Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-07-01
Discussion Ar sTATgsyu.LE.

We attended the discussion at Statesville last Sat.
urday, between Messrs. Bragg and Dockery, and
were highly pleased with our candidate 1t is not
our purpose to go at length into the various points
touched upon, for we took no notes. Gen. ID. spoke
first, and from what we had heard were prepared
for the murder of the Queens English, the outrage
OF propriety and courtesy, the rude, rough dema-'
goguism of scrupulous politician, and the rage
of vanquished deception and in of these par-
ticulars were we disappointed, except that he went
little deeper in such matters than we had anticpa-
ted. There is neither grace dignity about him,
not yet the least air of honest sincerely, which FREE
quently make amends for the wants of learning and
talent. He declared himself in favor of Free Suf-
frage by Convention (no kind of Convention NAM
ed0 IN favor of internal improvements, and distri
button of the public lands He thought the Nebras-
ka bill good in part and bad in part but would have
voted for it. He abored hard to frghten the people
INTO distribution by arraying before them the hor-
rors OF taxation to pay for their works of internal
Improvements rather equivocal way, we thought,
ofadvocatng internal Improvements, especially after
he had admitted in Moore county, that distribu-
ton could be hoped for
Mr. Bragg spoke huently, gracefully and calmly,
revealing in every look and tone the sincerely of
honest heart. He showed in convincive language
the deception of distribution and of Convention
defended the administration against the charge of
freesollism, brought against it by Gen. D., and
planned the Nebraska bill to show that the
South has gained much by it. On the subject of in
terna improvements his remarks were plain, open
and explicit; and we say to the people of the State
that on this subject Mr. Bragg has been willfuy and
desgnedy misrepresented by the Wing press. He
is genuine internal Improvement man, and so de-
cares himself without circumlocuton any equiv
ocation and is in favor only of the Eastern and
Western extension of the Central Railroad, but of
all other improvements calculated to de-eop the re-
sources of the State, where the be provi-
died. The internal improvement resolution of the
Democratic platform is the ground work for him and
he stands firmly upon it.
At the conclusion of Mr.. BIS. speech he was heart
ny applauded and Gen. d. rose to reply. He
turiously wrathy, and brought down his fist upon
the desk before him in the church, with a trelnen-
dous jerk, fairly making the house tremble. Of
course he INDUCED in courteous and Fredericksburg.
Sir, said he, my opponent has-has-he has
Jumfed Jim Crow!" For this gallant speech few
w higs appauded, the General and he then seemed
more modified but he got further applause. Hav-
ing spoken his half hour in reply, Mr. Bragg closed
with another half hours speech and we never heard
such keen, cutting severity he dealt out to the
General and yet he did it in cool, calm elegant
manner. There were no low personalities, no slang
no rudeness, no abuse, exhibition of anger; but
the keenest satire, the most elegant thruss and the
most convincing argument. Surely the Gen. must be
brought to repentance some time, if he has his sins
laid before him every day as he had that day.
The audience was quite large and said to be about
half Democrats Mr. Bragg had drawn out his party;
but Gen. Dockery could not command his. Iredell
is hard old Wing county, but such discussion as
that at Statcsvlle must have its effect The people
are honest and truth will prevail amongst them.
The very fact that Mr.. B. drew applause twice to
the Generals once, in such county Ircde speaks
volumes. Salisbury Banner.