Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-06-06
From the Raleigh Standard
The Discussion between Gov. Bragg and Mr. Gill
Hendei SonViIle. N. c

HendeI sonville, N. c
! The candidates for Governor addressed the people
of Henderson county, on Thursday, the 18th May.
MIR. Gilmer opened the discussion by compimenting
! the sublime and beautiful scenery of the mountain
counties and the fertility of the soil. He spoke OF
the richness of the undeveloped resources of the
country and said that nothing was needed but easy
access to it by Railroads to make 1T the greatest
country in the world. He referred the people to his
legislative record 10 show that, on all occasions
when their interests concerned he had stood up
manfuy for them He had voted for railroads, he
had voted for new counties to please them and though
he did not say in so many words, yet lie did most
artfuly attempt to show that he was still as strong
for the white basis and Convention as ever. He
did not tell the people of Henderson, his friends
| are telling the people in the Centre and East that
the Western Address had accomplished its object
and lie no longer desired 10 disturb the basis. On
the contrary, the impression he endeavored TO leave
was that, in that respect he sill as much Wes-
tern man as he ever Ciose y connected with
the subject OF Internal Improvements he said the
deyising scheme to relieve the people, as far
as possible from the burden of taxation to which
the construction of the various Railroads he has a-
vocated and voted for has subjected them pan
for all these ills he seemed 10 think he had found
in most vague and definite proposition TO establish
a monster bank based on railroad stocks He CON
sumed a great deal OF time attempting to explain
this matter but as he did not 90 into any details on
the subect-did not state the amount of capital OF
the particulars in which this bank to differ from
any other nor IN fact advocate any plan except so
far as the general principles he endeavOred 10
force might apply to any corporation organized upon
those !rnciples he left the people entirely in the
dark TO qclat he after He pressed Gov Bragg
to answer whether he was for or against his bank
to which the Governor replied very promptly that
whenever he was able to understand Mr.. Gimer's
scheme, he would willingly him but, fox
the present, he was obliged 10 confess that the
fused tumble into which Mr. Gilmer had continued
to get the whole affair, rendered him incapable of
expressing any opinion of thing which he honestly
believed Mr. Gllmer himself did not comprehend
MI Gllmer was understood to deny that his scheme
was the that introduced into the last Legis-
lature by some crazy man from Gulford-C Caldwell |
believe his name is--and which was repudaled by
the convention which nominated Mr.. Gilmer. From
| the raj bling and incoherent manner in which the
Know Nothing candidate discussed this matter it
was very evident that his object was to lead Gov
Bragg off from discussion of Z" the paramount prn
cples of Americanism " The Governor was TOO
smart for him.
Free Fuffrage was the next topic, and upon this
Mr. GiImer made a lame defence. He declared that
he had always been and still Free Suffrage
man; but that he had constantly voted against it for
different at different times, but mainly be-
cause his constituency, the freeholderS of Guford
opposed to it. He considered himself instruc-
ted by them to vote agains it, unless it and 9th
things could be put together and obtained by Con
yention. When he found that d Convention was no
(and he considered himself instructed to carry out
their will } unless it was accompanied by further
amendment to the Constitution providing for equali-
ZIng the tax upon negroes and land. That his pro.
position introduced by him at the last session as an
amendment 10 the Free Suffrage bill embraced his
views this subject While on this point he labor
ed very artfuly and earnestly to arouse the preiu.
die IS of the non-slavehoderS who lands against
the owners of slaves-dwelling upon the injustice
of exempting slaves from an ad rolOrem tax which
. land was iIV nD6 Ct00d
that This part of his speech intended 10 bolster
up MIR. n. W. WoOdfn for another slow race for the
Senate, these views freely advanced by that
gentleman with the addition OF very loud clamor
for the white basis.
Finally, after consuming nearly all his time, with
very dry face Mr.. GiImer marched up to the para
mount principles of Amerlcanism. He endeavored,
in very feeble way, to forestall what Gov. Bragg
had 10 say about the dark lanterns, by telling some
very stale anecdotes, and making sport of the whole
matter Gov. Braggs attack on the oaths and or
ganzation of the order was he said, fighting a thing
that was dead. All that had passed away. He con-
tended that The party necessary, in order to save
the Union and the oaths grip and secrecy
sary, in order TO save the partyin lis infancy. He
referred to the compromise legislation Cf 1850, as
having restored peace and quiet to the country. He
read the celebrated pledge signed by Mr. Clay and
other supporters of the compromise of 1850, bind
ing themselves to abide by and maintan those meas
ures He then discussed the Kansas and Nebraska
Onal issues which were quieted in 1850 that it had
exasperated the animosies of the North against the
South, and the South against The \ orth and argued
to show that its enactment was breach of the faith
plghted by those who had signed the congressional
pledge above alluded 10. and that it relieved them
from the bonds entered into on that OCCASION He at
tackled the bill account of the squatter sovereign.
ty feature, which he alleges it contains The whole
course of his argument was to prove that the Kansas
bill was in the language of his platform " reckless
/ and unwse act of Gen Piercps administration and
vet, at the conclusion Of his remarks, he comp aimed
that he had been represented faYorng its repeal
and the restoration of the Missouri Compromise. He
declared that be was for neither of these things; bu
the declaration seenea TO have little effect, as it Was
difficult for 'nountan 10 understand why he
should traverse the State denouncng measure he
did not wish 10 amended Oh repealed.
Charges against the administration for removing
Bronson, and for its exravagant expenditure Of pub
;ic money, filled up the remainder of Mr.. Giimerf
time-wlth some scattering illusions to Fillmore, anC
little or nothing about Don. Jackson DonesOn. -
Don't you want your sheer Of the public lands,
was asked.
Mr. Bragg began his reply, by stating that no com
plants had been made OF him for the manner IL
which he had administered the affairs OF the State
SAID that he had endeavocd 10 fulfil every promise
and pledge he had made the people two years ago
and had done so whenever the opportunity had Of
fered. He had been msrepresented in this section o
he State two years ago the Internal improvement
question lime had enabled him to remove the un
. Just and uniounded suspicious which were created
in this part of the State against him that impor
, tant question He referred to his inaugural Address
10 show that what be had promised to do he mac
done. and that his declarations made two years ago
f although suspected here at the time fully ant
honestly carried out.
Of MIR. Gilmers scheme for Bank, Gov Brag|
said he could not express an opinion, Tor the reason