Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-06-10
For the Standard.
DISCUSSION AT BRASSFIELDS.

s Mr. EDrToR: had the pleasure of hearing the
discussion between Gen. Dockery the " mig candi-
date, and Thomas Bragg, the Democratic candidate
for the Office Ex-Governor on the End inst at Brass
fields Granville County, and you may be assured
that Democrat heard the discussion with any 9TH
er feelings than those of the highest qualification.
do not design making in this communication re-
port of their speeches, might in the attempt do
eachof them injustice taking notes at the time
but propose noticing the points, or as Gen. Dock
cry would say the pnts of the discussion, in order
that you and your readers, if you think proper to
publish it, may form some idea of the merits OF the
discussion The assemblage was large and respec-
table and evnced little eagerness to hear the dis
cussion which opened after dinner by the Whig
candidate Gen. Dockery, in speech of consdera-
BILE length. The leading questions to which Gen.
Dockery invited the attention of the public were the
Free Suffrage and the Public Lands taking first
and then the other of the subjects of Common
Schools and Internal Improvements up in connection
with the latter. The Nebraska and Kansas question
he entirely avoided until after the discussion
over when he stated simply that he would have
tanned Judge Badger if he had been in Congress.
He announced himself in favor of Free Suffrage and
in favor of calling Convention to effect 1t. In the
Generals studied argument in favor OF the Conven-
tonal mode of amendment in preference to the Leg
isative discovered but one prominent reason urged
by him. and that its eXpedtiousness, forgetting
entirely which thought little remarkable for a
gentleman of so firm memory as he seems to have,
that excellent proverb, the more haste, the worse
speed so beautifully illustrated in 4Esop by the
Sow and Bitch. These personages q suppose may
TO use CnlS appeuaLlOn 10
ing anmals) meeting, it is said debate arose be-
tween them concerning their frutfulness. 1.-The
Bitch insisted upon it, that she brought more at lit
ter and oftener than any other ouregged creature"
CAV" says the Sow "you do indeed, but you
always much haste about it that you bring your
puppies into the world blind" Convention the
General seemed to think, also more likely to
have old fogy and statesmen to do its business
than the Legislature, and he appealed to the fact
to sustain him in this position that the Convention
of 1885 was filed with Governors and Judges, men
eminent for their experienced ability. How much
weight such argument is entitled to- your readers
can readily determine when they remember the fact
that these Governors and Judges to. whom the Gen
cral referred, were in 1885 young men, being now
in the prime of life and engaged in the active duties
of public Stations and have only enjoyed the honor
of being Governors and Judges since 1886. Gen.
Dockery proclaimed himself of the first supper
tiers of Free Suffrage He dated his advocacy of the
doctrine back to 1885 when he stumped Richmond
in favor of adopting the constitution with clause
in it submitting the election of Governors to the
people. Gen. Dockery closed his remarks upon this
subject by trying to explain his Free negro Suffrage
vote, which he did in worry unsatisfactory manner,
and then passed to the other questions of Common
Schools, Internal improvements and the Public
Lands. He desired the Common School system fos-
tered so as to have Schools for six months in the
year instead of two in order that the poorer classes
(mark the word,) might get education and stand
some chance to compete with the rich and higher
classes for the Offices and honors of the country. To
accomplish this and for the purpose of enabling the
State to pay off her present and prospective debt in
CURED and to be incurred account of Internal
Improvements, he desired distribution of the Pub
lie Lands. He felt upon this subject because being
illitcrate himself he was the better qualified
to appreciate education, he said "a position
tainly very contrary to what common observation
teaches us to be the correct one. 1t the sick
man alone, he said, that could appreciate health.
While upon the Public Lands he denounced the
charge that he had admitted that there was no pro-
liability of North Cardinals getting any thing from
his distribution hobby as un1ounded and tatse, and
the author as har-beautiful language for the
didate of great party for the high Office of Gov
ernor, and then forthwith admitted that it true
he had made the admission, but accompanied with
an explanation simply of the circumstances which
made is improbable namely the Democratic party's
opposition to it. In the of his comments upon
President Perces Veto Message, he denounced the |
President having freesol affinities. Little or no
enthusiasm produced by his effort Wings and |
Democrats being disappointed in their expectations
of his ability, and indignant at his demagogcal APP
peals
At the close of Gen. Dockery's speech that sterl-
ing man and accomplished speaker, Thomas Bragg, |
ESQ.,, the Democratic candidate, took the stand and
made one of the most conclusive speeches to which
have listened. Every Democrat was delight |
ed with his calm and deliberate manner, and the |
force and power of his arguments No unprejudiced |
mind could listen to him without having conviction
enforced upon it. The first question to which |
he invited attention was the Nebraska and Kansas |
question: and remarked that it certainly strange
that Gen. Dockery should have passed in silence
a question of vital importance and at this time
large share of the attention of the
American people. l can give you, Mr. Editor, but !
a very imperfect idea of the force and power of Mr.
Braggs speech upon this part of the discussion. He
made Gen. Dockery white sticks with his knife,
hang his head and occasionally scratch in a manner
that showed most conclusively to every who saw
him that he felt severely under the inicton of Mr..
Bragg's lash. Here We're the Wing representatives
of North Carolina equally divided, Mr.. Badger and
Mr.. Kerr on the one side, and Mr.. Puryear and Mr..
Rogers the other, a great question: question
of vastly more Importance to the State of North
Carolina and the South, than ally that will be pre-
sented to she present Congress and Gen. Dockery
thought it of little importance that he did not
refer to it. And this indifference manifested in
regard to measure of so deep and vital Importance
to the people of North Carolina by gentleman who
had the boldness to charge freesoil affintes on
Franklin Pierce, consistent and tried friend of the
South land powerful supporter of this great
and whose administration had been staked upon its
success Here Mr.. Bragg made beautiful appeal
and telling too, to know where Gen.
afinities, siding with the frecsolers in
heaping abuse upon President Pierce, supporting
Gen. Scott in the late Presidential election and now
that the Wing party North had declared war to the
knife against the rights of the South declaring that
he had not yet cut himself loose from their fellow
Ship that he had not yet determined refuse to act
with Northern Wings in the next Presidential cleo
ton, that he would wait and see." What omen
did he want to see? Had he not already seen
enough to determination on his part? Free
soil afinities, indeed! Straws show which way the
wind blows Mr.. Bragg then passed to the other
subjects of discussion-the Common Schools, Inter-
nL1. ,l1 S,f