Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-05-21
DISCUSSION IN cHERoKEE.

[
3 We have received full and Interesting account,
from correspondent 10 Cherokee, ofahe discussion
in Murphy, on the 9th Instant between Gov Brseg
and Mr.. Gilmes We tender urthanks 10 our cor
respondent, and regret that we did not receive his
favor in time to insert it in this issue It shall APP.
pear in our next Meantime we present some of the
points of the discussion
Mr.. Gimer opened the discussion. He endeavor-
ed tojustify the Western Address" and defended
his votes in the Assembly in favor of the white ba-
sis, and the distribution Of the School fund accord.
eng to s0hste population He argued at some length
in favor OF this mode of dividing the School Fund
He said if Western men had been true to themselves
on this question, Gov. Reid could never have been
elected holding he did to the present federal ba.
sis of distribution Mark these positions.
He said he was not opposed to Free Suffrage, but
only to the mode of obtaining it. He preferred q
Convention. He said he voted against the present
Free Suffrage act BECAUSE in his opinion, if passed,
the lands would be unduly taxed. He had offered
amendment, which failed, providing that the
lands and slave and white polls should be taxed
alike. If this had been adopted, he would have
voted for Free Suffrage. Now, what will our read
ers think when we inform them that this amendment
of Mr.. Glmer provided for an increase Of the tao
slaves? [See Senate Journal, 1915 page 1907
Mr.. Gmer took ground in favor of small notes,
and said he would oppose any attempt to do away
with these notes. He next Swallowed forth a vast
State Bank to be based Railroad stock and State
bonds, and to issue mostly and two dollar bills
as the poor mans currency He said the rich could
get large bills, but the small notes were all poor
man could get!
He INDUCED, of course, in the usual slang about
"Americans ruling America"
He said the slavery question was settled under
Mr. Fillmore; that he left the country quiet; that
the two great parties, in 1852, had pledged them
selves to abide by the compromise of $780, but had
not done so, and hence the present agitation.
Gov. Bragg replied at length, and evidently with
great power We learn that he met Mr.. Gilmer at
every point completely and thoroughly exposing
the unsoundness of his positions and their sectional
character. He said he was against disturbing the
basis on which the School Fund is at present dis
tributed; that he would say in Cherokee and say
in the East that his opinions were State and not
sectional opinions that he regretted that his compe
ttor had revived this question, because it could do
no good, and might njure the Common Schools,
now prospecting under the management of our eff
cient State Superintendent and he then called upon
Mr. Gilmer to say what he would do on this subject
if elected Governor. Mr.. Gilmer at first declined
to answer but at length said the opinions advanced
by him on the subject were his private opinions
and that if elected Governor he would not recon-
mend any change!! Then, said Gov. Bragg, there
is practically no difference between u.s. but my COM
petitor makes public argument in order to express
his priuate opinions, and makes it in such way as
he thinks will get him votes in this region
Gov. Bragg then argued the questions of Free
Suffrage, the Kansas-Nebraska act, and bore down
with much force on the X. N. platform and the opn
10 ms ard practices Of the organization in various
parts of the country. His reply to Mr.. G. was over
whelming. We learn that the Democrats and anti
Know Nothings in the highest spirits and that
Gov. Bragg's vote will be largely increased in the
mountain country.