the stand the audience greeted him
with three long, loud and hearty cheers
We thought that Gen. Mckay was pecu'
IiarIy eloquent in his address. He again
recounted, sereatm, the charges and speci.
fcations which have been urged against
him. One by one he took them up, and
we appeal to every man present, we DOM
care what lis politics may be. if he did
not give +" each and every one, a
clear, tul! 2nl explicit refutation.
On the ';'~,2f particularly, we thought
sha Gen. :irAay was peculiarly happy
in his illustrations Oi l.' evils which the
Act Of AZ has entaiIsA and is now entail
ing upon the County. lie told the peo-
pIeIhat during the last lem which he
had served them in the Congress Of the
United States he had laboured with his
whole heart and soul TO have that Act
repealed or modified, ard that it was not
his fault that such modification had not
taken place. He also pledged himself
that in the 29th Congress, should the peo-
pie by their votes give him seat in that
body he would be unwearied in his endea-
yours TO bring about either modification
Or repeal Of the onerHus burdens which
the oppressive and unjust Federal Tariff
Act of ~ were now imposing on the
Country. He went on to demonstrate that
every thing that is used by the poor man.
IS taxed enormousl ~, whilst those articles
for the most part Iuxuries. consumed en-
Iirely by the rich, are under that Act COM
nntaxed. But we will rot
60 into details. In the course of his re-
marks, Gen. Mckay told his audience that
ne had served them fourteen years in the
Congress of the United States, and he ask
ed them to scrutinise his conduct during
all that time, and he appealed 10 them if
ever he had given them pledge which
he had broken. Here one universal
shout Of no, resounded from the audience
During the whole of Gen. McKay's ad-
dress, the audience exhibited the most
profound attention, and when he closed
the air was once more rent with the most
cheers.
MIR. Meares' reply was one Of the most
consummate and unmiugated failures we
have ever heard. The bold daring for
which the Chronicle gives him so much
credit seemed TO desei. him entirely. Mr..
'leares was evidently fully aware that he
had commenced the canvas wrong. I'ha,
the petty little charges which he has been
trumpeting forth to the world, have mos
signaiIy fail I'd to produce the contempla'
ted effect. He seemed 10 be conscious
when almost too late, that the people are
not SO easily gulIed as in his macalcula
ting patriotism he had thought. Blu
this is The great rock upon which all fede
raIists split. They think the people arr
ignorant, that they were made to be dupet
and bamboozled. This is the reason why
Mr.. Meares avoided the discussion of tn,
great questions which divide the parties
and resorted 10 the belaboring his oppo
Inent with all sorts Of abuse entirely for
eign ID rtrslssaes upon which the election
of representative o-CQngress shoule
turn.
Next Thursday will teach Mr.. Meare'
a lesson in this respect which we hope
will not be lost on him in all time to come
His speech at Long Creek was pool
tumble of incoherent assertions and miser
able rhapsody, without point or meaning
and evidently showed throughout. that thu
task he had undertaken was one for which
he was in 10 way fitted. 1t had NJ
more inf. nee upon the audience thar
the idle U...~.i'.-" f The wind It's onI,
effect being prgthen the demo
Gratis in their dr>;:, > their noble caus,
and its able champl". n. Mckay. W.
appeal to those who :. i him, for til.
correctness of this opinion.