Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-04-06
For the Eaqhrcf
DISCUSSION IN POWHATAN.

Tie thr,e candidates, Messrs. Lee, Settol and
p,,,s mi in Pouhalan on Monday last ii ull
and very animated discussion Il may be inter
,s,;no ~ your readers 10 hear some 81 the patlic
ulaTs:
MIR Lee commenced, and, IN speech OF one
hour, very rigidy reviewed the course 81 ms
Wing opponent, Mr. Bots, from the time 81 the
yireinia Couveaion, which met TO express
nreterercc for a Presidential candidate, showing
clearly how strenuous had been ne !ahors q MI.
Ro,,s - i,tca, hoh the nomination and election
ii Cen. TAYLOR; That while his vote had been
given in his favor, his every cXerlion had been
AGAINST him; that he locked one way and ro"ed
another; and that although he now processes re-
nsn,ance FOR. as The Examiner apty expresses u,
'has had The sense creep ou OF me smallest pes
sible auaerhoe, yet thai such repentance should
he well tested before cnnsenins 10 pace nm 10
= pos,,icn in which he will have Ii SO much IN
his power 10 impede aud annoy The present ad-
minisralion. The speech was very aolc enc,
rejecting much credit upon Mt. LIE, me more
81 maj il was calm and dispassonae, without
ranour or asrrrhy. -,
According 10 previous arrangements Mr.
Bolts replied, and dcvoled an honi eac'usVeiy u
,bs eetence Of himself and his position, wherein
ne succeeded As well as any man IN MS position
cnplJ do His remarks were accompanied by a
very violent and passionate personal dennnc'a-
ian al The Richmond Wing and Col. Webb II the
y Y Courier and Enquirer; and BY very I'M
called for and ill-iimed attack upon w II. Mac
f.,Iant Esq Of his city. Towards Nh. Lee hi.
manner although overpearing and arrogant. vas
loss objectionable than in any previous discus
e;on and save in one or iva particulars, free
from ohiection- Mr. Bots, confessedly IN e1-
reedipoi, able poi ular orator, was ~ this in
s,anc@ ~ our perception weak, and failed 10 con-
,r1yert any posliion advanced by Mr. Lee.
Mr. seldom for few moments INDUCED in
some playful and pungeut remarks, but devoted
IN. rest of his hour 10 a rapid yet BEAUTIFUL re-
view of the past administration and the many
,nomen,ous events by which il had been marked,
having a Jus, and handsome tribute to the me-
ri,s of MIR. Polk lie then entered upon a To-
mic in which his whole soul seemed embarked;
he threatened invasion of our rights BY our
brethren cf the North endeavorng to impress
upon The people the proper means OF avoiding
81 great a calamity, and calling upon his oppo-
nen,s explicitly to state their views upn The
SUBJECT especially in reference I" the constilu-
tional question of the Wlmot Provlso. II was
an able effort, worthy of the man.
Hall an hour being allotted 10 cach Wing can
diIaie for reply, Mr.. Lee again spoke, drawing
!, piture somewhat different from that pfeseneG
nv Nf. Seldom o, MIR. Polk's administrations; but
a,ouiug apains! an undcniable aci, his success
couh mol be 81 great As in his reply 10 some 81
Mr. Rous' views i'll regard IL Convention =
plr. Lee also cantitiy expressed his opinions
upcn The Wilmoi Pfo9isu, in substance coin
gliding with MIR Seddon, hut mol noi 50 strong in
expression.
Nr. Burs. avoiding farther allnsion 10 hi
Wing opponent, entered upon reply 10 Mr.. oed-
don, and rather shirHed The expose demanded by
Mr. S, Of MS opinion upon the con>tl;ullonaliiy
OF he Wilmo; Poviso; bur, being brought 10 the
yoint, avowec his heliei in lis cunsttuIionalil:.
occupying lhe ground attributed 10 him IN The
lublic pfiais. He denounced Mr.. as a dds
nnionsl, d,soisanze! and lacionisl, bndy follow
ing the lead OF lhal dangerous Southern poiiician
John c. Calhoun"
This broush, from Mr.. Seddon, in reply OF
fifteen minutes, scoIching, scalhins rehukc, de-
mons,ra,ine he ruth oi his own position. de
showed, while no, impuening motives, that Nj.
Bots ccniucl and declarations rather tended 10
dsofsanizstion and disunon Than to prevent IL
sui aud lInry; ana that, 10 be sent from the Me.
tropclitan district OF Virginia, entertaining and
expressing his present sentiments, would render
HIM more dangerous 10 the Interests OF he SCUM
than Psl:rey Giddings, "et ID omHe genus The
TN h, .nTcr and cloquence = me reply were con-
elusive. Mr. Seddon, the pride OF his own par
~, has he whole Sou.h with him on this CUES
ton, and We, OF THIS district, are most proud lEat
We shall b. able 10 send him As champion Of
the South in The coming crisis.
The whole discussion was an exceedingly il
leresing one, and, could Mr.. Bots be induced 10
adop, The same courtesy and avoidance Of all
personal s!lusion, (Which ever wounds without
rejoicing creti! upon he spesker,) these meet
ings would be attended with pleasure and inter.
esi.
NAV here remark, lha; The friends OF Mr..
Lee in Powharan, as believe in The other coun-
ties refused 10 go into meeting 10 appoint dele
gates 10 tie Convention 10 be held on The 5h
It 10 be unfairly organized, ard, in
fact, nothing bu, "bg Bots meeting" and as
Tor the whole county attending, they consider that
no Convention, but believe that, had ii been in
tended they should vote in Richmond instead OF
A, hume, il would have been so provided bv the
Constitution. A DEMOCRAT.