Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-10-02
Stump 0ratory in the South and
West,

A correspondent Of the New Yorl
4 Times writing from Tennessee, gives
graphic account of the political can
vass in this State. As our readers
are aware, observes the Philadelphia
Times, it is the custom in the South
and West for Congressional and Gu
bernatorial candidates to appear il
person before their constituents, ant
discuss the principles Of their respec
tive parties. Whatever may be the
strength of the parties, the. nomi,
nees must prove their personal abili'
tiles before the assembled people,
and their individual success depends
in great degree on the manner in
which they acquit themselves This
of course leads to a close study of
the political questions Of the day, in
all their bearings The candidate
must be prepared not only to sus.
tain his own principles, but 10 i'm.
pugn those of his opponents Ito de-
monstrate their inconsistency with
the interests Of the Nation and State,
and to expose their unconstitutionali-
ty and evil tendencies. He must
stand ready to parry thrusts against
his own friends, aud to answer ques-
tions from the audience and his an
tagonist, and to cover his party with
the buckler Of his eloquence ..
Such acquisitions can only be met
by men of true oratorical talent and
logical skill. Mere defamation will
not answer where sound information
and convincing argumeu! are sought
for. The people of the West and
South, who gather in such great
masses around the hustings Of the
political campaigns. do not abandon
their agricultural labors and repair TO
the scene of debate to be amused
BY an empty parade Of words and a
display Of snowy eloquence. They
have had but little time TO devote to
the investigation of political matters,
except occasionally to read by the
winters fre.side the message Of the
ruling Governor, or the speeches OF
the Representative of the District
in Congress. Corn, Cotton and To-
bacco are much more interesting and
engrossing topics with them, for the
greater part Of the year, than Ne
braska, Tariff and Cuba. But when
The candidates are on the sump,
and they are. summoned by hand
bills at the cross roads, and in the
village inns to hear them expound
their respective political creeds. they
never fail to comply with the invi-
tation.
This practice of stump oratory is
unquestionably the chiefcause OF the
superior skill and ability in debate
manifested by the southern and wes
tern members in Congress. They
may not be as classically educated,
as a general rule, as their northern
colleagues, but they surpass them in
familiar knowledge Of NATIONAL poll
tics, and in the power Of swaying the
minds of others, by argumentative
elouuence. For this reason, often
with little show Of right, they are
able to carry their measures over op-
posing odds, and to conciliate public
opinion to their support. 1t is IN
deed extremely difficult for an intel
lectual imbecile, by any inaaence
whatever, to get into Congress fom
the South and West, while even the
Senate of the United States contains
members from the North, Who owe
their position exclusively TO party
chicanery, or mere wealth. The cor
respondent of the Times, at the close
of his letter, makes the following just
observation: 3.
"The advantages Of these public
discussions are various. In the firsl
place, they serve to keep the people
we'll informed in regard to polltlca
questions, since no measure Of pu1l''
policy can be adopted by the Legs
lature without its merits being thor
oughly discussed before the grea'
body Of the people. Another 40
vantage is that the Thote peepte hav'
voice in the selection Of their pub
| lie men. and it is.not possible to-
any man, by wire-pulling at l,ttl'
conventions, where few, except pom
ticians attend. to get a Domlnat'o'
which win secure to him the toll vot'
of bis party. And a still create
advantage, and that which / bsiisv'