Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-07-09

if it should appear that majority were in favor ot
a Convention, then he was for it also He w,s VI
posed to the passage of the measure by legsatLp
enactment (but it be gave any reason WHY, we d;S
not comprehend it, Opposition to change in thu
basis of representation was also expressed
Gov. Reid replied in few remarks peculiarvbo.
py and pointed He observed that it was much ~
sier to ask questions than to answer them thu, -
required very low order Of intelligence to nronoaS ~
queries which the wisest heads would be puzzled ~
explain that he could propose some, if he cboso
which it would be difficult even for Mr. Kerr to an
swer satisfactorily and in reply to question so fri.
umphantly propouhded to him by Mr. Kerr h.
might ask what whig President ever administered
the government on whig principles. He did mot
complain of the expenditures of government. as ali
administrations would by reason of dishonest eff
GERS and other causes, ezpend more than was abso.
lutely necessary. but thought that Mr. Kerr ought
to be exceedingly modest in speaking of Van Buren,
and Folks administrations as being extravagant in
the face of one of more recent date. and particu
larly if he remembered anything of the Galnbin
claim He thought, really. that it very aston
ishing an amendment should have been made to the
tariff act Of '46 in candestine manner. and all tho
shrewd politicians of the country failing to make the
discovery, it reserved for Mr.. Kerr, after kav
ing been nominated for Governor. to cut the Cord.
an knot and bring to light the ong-hidden deceit,
He showed that instead of any trick being PLAYED
off on the country, the bill containing the clause o
which Mr.. Kerr referred had been regularly passed
by Congress and signed by the President. He was
pleased that his opponent had come out in favor of
the tariff act Of ~, and asked if Mr. Kerr would
make an issue on that subject. (Mr Kerr replied
that he would not at this time, although he believed
IN the doctrine) The Governor stated next that he
was in favor of applying the proceeds of the public
lands to defray the expenses of government that
was the doctrine of his party as laid down in their
platforms, and as he believed the true policy: and
he was glad to be able to make an issue with Mr.
Kerr this point it the only one he had sue.
cecdcd n making on national politics. He was as
much opposed to the Homestead Bill as his oppO-
nent the bill was passed by the votes of both par
ties, and it would be very easy by way of reor for
him to say that those democrats who voted for the
measure were corrupted by the wings. but his self
respect forbade it. 1t easy matter to deal in
vituperation. to denounce and villify. but to make
speech well supported by argument and facts,
was quite different thing and somewhat more diff
cult. In reply to complaint put up by Mir Kerr that
he had not avowed himself the advocate of Free Suf
frage while member of the Legislature he said that
it allowable for TO grow wiser and see the
cessty for improvement they grew older: that it
would be as reasonable to charge a man with nsn-
cerity and humbuggery who talked of building
house after having lived in his old one for twcn-
ty years, to imputc any sinister motives to him
for wishing to amend the Constitution for the rea-
assigned. In conclusion he thanked the people
for the liberal support heretofore given him, and
sured them if elected Governor again. he would en-
deavor to discharge his duties not democrat but
as North Carolinian, and would know no man as
a wing or democrat.
Mr. Kerr made brief reply, but said nothing
worthy of note.
Such is a brief outline of the discussion, SO far as
give it from memory and in haste: and we
have written thus much for the benefit of those of
your readers who have not and may not, hear the
candidates on the stump. We were very agreeaby
disappointed at the result of the discussion
little fear had been created in mind by the
travagant representations of whig papers lest Kerr
should come off the field victorious gallant
leader. Gov. Reid is modest and unassuming, and
labors under the disadvantage of being deficient in
fuency of elocuton and grace of diction but these
Deficiencies are in q great degree supplied by much
native shrewdness, together with good information
and great point in argument. Mr.. Kerr is ostenta
tious in his department, forid in style. and vague in
his mode of augmentation but at the time
possesses much ingenuity or rather pIausiblity and
is occasionally quite eloquent. Of course, in the
bove account were not able to go into the argu-
ments which were adduced, but merely stated the
general outline of the speeches.
Gov. Reid has lost nothing in this county. We
heard an intelligent whig remark, after the discus
sion, that Kerr ought to travel alone, for that his
speeches seemed to be perfectly conclusive to
binary nearer while being delivered, but when put
to the test by Reid they appeared exceedingly finn
sy-and SO thought JUNfUS.