Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-05-20
DisCassion al Piusyivania "a. House

81
ion at Pittsylvsnia c. II. last Monday. This
- Is the second time that these gentlemen have
me, during tho canvass in debate.
From all that we Gun learn. Mr.. Woot,on en-
countcred his willy and p~ractised adversary on
this occasion with the cliyalry Of a Bsyarl,
aud a lance hose fatal SET was never foiled.
The blows directed by him nj tho monstrous
Innovations Of the democratic parry of Virginia.
and which his competitot found it safer to nj
tempt 10 dodge than 10 wgfd 81, were deliv
cred with stunning enrc.. and elected The warm
est and most enthusiastic applause.
Mr.. Woo,tor is.howe,er, no ad captandum
speaker--not a popuior orator. In the ordinar,
sccepto,ion Of the term. He does not apprc-
ciate the political wisdom of stale anecdotes,
nor regard the qualities Of a bufoon as essen
tial to the statesman. His conceptions are
higher his estimate of popular intelligence
truer & more comprehensive A practical man
himself. accustomed from esrly life to the ne
cessiries of action aud oflabor, instead Of The
dissipation of dreaming. or the amusement of
hair splitting, he addresses himself directly TO
the judgment of his audience, and treats the
great questions OF governmental policy, us is.
sues above the dignity Of a joke.
His competitor, Mr.. Bocock. is undoubied-
ly a gentleman o ingenuity and a certain sort
of ability. As a public speaker he is atuac.
tive, and possesses many of the accomplish
ments Of Mr.. Merriman. Gifted in action & In
gesture with the facilc graces Of n supple jack
Mr.. b. might be happy IN the use oil these or
naments if they were not used by him. sim.
ply to mystify and amuse. But in the defence
of Virginia Locofocoism. he could perhaps
make no more judicious exercise ofhis powers.
Like French jacobinism. OF l793-'9i, it lives
in concealment of its design. and will be con
sumed by the light " hich exposes it. Into its
arcana we presume Mr. Bocock has been in
itiated. He has been advised of the devices
of fraud concocted last winter to be praciiced
upon a great body OF the people Of Virginia,
and, whether he approve or disapprove them.
under the force of an inexorable party despo
tism.and with the ghtnings %ofpar'y vengeance
playing around his head. he is necessirated to
defend them. Ard he does so by inii,ect,on-
by evasion. We repeat TINT he could make,
IN the execution Of his party behcsts, no more
Judcious exercise of his powers: nor is i a
novel resort. The liberties OF ma lions have
been often seized upon by the SAM means; and
the highway man would discuss with you any
other subject save that of robbery.
The issues raised by Mr.. Wootton at pi,tsyl-
wanna c. H., on the political action of the las,
Legislature were pronounced by Mr.. Bocock
as irrelevant. He professed not TO understand
what the congressional gerrymander. and the
subsidiz'ng, to the control of party oreaniza-
ton, the money of the people subscribed to
the stock of Incorporated companies, had to
do with the contest for Congress between him
self and Mr.. Woo,ton. They were sore sub
jects to him! He could not directly defend them
aud therefore shirked their discussion. Blu, his
adversary was too astu,e for such n game
rs this. and few who heard the mastcrly and
indignant exposure which he made of those
acts, their Corrupt aud dangerous tendencies as
democratic measures, and as true dxpopents of
the principles ofthat party were moi persuaded
that the confidence. of the people could not be
properly reposed in any one. " helher for Con
gress or the Legislature, whb acted with, endors
ed and defended the party whose acls they are
We have beenlooking 40 Mr.. Bocock since he
received the nomination Of the" Pittsylvanis
Caucus, as the champion Of Virginia Locofo
coism IN this district. Does he eschew their
measures ofStaie policy 7 or doeshe fear 10
base his chances for election to Congress on
their merits? Oh no: Assuredly not--they
are only irrelevant. A member OF Congress
has nothing to do with controlling State stocks
and has no agency or benefit in a gerryman-
der by which opposition to him is stihed Beau.
tifulidea this, indeed! But we belieye Col
Boyd Of Wythe once voted for General Tay.
Tor, and that vote was his death warrant in a
certain little csucus held moi long since in this
place, to nominate a candidate for a State or
flee. How did that vote affect Col. BOYD,
qualifications TO discharge the duties of Com