Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-04-22
POWHATAN COUNTY.


To tie Editors of The enquirer
Gentlemen. Yon and your readers Gin this
Congressional District) will probably desire 70
have some account ofihe discussions which have
occurred between The candidates for Congress on
the South side Of James river. will furnish you
with hurried sketch OF what occurred al Pow
halan Courthouse and al Goodies Store, in Ches-
terficld. After The meeting OF the Democratic
parlv 10 nominate 4 candidate iorthe county, had
adjourned n large assembly collected 10 hear Mr..
Seldom Tho, il was announced, would address
the people in The rear OF the Courthouse. This
gentleman was 4 stranger 10 The people OF Pow
hatan, and they manifested considerable anxiety
TO hear him He spoke for Two hours, and rvet
ted the attention of his audience by an able and
eloquent review OF the great questions al issiie
between The two parties. His argument, against
The Tariff was peculiarly iorcible, attacking The
policy as violalive OF the great principles Of JUS
lice and unwaranled BY any express oc implied
grant of power 10 be found in the Constitution;
while taken in connection with The establishment
Of National Bank, The distribution OF The pro-
ceeds arising from the sales Of the public lands,
and the application nj The revenue OF HE Fede-
raj Government for purposes OF improvements
within lie States, il was part OF system OF le-
gisatiun intended 10 benefit and band together
particular classes, which, thus united would no,
cease 10 prev upon The wealth OF The country, and
extract money from the hari-won earnings of all
sections 10 enrich the lew and favored wherein
these glasses abound. He made most effective
assault upon MIR Bolls' peculiar political opinions
and conduct, his efforts 10 abolish the 2lst rule,
and his unmiigaled opposition 10 the annexation
of Teyas-lhal question, which, if any question
can, oush, to unite all parties throughout the land
in lis support but, in view oft peculiar import
ance Ia The South, ought, al all events, 10 disarm
every Southern man OF his opposition.
Alter dinner. Mr. Bots addressed us. He is
strong and effective public speaker, in manner Al
least: and were il not for The load OF political err
rnrs he has 10 carry, in addition 10 those Of his
party. would doubtless make as much impression
as any Wing speaker in the Stale. After COM
claiming Of the bill Of Indictment which he said
Mr.. seldom had made against him, he proceeded
10 make what he called, and probably considered
a reply 10 his speech. He said that an increase
OF prices was not attributable 10 the Tarin, nor
le condition of the South 10 any system OF le"is
laion-lhat We were lazy and The people Of The
Norlh irdts;linus-tl il the Bank, Tariff aud
Internal improvements were Federal measures
then Washington, Benton, Jackson, Calhoun,
sc, were Ftieralis,s; las Tor The Resolutions oil
- and 80, be did not understand them--lhey
were quoted for and against every lhinS-lhey
were quoted rs authority for The establishment ol
a National Bank. Who ever qnoted them for
that pnrposel lie certainly never read The
resolutions and report, | suppose, and | in
cline most strongly Ia the opinion, that Mr.
Bots meyer dd-.For his connection with Mr.
Adams. h.. SAID he was mol his defender, nor
responsible lur The imitation Mr.. a. received Ia
dine with him ia Richmond; bu threw The blcmc
CT there WIS blame Is he said, on The committee
Of in.ilation-lhus 'c>eriing The ground which he
took a, Gnochland Court where he defended Mr.
Adams rs a patriot and said h. would have been
or cll honorcl by his presence Al Ihr dinner
This. with some defamation about The right oi
petition, was the amounloi his reply, until he came
10 the Texas question. Against The annexation,
he spoke with great bitterness, some ingenuity,
ana more sophislry He processes entire hos,ili-
~ to il rs Unconstitutional ami neXpedicnl--and
80 blinded is he hv his antpahy that while he
said he would mol charge the Senators who aban-
ionrd their opposition 10 il with corruption, he
said they had been charged with bribery, and on
strong erounds-and showed that he belcvcd il
No friend oil annexalun 10 be accomplished AT
Sny time or under any circumstances, can vote
Tor him without knowing that hc votes lur an "p-
pononi, oil the bitierest and most iInpldcahie cha
iacttr This, omiiiInY eiioIls Ill vii and
locu>cncs> is, believe, a fair outline oi his
speech.
