Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-04-25

Public D,,eussion.n

* - = Public Discussion,H - ~
A discussion of the issues involved in the PIES.
ent canvass took place at our Court house, before
large Audience, on Tuesday night last, the I'm
inst, between r. A.>Ppor, Esq. editor q the,
Richmond Enquirer, andJ. D. Imboden, Esq, Of
this place. Mr.. P. opened the discussion IN
speech Of one hour and halt. We shall not at
tempt sketch Of his address, but shall content
ourselves with passing, reference to some'of his
posi- ias. The speech was c II inl, .lauslble'
ingenious and earnest; and as al argument Tar
superior to the four hours harangue Of Mr. Wise,
delivered at the same place few days before.
Mp. of course charged the candidates OF the
"Americau Par.y'' with being unsound on the
"peculiar institution of the South. No Demo-
cratic address would be complete unless it con-
tanned that stale, threadbare, and absurd charge.
For Democratic orator to make speech and not
insis. that the candidate opposing tho noml-
nees of the party were unsound on the slavery
question. would be very much like the "Play OF
Hamlet with the character of Hamlet left out"
The cry of Abolitionism is the life blood OF Dem
ocra,c ooraiors-it is the meat on which the C@-
s,rs Of the party feed that they have grown SO
great; and it was cruel in the extreme for Mr.
Imboden to show the other night that the Enqul-
rer had approved and commended the very votes
of Mr.. Beale, now made use Of toProve him an
Abolitsnist. 1t was spiking Mr.. Pryor's "big
gum in manner so unfeeling that no one but
Know Nothing s'conspratsr" would have been
guilty Of such hard -heartedness. 1
Mr.. P. assumed with great boldness the posi-.
ton that the Democratic party was neither in the
ory or practice proscriptive-a declaration that
we doubt not astonished the "native" as well as
the "naturalzedp members of the party in this
county. He said it was doctrine. that had nov
er been incorporated in any ''pIatform" of the
party--the correctness of which statement we do
not mean TO call in question. But as their plat
forms contain so many things they do not practice.
it is not surprising that they should occasionally
practice some things not found in their platforms.
MIR. P. said the Roman Catholic church had
never opposed RePublcanism-that it had always
favored free governments, and cited the existence
of the little Republic of San Marno as proof, and
also those of Florence and Venice. If we could
make room for them we would give some facts in
reference to the first, showing the forbearancc OF
Rome and as to the latter, showing the kind of
Republicanism that is fostered and cherished by
the Papal Church.
Mr.. P. also contended that we were indebted to
Roman Catholics for Magma Charta. the writ of
Habeas Corpus, trial by jury, and all the other
bulwarks Of Anglo Saxon freedom. No doubt
many. perhaps all, Of the naughty BaToas and
proud Bishops who extorted from tho feeble hand
of John, at Runnymede, the great Charter of Eng
lish freedom may have nominally belonged to the
Roman Catholic church, yet all history teaches
that the rights secured to the people by that in
strument were in direct opposition to the spirit
and practice Of the See of Rome. But ifsuch are
the legitimate fruits of Romanism, it is some
what strange that they should only be produced
upon English soil and among Anglo Saxon people,
We think we are indebted to the bold and des
potism-hating spirit of the English people, and
not to Rome, for all those noble principles of civil
liberty which distinguished them and their de-
scsndents from the rest Of the world.
Mr.. is. reply to Mr.. P. was very happy and
conclusive. 1t was pungent, racy and pointed
During the course Of his speech he read with
great effect and amid loud applause Mr.. Pryor's
account of Wise's speech in the Reform Conven-
ton. in which he denounced his doctrines as
cred Republican and Revolutionary and called
upon all good men to unite in putting them down."
Mr. I. said he thought this last injunction would
be obeyed to the letter, for unless he mistook the
"sigus of the times" the good men of all parties
were uniting to put down Mr.. w. and his doc
trines. rtfee
Mr.. l. replied with force and effect to ths
charge of Abolitionism brought against candidates
Of the American party, and showed that the En-
qurer had excused and justified Pierce in remov
ing Bronson from the CoectoIship of New York
because he would not appoint free soilcrs to office.
This is the first speech Mr.. Imboden has made
during the canvass he more than sustained
his reputation as an able and forcihe debater.-
We did not hear the second speeches Of either Of
The gentlemen.
"Sam" seemed to be present in great force and
high spirits. .L
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