The Winchester weekly appeal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1856-1856, 1856-10-03
Political DiscusiOns

avery strong and able speech at Taylor's
Springs, in Rockingham county, Virginia,
in favor Of Mr.. Fillmore. He was tepli.
ed to by Mr.. Harris, the Democratic elec.
tor for that district. During his speech
Mr.. Harris several times alluded to Mr..
Bots opinion on the subject of the pow.
er Of Congress to legislate for the Terri.
tories, and "dared and defed" that gen.
ileman and Martin Van Buren, did not oc.
tupy the same position upon that Dues.
tion.
Mr.. Bolts rose, and remarked, that as
he was not candidate for the Presiden.
ty, his opinions were not in issue in this
canvass. He would. however, ask the
gentleman who had propounded the in.
quiry, whether he considered an admission
of the constitutional power of Congress
to legslate on the subject of slavery in
the Territories an insuperable obec.
ton to candidate for the Presidency?
Mr.. Harris. certainly co.
Mr.. Bolts. Then you of course, would
not vote for me if were a candidate, and
held the opinion?
Mr. Harris. No; and, so hel me
heaven, would vote for no man for any
Office who subscribed to so dangerous a
doctrine!
Mr.. Bolts. Very we'll, sir; my opin.
ion is not matter Of vital importance in
this canvass, but will read for your spe.
cial edi6cation and instruction the fol.
lowing declaration:
"Having urgel thu adoption of the
Missouri Compromise, the inference
is inevitable that Congress, in my
opinion, possess the power to legislale
upon the subject Of slavery in the Terri.
tories. This sovereign poweEin Congress
must, from its natu,e, be exclusive"
Iquote from the Stanford letter" of
James Buchanan!
Such shout Of laughter we have new.
er heard as followed this "clncher," and
Mr.. Harris stood covered with confusion,
looking for few moments, as a lady
present exsressed it, "as if he had an at.
tack Of lock Jaw" You are pledged
against Buchanan" came up from all
parts of the crowd.
After few minutes, the Democratic
orator stammered out that Mr. Buchan ans
real opinion was, that Congress had the
power to legislate for the protection Of
slavery, but no power to legislate for its
prohibition.
"Indeed!" re- oined Mr.. Boots, "then
you think the power exists to legislate
upon one side Of the question, but not on
the other! Mr.. Buchanan will hardly
thank you for that compliment to his in.
telligence. Will you be so kind as to
point out the particular clause Of the con.
stitution from which derive this novel and
brilliant conception ofyours?"
Mr.. Harris had Of course no answer to
make.
When Mr.. Harris sat down, Mr.. Boots
took the stand, and told Mr.. H. that the
difference between the opinions of Mar.
tin Van Buren, and the rest Of Mr.. Buch.
anan's supporters at the North and him.
self, consists in the very important dis.
tnction that, whilst they urge the exer
else by Congress of the right to adopt the
Wilmot Proviso, and to prevent the ex.
tension Of slavery, he [Mr. Botts] had
always stenuously opposed the exercise
Ofary such power. Mr.. Harris had urg'
Cd as a serious objection to Mr.. Fill
more that he voted against Mr.. Bolts
resolution of eensure upon Giddings.
Are YOU aware, sir, said Mr.. B., that, |
IN your efforts to establish Mr.. Fillmore s
1nsoandness upon this question, the pain.
'uI necessity was forced upon you, Of
proving my fidelity to the South, as the
author and proposer Of that very resolu.
ton you so strangely condemn him for
voting against; and that you involved
yourself in the unenviable dialemma of
approving my course at the moment you
we're attempting to excite prejudice against
my opposition to the Southern question?
But, will inform you, il you will not
tell the people Of Rockingham about it,
that Governor Wise votsd Just as Mr..
Fillmore didi" Amidst the laughter and
applause consequent upon this last sally,
Mr.. Bolts concluded. Rich. Americau.
On the evening Of the 25th inst, by the
Rev. DR.. Hartpence, Mr.. ABRAM 10.