Aller he sat down, Mi srl!on arose and made
Ihr mos, mastery icply ever heard. lie proved
himself not only match for his opponent in ar
gunent, but his superior, in that prompt vii
which TELLS 50 lorcibly before a popular audience
lie turned The attacks which Mr. Bolts had made
upon him. back upon himself with such lcati-
ness, and 70 steadily and vigorously did hc rIo-
secule his advantage, that h" received The APP
plau.e of both understanding, even from The
Wings the unwilling tribute Of admiration.
HIS half hour having expired, Mr.. Bolts arose
and said his opponent had endcavored 10 raise a
laugh, and succeeded; and proceeded himself 10
he Quilc lncose and merry. Bul Wit and repailee
certainly are not his weapons, 10 Judge from the
faint efforts at applause which were made in The
Courthouse His half hour being ended, The
candidates left the Courthouse 10 meet At Goodies
store, on The neXi day.
On Tuesday, April the Sh the two gentlemen
again met, in accordance with their previous APP
poinlmenl, al Goodies; where they found a large
number Of The voters OF Chesterfield assembled.
Mr. Seldom again opened The discussion occupy
ing, according 10 an arrangement between him
sell and Mr.. Bolts one hour and a halt his OPP
ponent 10 have The ga me time in reply-and each
10 occupy an hour in their reloindefs. MIR. Sed-
don, in strong and forcible manner, reviewed
Mr. Bollss public cour>e--calling before the peo-
pie the efforts he had made 10 "head' Mr. Tyler;
his impolenl effort at impeachment and his viu-
lent attacks upon that gentleman; his course on
The 2lsl rule his opposition 10 Texas, and his pre-
sening his petition for the seat in Congress
through Mr. Adams-whom he Justly supposed to
be the last man whom Virgnian and Southern
man would select 10 honor with such an Office
lie then argued the questions at issue between
them, as representatives Of their respective par
ties
a.. l:,,or NJ p,,te ,ro.a ,nJ ,,,L s....
deration than lever knew him exhibit, defended
himself from the attacks made on him By Mr.. Sed-
don. He said Mr. Tyler was corrupt and he en-
deavored 10 expose him-(he seemed 10 forget that
il was not political corruption he assaed MIR. Ty-
Ter Tor allogelher) -ihal his effort 10 mpeach him,
failed b. union Of all parties against the Wing
Party, which, according 10 his estimate, had only
SO members in the lower House He said that in
relation 10 the 2lst rule, il was rule violating the
right Of petition, and read speech Of Mr. Jones,
in which he said that gentleman took the ground
he did, forgetting that Mr. Jones has always OPP
posed The abolition oflhe rule He got Mr. Adams
10 present his petition, because Massachns rs
came before Virginia in presenting petitions,
which would have been reason for getting some
one North OF that Stale 10 present il. He opposed
annexation as warmly as he did the day before;
and after an effort TO array the Democrats, who
who preferred Mr. Calhoun, he sat down.
Mr. Seldom then got up, and in most happy
and conclusive manner sustained the positions as
sumed in his first speech; making many excellent
hits, aud most forcible appeal 10 all Southern
men 10 come 10 the support Of their interests, and
sustain those principles by the PRONUNCIATION and
maintenance Of which Virginia had gained, and
continued 10 hold her high position among The
members of the Conlederacy. Alter he ended,
Mr.. Bolts rejoined; bnt ii being lale, occupied but
short time. EIis reply was no, 50 good as his
first speech; indeed, he seems 10 be unable 10 make
iorcible speech, nreply or defence His habits Of
thinking and speaking unfit him for ,ha, sort Of
conflict which requires readiness, entire selfcon-
trol, and knowledge Of the feelings and temper
of his audience.
We have gained by these discussions. We