Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-24
CAUSE OF JOY IN VIRGINIA.

slightest interest in any such purchases. -
-sSs~-~--
CAUSE OF JOY IN VIRGINIA.
We are just from the old Commonwealth of
Virginia. We have been to see for ourselves,
and to hear with our own ears what the spirit of
the Democracy hath TO say unto the people. In
Sperryville, Rappahannock county, there was an
upheaving of the Democracy, who left their
homes and domestic interests to Join their brethren
IN the patriotic purpose of hearkening unto the
voices of their anointed, in the Just and glorious
PRONUNCIATION of their own true principles The
meeting large and enthusiastic -atten-
tive and orderly-respectable and earnest. In
| deed we have rarely seen assemblage, whose
| bearing and department was so admirable Our
dversaries-Kno,c-nothin though they be in
politcs-kneU the respect that was due to
strangers in. their midst, and to the right of a
| fair difference of opinion with them upon the
subjects discussed This much we feel it proper
to say-for it is at last only when we forget our
duty to each other, that danger threatens
common institutions.
MIR. Blakey, of Green, led off in speech
of much cleverness, in which he spared not the
rod to the invisible, but perplexing g Sam" He
was followed by Mr.. J. Randolph Tucker, Of
| Winchester who spoke for three hours, and we
hope we may say, without indecacy, to the
ifest satisfaction of all his own party, and here
and there received moroccan of unreuctant
praise from his well abused political adyersaries.
Mr.. James Barbour, of Culpeper, responded
to the call made upon him in short address (for
it was late) of great force and eloquence. Mr..
Barbour, most of our readers will recognize as
the gentleman who bore so distinguished part
in the deliberations of the late Virginia Conven-
ton, though, perhaps its youngest member. His
main speech certainly was not excelled by any
which we had the good fortune to hear or read.
We We're reminded Of the good old days-lnot
when the gentler sex not only adorned our poll
teal arenas, but subdued by their presence the
toughest auditory, into respectable order and at
| tention. We must not be understood as being
the advocates of g strong minded ,romen," as
| they are called in other parts of our country,
whose only claim to the title is wicked inter-
ference with the rights and liberties Of people.
! BY no means. We have no love for such feminine
lisus nature.
on, who addressed the meeting for few minutes,
when it adjourned, and all returned to the village
delighted with what they had seen, heard, and
| felt
| Thus ended one ef the most encouraging po-
| litical meetings in which we have ever taken an
humble part.
| The next day, however, ''Sam" determined he
would blow his trumpet (for he is his spn trum-
peter) upon the same hill, and having been
brought up to respect the "audi alterum par
tum" principle, we repaired thither to hear what
he had to say why sentence of death should not,
on Thursday next, be passed upon him. Well,
like all criminals he pleaded 'snot guity;" and
through most able counsel he tried to establish
his plea-not to our satisfaction, however. We
heard but two speakers-Mr. Howard Shackle-
ford and the Hon James F. Strother, formerly
member of Congress from the Fauquier district.
The speech of the former was marked by much
force and ingenuity in the advocacy of his side;
and while he preached heresies, lin our judg-
ment,) he preached them like a gentleman,
which is saying good deal where politics at
dog-day heat The speech of Mr.. Strother,
however, we must be permitted to say, was the
best and most plausible exposition of the princi-
Piles Of the Secret Order that we have yet heard
or seen in print. 1t was certainly most inge-
NOUS effort and, to an innocent and unsuspecting
nature, was not a little calculated to remove
J much of the sting of prejudice towards the sub
, terraneans. The attendance, as to numbers, was
so nearly equal, that we really could not form
, any idea to which party had the preponder
; ance in RaPpahanock.
8 On Monday Mr.. Tucker spoke by appointment
: at Culpeper Court House to an immense crowd
4 and we only regret this meeting did not more re
: semble, in order and magnanimity, the two We
: have just spoken Of in Rappahanock. There
! was much offensive interruption, though il is jus
to say, the respectable portion Of the opposite
I party was prompt in quelling, and bold in de
: nouncing it.
! Everything looks cheering in the old Common
! wealth, and we think we may promise tota
rout--horse, foot, and dragoons-of the hitherto
invincble "Sam" and his followers
We omitted TO mention that the Hon. Shelton
F. Leake, of Albermare, preceded Mr.. Tucker
at Culpeper, and spoke with his usual force and
ability, and sustained fully the reputation he has
so long enjoyed Of the ablest debators in
the State. These country meetings charac-
terized by great many good -humored jokes
and witty speeches; one Of the readiest we heard
was at the close Of Mr.. Leake's speech. An
old earnest Democrat, flushed with delight at the
castigation Mr. L. gave TO "Sam," said to an
old Know-nothing friend who stood by him:
swell, old neighbor, Leake has buried "Sam. "
eyes," rejoined the old codger, ''but he will
rise again on the third day"
To-DAY-THE VIRGINIA ELECTION.
This Oath day Of May will be an epoch in the
political history not only of Virginia, but Of the
United States. To-day the great decisive battle
will take place in Virginia between Know-no-
thngsm and the friends Of law, order, and the