Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-08-30
The Discussion.

e"SNhoH III d SpeccH VI OuC HOuT aiiu d qudI-
ter. Mr. Harris follwed in an address of
the same length, and then half hour was
occupied in reply by each.
Mr.. Imboden set out by adverting to the
Importance of the election and dangers of
the crisis He contended that the compro-
mise measures of 1850 were finality on
the slavery question. That the South had
acquieseed in the Missouri compromise for a
long time, and that it had been repeatedly
re-aflirmed by the Democratic party. He
charged that President Pierce and the Dem
ocratic party are responsible for the slavery
agitation in the country by the adoption of
the Nebraska-Kansas bill. He said he be-
lieved the bill to be just and right in itself,
but he sffirmed that the repeal of the Mis-
souri, line was not demanded by the South.
He is willing to yield the rights of the South
in the Territory North of the Missuri line
rather than have a contention for them. He
Reiterated the stale charges,th Mr.. Buchan-
an was in his youth Federalist, and that
he had voted with the Wings on all the i'm
portant measures of that party, except the
National Bank. One would have supposed
from his representations that Buchanan
ought to be the very man for Mr.. Imboden
and the Wings. This is brief, general out
line of his speech, which was evidently a
studied effort, and crcditable, with one ex-
ception, which is applicable to both of the
speakers. We refer to the very bad taste
of the gentlemen in the selection of their
anecdotes. Mr.. Imboden is most response
BILE for it, because it was introduced by him.
and he had the best opportunity of knowing
the taste and temper of this community
We abhor and contemn an indulgence in
vulgarity before public assembly It is
an insult and is degrading in its tendency
We hope suggestion of the improperly
will prevent a repetition. Let all things be
done decently and in order.
Mr. Harris had not been heard in Staun-
ton, for long time, if ever, and his effort
was looked to with much interest. He was
we'll prepared with documents, and well
posted with important facts. Mr.. Imboden,
at the conclusion of his speech, defed Mr..
Harris to point out one State that Buchanan
would certainly carry. This Mr.. H. took
up at his onset, and used with powerful eff
feet. lie showed that in Missouri, Ken
lucky and North Carolina, the States that
had been mainly relied on by the Know
Nothings, had recently spoken in over
whelming majorities against Sam. He af-
frmed that he did not believe that Fillmore
would carry one State South or North. He
believed that Buck and Breck would carry
every Southern, and many Northern States
Pennsylvania certainly would go for the
Democracy. He said the Missouri Compro-
mise, to which Mr.. Imboden attached SO
much importance, had been substantially
repealed by the compromises of 1850, and
that Mr.. Clay had so declared at that time.
He denied that the Missouri line had given
peace, except upon the immediate questions
which led to its adoption. Slavery agita-
ton has prevailed ever since. He showed
that, if there is any responsibility resting
upon any party for the repeal, that it at
tached to the Wing party. When Senator
Douglas introduced into the Senate the Or
binary form of territorial bill, Senator
Dixon, Wing of Kentucky, amended it
by inserting clause formally repeating the
Missouri Compromise.
Mr.. [. having admitted, that according to
his construction the Kansas bill was right,
Mr.. II. eontended that it was natura, that
the South should insist upon her rights,
But he arged that the existing agitation did
not have Its origin in the Kansas bill. He
charged that the Know Nothing party were
responsibility for 1T, because they elected
the agitators to Congress. He showed that
two years ago, their election was .exuhantly
claimed as Know Nothing victories. That
when Wilson, of Massachusetts, was elected
to the Senate, the Deaocracy charged that
he was an abdlitiohist, but the Know Moth
ings denied it. The editor of the Washing
ton Organ wrote Wilson "a letter asking his
views on slavery, just before the elections
in the Southern States Wilson wrote in
reply, a professed States rights letter,
which was published and lauded by the
Southern Know Nothing press.
He took up the Staunton American of
April 26, 1860, which had erected a pyra-
mid of the States that, elected Know Moth
ing Governors and Congressman, and prov
ed that Unclaimed them as victories over the
Democracy, and a triumph of Sam; that the
abolition Know Nothings who are now re-
fusing to vote the ordinary, and necessary
army bill, and are producing the excitement
which now prevails in the land, were hailed
as brethren and co-workers. His proofs and
on this, point were overwhelming
He gave Winter Davis, representative from
Baltimore, who is expected, to address the
nOv,ln Of a.: III.