Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-05-17
DISCUSSION Ar FAYETTEVILLE.

nv w HoIDEs, ESQ. Dear Sir YESTERDAY Mr.
| Bragg met Cen Doekery at this place, and a very
interesting discuss was kept up between them for
about four hours have not time to give yoi an
outline of the discussion, but / may say Of Mr..
Braggs Speech without exaggeration, that more
triumphant vindcation of Democratic principles and
more whitening rebuke of the insincerity and dema-
gogueisnl of the Wing party have never heard
On the subject of internal improvement Mr.. Bragg
took occasion to set himself right, and to correct
certain Misrepresentation which had been made by
Gen. ID. in the Eastern part of the State in relation
to the position taken by Mr. B. at Edenton this
question. Mr.. B. said he had been represented by
Gen. d. saying at Edenton that he was opposed
TO the States borrowing money to carry a sys-
tenn of internal Improvement. He said his position
had been totally misunderstood by Gen. d. He had
not said that he opposed to the States borrow
ing money to carry on internal improvements His
position at Edcnton and his position was, that
in aiding works of internal improvements due
gard must be had to the and resources of the
State Of course as the State had no money in the
Treasury with which to build up internal improve
ments, she would have to borrow the money. But
he not in favor of borrowing such amount
OF money that the people could not without grinding
taxation pay the interest on it. The Resolution of
the Democratic Convention he said expressed his
views the subject. That resolution declares that
in giving State aid to works of internal improvement
the Legislature should be Influenced by a just re-
gard to the means and resources of the State. By
this it meant that the Legislature ought not 10
contract debt so large that it would become bur-
thensome to the people to pay the interest on it.
In the of the discussion Gen. Dockery
dertook to catechse Mr. Bragg putting the question
to him e if David Reid had been opposed to Free
Suffrage when he ran for Governor, would you have
voted for him?" Mr. Bragg replied, 81 would, and
in doing so should have acted just as l suppose
yon did when you who represent yourself to be
good Free Suffrage voted for Charles Manly for
Governor when he opposed to Free Suffrage.
You catechise me to put me, in an Imaginary case
in opposition to Free Suffrage, when you it seems
voted against it in real case by voting for who
opposed it'll" The triumphant manner in which Mr..
b. retorted upon Gen. D. elected warm applause
whilst the Generals friends looked mortified IN the
extreme
There another part of the discussion which 1
must not let pass without notice Mr.. Bragg said
that he had answered the questions put to him by
Gen. Dockery, and was willing to answer as many
he chose to put but he wished he said, to
ask Gen. d. question. During the month of JAN
uary last, at meeting of the friends and neghbors
of Gen. Dockery, held in Richmond county, rcso-
luton had been passed in favor of an open Conyen
ton, without limitation restriction. He believed
that Gen. ID. was present at the meeting Now, he
wished to ask Gen. ID. whether he had at the time
approved this resolution? He paused for reply
Gen. d. arose and said something about having, at
ter mature deliberaon upon the subject, given his
assent to the resolution of the Wing State Conven-
ton. Mr. Bragg replied that this was not answer
ing the question, and again he put the query cate
gorically. Gen. d. replied that he had never cared
much how the Convention was to be called, that
the basis not altered Mr.. Bragg replied that
this still answer to the question; to which
the General responded, that though might not be
satisfactory to Mr.. Bragg, it would be to others.
Thus did he, after assuming the attitude of a cate
chist towards Mr. Bragg, positively fail to
plain and simple question could have been put
in the English language. Gen. d. has found that
however amusing it may be to pat questions to the
Democratic candidate, it is quite different matter
when he comes to dasscering questions put by him.
1 could, if l had time write you good deal more
about this discussion, for it was of character to
leave decided impression. have never heard
speaker listened to with more breathless attention
than Mr.. Bragg was and 1 have never known Of
decided victory in disrutation than OBJ
tanned by him. The impression made by him upon
citizens is admirable, and you may expect q
large vote for Bragg in August next, from
CUMBERLAND.