Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-10-12
Editors Correspondence.
NORFOLK COUNTY, Va, Oct. Q, 1862.

FRIEND CONNOLLY: For most of the campaign
we have been very deficient in speakers to bring
in competition with those of the opposition, many
of whom have addressed the Democracy here by
invitation. But more recently we have enjoyed
food tide in the way of political champions OF
the Wing party, who have come among us to do
good service in the cause of the old Chief and
who have added much to our already high spir-
its and sanguine expectations. The meetings we
have been holding in Portsmouth and Norfolk
have been of protracted kind, the services of
which have been ably conducted and with much
effect, / am proud to say, by the Hon. G. Fem
ton Mercer, Capt. r. G. Darlington, Mayor Of
Richmond, and our own Jno. r. Kilby, Elector
fer this the LIST Congressional district. Although
we were long without this great lever to the sue
cessful prosecution Of a campaign, yet we have
not been deficient in spirits and confdence-hrm
and steady like the old Chief whose cause we adj
vocate. We have moved forward undeviatingy
and without the loss Of q man, amidst the fire Of
the enemys batteries, both local and from abroad.
Wise and Scott and Gallagher, their great cham
pions, made no acquisitions here, and if the droop-
ing spirits Of the once unterried OF this locality
may be considered fair index Of the light in
which they now view theirprospects for The sposIs,
this being the boon for which they admit they are
doing battle, surely it must be admitted the
hand writing is on the wall and their eyes have
beheld it.
Here where, until but recently, the war-cry
has been sounding-where the nat had gone
forth for total determination Of all who hold
positions under the Government, no matter how
humble, in the navy yard and elsewhere, who
dared to sustain the nominee of the Wing Ma
tional Convention-here where individuals have
been actually selected by caucus meetings Of their
party, to supply the places Of those now in office,
for the supposed aid they were likely to render
the cause, and who have boasted OF their good
fortune in the prospective-here, let me tell you,
the scene has changed; no game OF brag, no
threats or intimidating expressions, as formerly,
now greet the ear. The sceptre that was but re-
Gently, in their vain imaginings, almost within
their grasp, and with which they intended to
WELD with much more effect on their political
opponents than did the "gallant Gen. Pierce"
his on the enemies Of his country whilst in Mex
leo, has suddenly vanished from the grasp Of
their palsied hands, and the Ito them) hideous
form of Whiggery, led on by the immortal hero
of our countrys destiny-the generous Scott
like some spectre of a "loathing" character is
staring them in the eye, creating writings and
distortions that but for the exertions that have
been made by some Of the great guns suddenly
thrown among them, trying to console where they
have failed to reanimate the dropping and dis
consulate, must certainly, in many instances,
have tainted" from the effects of the great re-
valsion in their prospects that has so suddenly
overtaken them.
You are no doubt aware that discussion was
had in Portsmouth, between Capt. Darlington of
Boutetout county, and H. A. Wise, and with
what result and effect You can judge, when in
form you that Wise actually put in the plea that
he had not time to answer the arguments, 80
ably advanced and sustained by Mr.. Darlington
And when the time allttoed to each by the ar
rangements, drawn and signed by the Presidents
of the Wing and Democratic clubs, had expired,
bringing with it the "stll suall hours of morn
ing" Wise felt so keenly the umenviable posi-
ton in which he found himself placed by his
competitor, by his superior argument and more
tenable positions, that he became violent in his
gestures and insulting in his language, because,
forsootb, he was not allowed to continue the de-
bate in opposition to the specified arrangements.
The result was that from words blows ensued
between Mr. Holiday, the President of the
Chippewa Club and the Hon. Mr.. Wise. The lat
ter was subsequently found, not on the stage
where his rantings commenced, but on the floor
of the hall, laying between the front benches and
the stage, from which position he was rescued by
q good Wing.
Thus ended discussion in which the great
Locofoco champion gained no laurels, and Jared
little better than in '48 under the powerful ham
mer of James Lyons in the same town. INDEX.