Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-05-24
MIR. preston,s speech in Richmond,

A discussion took place in Richmond city on
Monday night, the 18th, between the two candl-
dates for Attorney General. The Wing gives
brief sketch of Mr.. fuckers opening address, and
says:
"We now psss to Mr.. Prestons reply, to which
we feel ourselves wholly inadequate to do even
the meagrest justice Nor shall we make the
vain attempt to follow the orator-an orator he
is in the highest sense of the word--through his
brilliant and powerful and transcendentlJ elo
quent speech. 1t was, in our judgment, the
most successful and triumphant effort which we
have ever had the good fortune to listen to; ana
we have heard not a few OF the finest speakers
which the State and country have afforded.-
Mr.. Preston literally euchaired the attention OF
the audience from the very commencement ana
kept it thus enchanted during the hour and a
half he occupied the stand. We sincerely THINK
we have never seen such an effect produced by
any effort of any public sneaker before, and we
have had the pleasure of listening to the eio'
auence of Clay and Summers. The Young
men were carried away, and old men, who rare
" attend political gatherings, stood in the aises
and around the stand, and there stood patiently
and apparently spell bound until the orators
time expired, which was nearly twelve o'clock.
And after the expiration of his time, there arose
shout for him to 90 on, and speak all night :;
and we believe the crowd, ladies and all, would
willingly have remained all night, it the speaker
had chosen to entertain them with bis matchless
eloquence.
"After promising thus much, and with the
vivid impressions left upon our minds by Mr;
Preston's speech we care not to break the spell
that bound US, in common with nearly all others,
| by any reference to the speech as an argument
on the issues of the canvass, and yet it exceled
! as much in point Overwhelming argument and
power, as in eloquenoe. Indeed we Gan convey
to the distant reader no adequate conception Of
the speech in any of its parts His portrayal OF
the extravaganza and corruption OF the party ID
power was mastery beyond description, and his
denuncation of the leaders OF the Democratlc
party, and especially Of Buchanan, was almost
terrific. This portion of his speech VIII certain
ly never be forgotten by those who heard IT.
And then when he came to treat OF John Letch'
or, and his connection with the Ruttner pam
phet there was not Democrat in the house
who did not hang his head, in very shame, al
the thought of supporting such man for the Of
| fee of Governor. His argument also on Letch
er's declaration in favor Of winding up the banks
and collecting the revenue in gold and silver, was
original, powerful, and conclusive; and this the
orator regarded as the greatest enormity o
Letcher's political life. In this connection, he
portrayed, as with pencil of light the startling
and appalling effects which would have followed
the adoption of Letcher's proposition during the
monetary panic eighteen months ago, and here
too, he paid o inst and glowing compliment te
Gov. Wise, for having pursued just the opposite
course at that fearful time."
Several gentlemen OF this county, who heare
Mr.. Preston speak in Richmond, give the same
glowing account of his eloquence.