The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-05-27
DISCUSSION I'M cHERoKEE

&D@SO0~~@@1N LIN N6EHOKEE
We have received full and interose
account, from correspondent In cho-s
kee, of the discussion in Murphy, on ~.
9Th instant, between Gov. Bragg and NJ
Gilmer. 1t shall appear in our nn,t
Meantime we present some of the point. ).
the discussion.
Mr.. Gilmer opened the discussion n.
endeavored to justify the "Westorn :,
Dress" and defended his votes in tba A.
sembly in favor of the white basis. ana -. j
distribution Of the School fund acco,5;nn
schite population. He argued at soma ,onot
in favor of this mode of dividing the soLoa,
Fund. He said if Western men b.J
true to themselves on this question c.
Reid could never have been elected, bo,s.
ing as he did to the present federal bas;, -
distribution Mark these positions.
He said he was not opposed to Free Snf
frage, but only to the mode of obtainipo !,
He preferred Convention. He said /.
voted against the present Free Suffrage A.. /.
because, in his opinion, if passed, the land. (
would be unduly taxed. He had oAe,ua.
an amendment, which failed, providing thai
the lands and slaves and white polls shoD,s
be taxed alike. IF this had been adoptss
he would have voted for Free Suffrage
Now, what will our readers think when wo
inform them that this amendment Of Mr..
Gilmer provided for an increase Of the tar
on slaves? [See Senate Journal, 1854l5.
page 1901
He INDUCED, of course, in the usual slang
about Americans ruling America" He
said the slavery question was settled under
Mr.. Fillmore; that he left the country quiet:
that the two great parties, in 1852, had
pledged themselves to abide by the CON-
promise of 1850, but had not done so, and
hence the present agitation. Gov. Bragg
replied at length, and evidently with great
power. We learn that he met Mr. Gilmer
at every point, completely and thoroughly
exposing the unsoundness of his positions
and their sectional character. He said no
was against disturbing the basis on which
the School Fund is at present distributed;
that he would say so in Cherokee, and say
so in the East; that his opinions were State
and not sectional opinions; that he regret
ted that mis- competitor had revived this
question, because it could do no good, and
might iniure the Common Schools, now
prospecting under the management of our
efficient State Superintendent and he then
called upon Mr.. Gilmer to say what hs
would do on this subject, if elected Gov
ernor. Mr.. Gilmer at first declined to an
swer but at length said the opinions ad-
vanced by him on the subject were his pri-
cate opinions, and that if elected Governor
he would not recommend any change -
Then, said Gov. Bragg, there is practically
no difference between us but my compet-
tor makes a public argument in order TO e1-
press his private opinions, and makes it in
such way as he thinks win get him votes
in this region. Gov. Bragg then argued
the question of Free Suffrage, the Kansas
Nebraska act, and bore down with much
force on the Know Nothing platform and
the opinions and practices of the organ
ization in various parts of the country
His reply to Mr.. G. was overwhelming
We learn that the Democrats and anti-Know
Nothings were in the highest spirits; and
that Gov. Bragg's vote will be largely in
creased in the mountain country Raj
eigh Standard.