Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-06-16
pemocratIc RatifIcation Meeting.

The occasion vastly interesting account OF
the dullness and stupidity which possessed the
tors, and the absence OF all enthusiasm the part
OF the audience. We arc rgidly honest in the
PRECISION of the opinion, confirmed by the Judgment
OF nearly nil present that such miserable failure
Of n meeting has before come oil in the city of
Richmond. Our old friend, Daniel Higginbotham
London presided, and made, as we'll as we
now recocct, about thirteen thousand capital
speeches during the evening. lie spoke with per
dnency, force, grace an cloquence, which drew
tears from some and excited horrible commissions in
others We suppose his head and his arms-devo
ted to gcsturc-traveled several millions of miles
in the of the exercises. Great drops of per
spiraton, about the size of the Exchange stood upon
his capacious forehead. He looked interesting,
sweet, lovely, dviney beautiful; and performed his
duties with majestical, royal, imposing, and affect
ing air 10 inspire the whole audience with feel
ings of ccstatc surprise and unearthly admiration
Long may he live to preside the gatherings of
the great unwashed," and to entertain them with
his wit his eoquence and his rich historical alusions
Why the Cincinnati convention failed to nominate
Daniel for the Presidency passes comprehension
We confidently suggest him now, in the event Of
Old Bucks election either for Secretary of State or
for the appointment to the court of Saint James
He is amply equal to any service, high or low, and
TO any occasion, big or little.
The first orator of the evening Mr.. Hopkins,
of Powhatan, a delegate to the late convention,
and n speaker of immensely classical preensions who
contrved however, in three seconds after he arose.
to demonstrate to the perfect satisfaction of every
and boy in the assembled crowd, that he was
the weakest vessel-in short the biggest fool-that
ever appeared on the public stage. We felt sym
patty, for the luckless man that is alto
gether ndescrbable. He spoke for three quarters of
hour, and If he uttered thought above the capa-
city Of idioc infant it utterly escaped obser
vation. He told us, however with n remarkable de-
gree of satisfaction and of eation that he had
acquired idea in his trip to Cincinnati. But
what that idea was, he modesty declined to inform
US. our idea was, that As that was the first idea
that invaded the mighty solitude of his NOODLE,
he pously averse TO communicating it TO un-
approaching public. And he was right. We adj
wise him to cherish it with parental fondneSs. If
he loses it, his is forever hopeless. Never
again, perhaps will he be startled annoyed by
strange companion.
The onedcad Mr.. Hopkins having resumed his
Seat amid feeble applause Of doubtful meaning,
Mr.. Bedford Brown, of North Carolina intro
duced to the audience by the fertile and versatile ge-
Mus who presided-and GRATED stupidity at length
Conscience compels to acknowledge that he beat
his predecessor about J6et-not more, think
is MaiS 81 the audience But our own private
opinion is favorable Brown. You see he had once
been Senator in Congress, and had, therefore, ~
opportunity of achieving at least idea than
Hopkins. He dealt it out to us, we confess, with
gentlenany propriety and grace. But nobody was
hurt as we understand after careful inquiry. Con-
slider Mr. Brown seated, il you please, and recognize
an ex-Congressman aud sage from the good old
county of Buckingham.
Mr. Edmund Hubbard appears on the stand-not,
however, without few splendid and uminatory
Introductory remarks from Daniel. To say nothing
OF his logic or his coquence, both of which were in
efaby fine and delightful, his wit and his anecdote
were supremacy beautiful, radiant, sublime, crushing
and CONFUSING. Besides, it is deliberate and
honest conviction that Mr.. Hubbard is the Cor
pOsscSsor Of several ideas than either of the
gentlemen who preceded him. We take occasion to
express the opinion, however that public speaking
is not his vocation. Providence, for good rea-
SON or other, enphatcaly refused To make ora.
tor Of him. 1t designed him. doubt, for the cul-
ture Of tobacco, and wheat and corn, and iHgoHs
and other like agricultural uxures-a department
of the moral vineyard in which he greatly excels,
we learn In a spirit of candor, disinterestedness
and friendship, advise Mr.. Hubbard TO abandon
politics and oraory, and adhere strictly the tng
In humble imitation Of his eccentric aud patriotic
Governor, peacock or two might relieve the tedi-
um Of dull hour engage his thoughts and interest
his affections. But again, we impore YOU
mount the rostrum, attempt to speedily. If you
must relate anecdotes, bust, why tell them only
TO n few personal friends Those you favored us
with the other night might possibly make an audi
ence sleepy, but not lively They in all re-
spects stale, fiat, and Improbable You really have
no talent in that way. And here endeth our frank
exhortation Mr. Hubbard.
And who, reader, do you suppose next appeared
upon the stand at this great Democratic ratification
meetingS We name him but to praise him lie is
the idol Of our heart, the rosebud Of affections
the object Of all our admiration and all our love-
IL was "Eb0-shia" and "Gizzaydtootg' When he
arose we came very going beside ourselves
We were filed with joy-the light Of his counte-
nance was 50 bright, so precious, grateful. The
first thing ne did was to throw one Of his bandest
and sweetest smiles upon US Imagine feelings
II you can. lie spoke hour and his speech
was the most comprehensive perhaps ever deliver.
ed-Always excepting that long and splendid la.
rangue Of his in the State Convention 1t embraced
little Of everything And then Il was so perfectly
Wise in a It's conceptions suggestions and intima-
tons The most original striking and interesting
foot" defended and appaudcd Buchanan for favoring
the extension Of the Missouri Compromise line, say
ing that IL that line had been extended slaves that
now bring thousand dollars would command from
three to five thousand II lac had only adduced
some proof In support Of this assertion We should
have been satisfied As il is, we have not been able
TO appreciate it, point Certainly, though II we 70.
ally believed IT, should be in favor Of the imme.
date restoration Of the Missouri Compromise That
U.s. is restoration would quadrupc the value of the
slave property Of the South. man selling n ne.
gro here in Virginia would then be able 10 put from
three 10 five thousand dollars in his pocket instead
Of only one-whieh is great consideration But
We are compelled TO think, notwithstanding the love
We bear him. that "GiSsord foot" is cracked. And
Just here We must break of for the present Those
pcacocks Of "Ebo-s1iR" are absolutely dstractng ms
with their eternal fuss They are right nj our win.