American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-09-06
Correspondence Of the american Union"
FAIRMoNr, Semi. ., 1S56.

SViAVopUuVuuOU VI TIC 0uttEACGu
FAIRMoNT, Sept. ., 1856.
Mr.. Clemens and MIR. Gallagher met
here yesterday in political discussion.
In accordance with an arrangement
heretofore made between the two cleo
tors, Mr.. Gallagher led Off in speech
OF one hour, and Mr.. Clemens followed
for the samelength of time. Mr. Gal
lahcr replied fifteen minutes, and Mr..
Clemens closed with fifteen minutes
This arrangement would not admit of
anything like full discussion of the
principles of either party, but Mr.. Gal
laher, in his first speech, showed up To-
cofocolsm in rich, racy and eloquent
manner. | can not give even an out
line of his speech, but suffice it to say
that it was well timed, well conceived
and well delivered.
MIR. Clemens then gave us a speech
IN his usual good style. say good,
but do not misunderstood me. / do
not mean good in argument or fact
1t wds good only in ohe thing, and that
was laughable anecdotes, in which line
he has few equals But that does not
suit the present crisis. The time for
amusing speeches is past, and it be-
hoovcs us now to discuss the principles
which are presented to US by the diff
fercnt parties now in the field and
Sherrard is ingenious enough to know
that his peculiar platform will rot
stand the test of fair and candid dis
cussion witt. the principles of the Amer
lean platform, and therefore he avoids
it altogether, and deals in low and a.
musing anecdotes, and
" With neat and rounded phrase
lie tricks tho shapoless thought;
Like hope OF power, it charms to-day;
Tomorrow it is nought."
He tried, in his peculiar way, to show
up great men with small stories. In
| fact .....
" He'd undertake to prove, by force -
or argument, q mans no horse;
He'd prove 4 buzzard is no fowl .. .....
And that lord may be an owl ..s
calf an alderman, a goose Justice,
And rocks committeeman and trustccs.''
He did not come within a stones
throw of the platform Of his party, and
the Lord only knows how near to its
candidates, for he did not mention the
names of poor ''Buck & Brock" except
once, incidentally. Shcrrard will pass
pretty well so long as stories arc to be
told, but when reason and argument,
and discussion of principles are con-
cerned, lie is cmphatically mann, his
| lips are sealed, and like "Old Buck, /"
"the Cincinnati platform can spcah for
me :" Perhaps he thinks
''silcncc often pcrsuados w!on speaking fails"
Mr.. Gallahcr, in his rejoindcr, had
only time to notice few points, which
he could not reach in his first speech,
and with these lie occupied his fifteen
minutes, Mr.. Clemens not having said
anything which required notice from
him. When he concluded, the Court
house, which, / forgot to say, was
crammcd, rang with one long, loud
burst Of applause, which gave evidence
that our people appreciated the talents
Of the young American Elector.
Mr.. Clemens closed the discussion
in a speech similar to his first, and at
its conclusion was tolorably well cheer
ed.
His sp eoch was fine sample, on the whole,
Ofrhetoric, which the learned call 'rgmarole.' -
In the evening We applied to the
Court, which was in session, for the
use Of the Court House at night, that
we might hear an address from Mr.. s.
Siegfiied, Jr., Senatorial Elector for
the Monongalia District In five min
utcs we were informed that we could
not have it. What was the reason p
Aye, sir, look on the Bench and behold
five locofoco magistrates, and you have
the answer. This, / believe, is the
first demonstration Of tho fact that the
Court House of Marion does not be-
long to the people; that it has been,
is now, and will be, controlled by the
"powcrs that be-" Locofoco magis-
trates prating about the American par
ty being Proscriptive party, and then
do such a thing as thisI ooh shame
whore is thy blush" [ cannot deny
that | was angry, riled, when this dc
cision was made known to me. But
now the " sober, second thought has
come, and | declare that l pity the
County Court Of Marion ! From my
heart [ pity their narrow-mindcdncss
and sclfshness. Itmay be that all the
Court did not vote against us, but it is
enough that majority did, and me-
thinks they did it with relish. They