Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-08-16
CENTRAL. ROUGH s READY CLUf,

ZEN lhAl- ROUGH s READY CLUB.
This body held lis first regular meeting. since its
organization, on last Friday evening and we are
happy TO say that in all particulars whether in re-
gard the TO numbers in attendance. the GOOD order
zeal for the cause, or lastly, the quality of the speak
ing 1t was most suspicious opening of the canvass
on part
In the absence Of the President. KEsroS HAIR
FER, the lst Vice President, LYrrIEroN Wan
DELL took the Chair. 1t being understood that
the absence of Capt. III. was occasioned by some
degree oil lndlSpositon, which consequently would
deprive the audience of the pleasure of hearino him
do hau been expected, it was moved that Tuo,, &C
.. MIcHIE, Esq. take the stand motion which
received very emphatic second from the whole ,s-
semby Mr.. NJ. cheerluy complied with a, in
Vl'a'ioh SO earnestly given and for the SPACE of =
oo"' TWO hours held the audience in silent and rrat
ilied attention
we feel that we should be doing the greatest in
justice TO his address were we to attemnt moro,,,
from memory and without the aid OF a note to g;ve
D." sAe'ch OF 1t. A brief and we fear imperfect sv-
hoSS OF the leading points is all we shall venture
upon
The speaker began by reference to the d;s,,-
f'"."''''' "i''ch lie, In common with all present,
iet In not meeting the President elect of our Club
tonight, who, it was known, was unable 70 attend
and from whom we had all hoped nearer. and ,s
IL were, personal introduction TO the illustrious
ohiei whose name now heads the hosts of comba-
tants on the side of liberty and popular RIGHTS a
galnst the cohorts of power and prerooative Tb.t
pleasure must be deferred TO future meetinr
MIR. NJ asked, "JVho is Gen. 1aulor? %, and in
reply drew portrature so lfelke that all fell it
10 be likeness. In summing I'D his cbarac,ar bo
pronounced that our candidate upon every occasion
OF his lie, whether great OF small, had been f,und
equal 10 The OCCASION. And neither more nor less
than equal he had ambition for anv vain or moi,
ty display of himself. When the occasion w,s mo,
and his duty discharged there was an end oft he
was ever modest and silent as to his own claims.
and only solicl!ous to have Justice done TO the 4
chevements of others-hiS subordinates. whether
officers or privates.
Mr. M. then proceeded to give rapid and ora
pho sketch Of the military career of Gen. TavIor
as well in the Florida war as in the recent and
on the line OF the Rio Grarde, terminating in the
memorable and glorious victory of Buena Vista
In every one of these trying scenes the veteran had
been found equal to the OCCASION Even in the ,nos,
trying of them all, when his own government If
home, instead Of supporting him, had given him
the cold shoulder and stripped him Of a large and
most valuable portion Of his troops the old hero.
while he asked no fa0ors, slraiE from no response
D'lty' and In the hour Of anticipated disaster shed
an imperishable glory upon our arms by victory
as brilliant and full Of results as any recorded in
history.
But oh say the Castles, "H,e old man can't
,critc; he has TO keep an amanueDsis." This was
quite late discovery almost new, and never made
until his shadow began to grow too Iona and vast
In It's proportions for the taste of certain politicians
about Washington. Up until that time, even the
veteran qullldrver who guides the ''Unon. - could
write in classic phrase and lofty praise of the gal
Iant soldier who, ne said yields the sword and the
pen with equal energy and equal grace
But If he does keep an arnanuensis, it must be
admitted he has displayed capital Judgment in his
selection of one; and the same Judgment which
N'"'' P'''N Oh' 'uC'i q IiNdlt DcCIeIdTy, would be
most likely TO bring around him choice arrav of
Cabinet Secretaries!
"Ah, but old Zach has no PLATFORM He has no
platform to stand on, such as Mr.. Cass has" In
reply to this objection, the speaker scanned the RIGHT
and the sound policy oHiresponsblc, and often self
constituted caucuses to lay down system of rules
and line of governmental policy in advance. and
then exact ofits candidate pledges to obey those
rules and carry out that policy In this connection
he reviewed with scathing sarcasm the history OF
the Baltimore Polk Platform Of 1914. TOUCHING the
Oregon question showed with what carer serviltv
the then candidate gave the required PLEDGES. and
how, after having narrowly escaped INVOLVING rs
in a war with Great Britain, the sane Individual
found himself compelled tamely to back ont botb
from his ''ffty four, forty" and eight" lie trust
ed the day was far distant when the Wbics would
think Of exacting any other pledges from their can
didates than their official oath, to support the Con
stitstiOn. That Constitution was Taylor's plat