Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-08-05
COL. WIGFALL'S SPEECH.

1t is known to our readers that since Houston
arrived in Eastern Texas, canvassing the State
for Governor, Col Louis T. Wigfall, of Marshall
has been meeting him at bis appointments, and
when permitted, discussing the principles of the
Democratic party, and exposing the tactics o.
the party that has nominated and is supporting
Gen. Houston for for Governor OF Texas.
Col. Wigfall has met and replied to Gen
Houston every day, we believe (Sundays excep
ted), since the third of June. Col. Runnels
the Democratic nominee was, at the time Gen
Houston passed through Eastern Texas, and is
perhaps, yet confined to a bed of sickness
Though not an orator or dcmagogue, he ha;
that clear Judgment, and fixed principles, and
good sense, that would have enabled him to
meet Gen. Houston on the stump When he
was prevented from doing so, we were more
than gratifed to hear that Col. Wigfall had
been induced to follow, meet and reply to the
General. There is not a man in the State in
whose hands we would more cheerfully have
confded the interests and fortunes Of the DEM
ocratic party than he. High as was our esti-
mate of his distinguished talents, his powers as
political debater, and his nobeness of n1ture
that estimate was surpassed by his speech, in
reply to Gen. Houston on Thursday last. We
|
and effective defence and exposition of political
principles than that made by Col. Wigfall. We
have never heard more skilful and powerful, but
at the same time temperateand respectful; dissec-
tions of the political record and principles Of
any public man, than that which Col. Wigfall
presented of Gen. Houston.
Gen. Houston here, as at every other place at
which he has spoken, since Col. W. has been
following him, denounced him in advance in the
grosscst terms Of abusc-called him fugitive
| from Justice, man of Infamous character-a
felon-hireling- hired slandercr and many other
choice epithets of similar import. In reply,
Col. Wigfall declined to 60 into war Of vulgar
and abusive epithets, but on the other hand,
proposed to discuss the political principles and
antecedants of Gen. Houston, and those Of the
Democratic party. He held up to public gaze
the extraordinary blunders and absurdties that
have characterized the last ten years of Gen.
Houston's life. He tried him by every test
that the General himself has proposed-weighed
him as e Jackson Democrat" and found him
wanting-refcrred to his dcnunciation of con-
ventionS, and showed that he had been sup
plant before two democratic conventions for the
nomination for President; that becoming dis
gusted at his reception before those conventions,
he was next found knocking at the door of the
Philadelphia X. n. convention in lS55-dark
lantern in hand, for the same nomination-took
up his denunciation of "Squalter sorereignty."
and showed that lie had himself introduced into
the United States Senate, and fathered the most
odious and repulsye squatter sovereignty, that
which had spermitted the sauatter olall nations
fiaH diseolorsy whom the gold excitement had at:
tracted to California, to vote in the elections
establishing its territorial government, and thus
shape the political institutions of that State, and
exclude the South from it. He defended the
convention system, and demonstrated the neces-
sty of it, and showed that it was only those
who had nothing to hope and nothing to gain
from conventions that were decrying and de-
nouncing them. But it is impossible that we
could in the brief space allowed us even refer
to all the main points of Col. Wgfal's speech.
1t was throughout, the ablest political argument
to which we have ever listened, interspersed
with bursts of eloqucncc, and enlivened with
flashes of wit that delighted, warmed and en-
thused the audience He was frequently inter-
ruptcd by the warmest demonstrations Of ap-
plause.
COL Wigfall was prevailed upon again to adj
dress the people at night, at the court house.
We have not space for even a brief mention OF
his speech on this latter occasion. He confined
himself wholly to discussion Of the issues that
have heretofore divided the political parties Of
the Countrywide theory of our government,
and to defence of States Rights democracy.
1t was a powerful and mastcrly constitutional
argument We may refer to it more fully
hereaftcr-DaAaS (TtraS) Herald.