Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-09-15
DISCUSSION IN WILMINGTON.

DISCUSSION IN WILMINGTON.
According TO previous appointment, Messrs
William S. Ashe and George Davis, the Dem
ocratic and Federal Electors for this District
addressed their fellow citizens at the Court
House in this place on Tuesday last. The
discussion commenced at o'clock, p. Nj.
precisely, and continued till 6 o'clock, p. NJ
And here we will take occasion TO say thai
we were much pleased with the courteous and
gentIemanly manner in which the discussion
was conducted by both the gentlemen.
Mr.. Ashe opened in short speech of some
10 or 5 minutes, in which he simply set forth
the great cardinal principles Of the Democratic
party, whose representative he, for the time
being, was, and presented to the audience the
names of the distinguished men who have been
selected by the American Democracy as their
champions in the pending Presidential cam
paign-announced his readiness TO meet any
objections that might be made by MIR. Davis,
either to the principles of the Democratic par
ty, or to the candidates of that party for the
Presidency and Vice Presidency.
Mr. Davis next took the stand. And here
we will bear testimony to the ingenuity and
tact with which Mr.. Davis struggled through
the uphill path over which, as the /" banner
man" of Federalism in this District, he was
compelled to travel The advocate of party
possessed of no political principles-of a can.
didate for the Presidency who has avowed no
political creed, save only so far as relates 10
the veto power, and that in direct hostility to
the Vice Presidency who, if his own words
are to be believed, is undoubtedly an Adolf
tiOnist-must necessarily labor in an uphill
work in addressing an audience of intelligent
freemen of Southern State. Neither our
time nor our limits will permit US to follow
Mr.. Davis through his hour and half-a
large portion of which was devoted to the
Democratic "platform." Mr. D. labored much
10 throw the Democratic resolutions of the
Baltimore Convention into ridicule. The at
tempt was complete failure. These resolu-
party, and are the same that that party has
been governed by for the last 20 years-under
which the country has fourshed and prosper.
ed-the same that time after time have been
endorsed and approved by the people of the
United States, and the same that the free 70.
tiers OF America will once more endorse and
approve in November next, in the election OF
Cass and Butler. But what must have struck
the audience as singular was, that after all
Mr.. Davis objections to the Democratic "plat-
form" of principles, he had nothing to Offer
in their stead. The Federalists call upon the
people to turn their backs upon the principles
of the Democratic party, and at the same time
present nothing as a substitute. True, Mr.
Davis did sag that the Wings had some prin.
Ciples-they planted themselves upon the con
stitution. All indeed Don't the members
of all parties-Abolitionists Free Soil men
ct I'd Omne genus, plant Themselves on the
broad platform of the constitution. We were
surprised that gentleman of Mr. Daviss ex
perience in political matters, should have tho
the people so devoid of intelligence as to b.
caught with such specious reasoning as this.
Mr.. Davis, like the practised lawyer. who's.
whole powers are bent, when the law ana III,
testimony are against him, TO leading the jury
off from the REAL ISSUES, devoted considcra
bic portion of his time 10 the abuse Of Genera
Cass-the mode in which he was nominated
(by the two-thirds rule)-his having taken
trip TO the East whilst Minister of France
his having brought from thence bottle of wa
ter from the river Jordan, as present TO Lou
Philipe's grandson-together with variety O
matters of the " same Sort" all perfectly plea
yune, immaterial matters, foreign TO the grra
issues of the campaign, and dwelt upon b,
Mr.. Davis for the sole purpose-of divertin,
the attention of the audience from the merit
Of the case
Mr.. Davis dwelt long and eloquently upo
the character of Gen. Taylor-exlolIed him {
the skies for his brilliant military achieve
ments, his honesty, patriotism, &c. Now w
presume there was not single Democrat pre-
sent who was not just as willing as Mr.. Da
Wis, TO award to Gen. Taylor all due praise 70
his gallant services as brave and vctoriou
General; at the same time that they do thin
that some other qualifications than those q
the mere soldier are necessary to fit man 70
the first civil station in the world. In speak
ing of Millard Fillmore, the Federal candidat
1ortAe Vice Presidency, Mr.. Davis ingenuit
was severely taxed. He attempted 10 shey
laa MI Fillmore was not quite as bad an Alb
olil'onist as the Democrats would make hir
out ont his votes on the Atherton resolution.
and his letter written in 1898 to the chairma
OF an Abolition meeting, in which he tFn
more) approves of the leading doctr;aes of tn
Abolit'onisls, were rather hard 10 get Over