Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1852-10-22
Discussion "Wednesday Night.

Richard lvanhoc Cooke, the assistant Wing
elec,or for this district. and George w. Pur-
kins, a renegade Wing from Halifax, held
political debate before tho citizens Of Lynch
burg, Wednesday evening. Mr. Cooke open
ed the III scussion in an able and impressive
speech of an hour and quarter-presenling
in lucid and imposing manner some of the
practical issues of the day, and portraying the
evil effects and tendency of democratic policy
and legislation.
A question Of momentons Importance, he
said, was presented in the policy to be pursued
with reference to the public lands. What was
to be done with the immense domain belong.
ing TO the United States, os yet unappropriated
TO the uses of private ownership, public en-
terprizel Was ii to be cut up and parcelled
out to the States and internal improvement
companies of the West, TO the exclusion OF the
Atlantic S,ates-under the grab and plumber
system of Mr.. Douglas, was il to be disposed
of to the equal and equitable behoof Of all the
parties interested lie depicted the injus
tee and iniquity of the one system, and the be
nificent and glorious results to the prosperity
of Virginia, and the enlightenment and happi-
ness of her people. that would flow from the
other 1t was no bribe offered To thecupidity of
the people, as had been charged, but wise,
lawful and constitutional procedure--by which
they would be protected from the robbery Of
others, and put in possession oil their rights
Vested with her share Of this invaluable do
MAN. he portrayed the relief that would be Civ
en- to Virginia and her people from the heavy
incubus of debt and taxes that is now pressing
upon them--the means that it would afford for
educating the poor children of the common.
wealth, and for opening TO the farmer and me.
chanic highways to and from market. and
for facilitating business or social inercommu-
nication. The judlcious use of such n mine oil
wealth, he urged, would in few years make
Virginia-now renowned in history and fame
for the genius and courage and generosity o.
her sons. equally renowned for their learning
their prosperity and happiness.
He next considered the present condition o
our currency, and demonstrated that the evil
under which the people are now suffering, iron
an irresponsible and rotten shln-plaster circu
lation, were the legitimate and necessary re
suits of democratic legislation. The manager
of that party had refused to allow the banks Il
issue bills small enough to meet the demands
of trade in the way of change-there was mo-
gold and silver enough to supply the deficiency
and as an unavoidable consequence,the notes oil
individuals. about whose solvency nothing was
known, had to be taken for the lack of law
c,l nj 10 Nv oh 10 l..
1t might be denied, he said that this was prop
per issue IN a canvass for the Presidency: i
so, he would meet the denial by asking wha
confidence could be placed in the ability of
party to manage the currency of the whole
country, that had failed SO sgnaly and shame
fully in its effort to manage it in the State.
Mr.. Cooke then proceeded to examine tn,
claims and qualifications Of the two candidates
for the Presidency presented respectively by
the Wing and Democratic partes-and tn,
circumstances under which they were nomnat
ed. Gen. Pierce, he maintained was not the
nominee OF the people choice, but the offspring
ol party ex1gency. The convention that sat n
Baltimore, did not reflect the will of their ron.
stituents. They had sci uside and overlook cd
every man III me party conspicuous for public
service and a genius for statesmansbin. and
had pitched upon an obscure nd;v;d,al
whose feats In war We're a series of ridic,,or.
misadventures. and whose standing in Con.
gress, with Stevenson and Polk to make III,
appointments. was never higher than fourtl
upon committee. until towards the close of hi
service, " hen he reached the head of the commit
tee on pensions With such a history he con
trasted the splendid career of Winfield Scott
who. since his twenty second year, had beer
IN the constant and active service of the coun
try, IN peace as well as war--upon civic az
vol a. military duty, and who in every posi-