Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1856-10-07
From Correspondence 81 the Rich, s.
Political Discussion In Putin
PuTNAA G. FL, VA, S

let YOU know the prospects of the De.
mocracy in this county. Yesterday
was the first day of our Circuit Court,
and an. animated discnssiorbccurred
between Col. BEND |in-H. Smith, the
Know Nothing elector forthis district,
and J.. G. Newman, Esq, the Demo-
cratic elector for Mason county ~.
Shortly after dinner the people we're
summoned to the Court House by the
ringing of the bell, when Col: Smith
mounted the rostrum, aifefyith con,
siderable gusto announced that he ap-
peared before them as the elector Of
of the s.great American party" but
spoke as though he thought it rather
a condescention for one ofhis age, tai
ents and dignity to acceptth position
he occupied at the hands Of ssthe great
American party" He spoke of Fill
more as being the national candidate,
and represented Fremont as being the
sectional candidate Of the North, and
Buchanan as the sectional candidate
ofthe South.
Col. Smith asserted that he had al
ways believed the Missouri Compro-
mise to be unconstitutional. yet he
regretted its repeal. He said the
Kansas bill ought never TO have been
passed; that il had brought upon the
country agitation and excitement,
which, if not checked, would result
in most serious consequences to the
Union. The Colonel here labored
with great vehemence to show that
the Kansas bill was a wrong, and said
that the Democratic party were re-
sponsible for its passage, and should
be held accountable by the country;
that he cared not whether the people
called him an Abolitionist for express
sing such sentiments, that they were
his honest opinions, and he was pre-
pared to defend them. He said that
Buchanan was committed to carry
out and sustain the Kansas bill, and
was therefore, supported BY the South.
He said that disnnion could not re-
suit from the election of President in
the coming contest: that Fremont
might be elected, and the Union would
still be preserved. He urged the
people to cling to the Union under all
circumstances; and said they had
better suffer any and all possible evils
than to consent to a dissolution. That
there was no evil the mind could con-
ceiye SO great as the dissolution Of the
Union. He then branehed off at
length in trying to prove that Buch-
anan had slandered Clay, and assert
ed that the Democratic party were
now trying to shield Buchanan by
tradacing the fame Of Gen. Jackson,
and asserted that Buchanan was I'M
worthy Of the support ofeither Old
Line Wings or democrats. He then
read from the Louisville Courier, .
which he asserted was a Democratic
paper, an article rejecting upon Gen.
Jackson, and said that was the man
ner in which Democrats spoke Of the
illustrous Jackson. He invoked Old
Line Wings to support the tsAmeri-
can candidates" because, he said, the
American party" had never abused
the Wing party, and that the Demo-
cratic party had. The Colonel, after
having spoken for about two hours,
sat down. -..s II
After the Colonel had concluded,
J.. G.. Newman, Esq, Of Mason, arose
and addressed the people for about an
hour and halfin reply. He said he
was astonished at the sentiments ut
tered by Col. Smith; that they I'M
worthy of any Southern man, much
less one of the age, talents and repu-
tation of Col. Smith; that his senti-
ments were reasonable and disloyal
to the South; that they were much bet
ter suited to an Ohio audience, than
toa Virginia audience. Mr.. New
man showed conclusiyely that Buch-
anan was the only national and con-
Estitutional candidate in the field; that
he stood npon a platform unanimous
" adopted by q convention represent
ing every Congressional District in
every State in the Union, and as such
as he would receive the united cleo
torial votes of the Southern States.
He showed that the Democratic par
ty was the only party now in existence
that could lay any claim to nationali-
ty, and that patriots and lovers OF
the constitution and Union, in every
section, would rally to the support Of
the Cincinnati nominees. He expos
ed, with a mastery hand. the iniqui-
ty Of the Missouri restriction, and
showed that the North had claimed
it as precedent and authority for ex-
GLIDING slavery from all territories
South as we'll as Northof 88e go -
He showed, too, that it had been dis
regard and trampled under foot by
the North, and that it was finally re-
pealed by the bills organizing the ter
|ritories of Utah and New Mexico, in
1850. and BY the bill organizing the
territory Of Washington at 4 subse.
quent period. y 81, es,s,ss
Mr.. Newman, in an able and clio.
quent manner, discussed nddefsnded