Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-07-20
Ihe Sfapoato.
THE DISCUSSION AT MINTON.

LIE DADSOOOIOAS Al w A>Ao@N'
The discussion was opened BY Hon., H. M: Shaw,
who promised by saying that he presented himself
FOR the sufsages of the people of the district not
upon personal grounds 5ut as the candidate Of the
Democratic party-the only national pa:ty-the
only Southern party in the country. lie eloquent
ly and pentedly alluded to- Mr.. Smiths sneers at
the great principles Of this party and to his utter
abnegatiof Of the question of Southern rights. Mr.
Smith protested nothing positisej he had no plat,
forn unless it the poor and solitary plank OF
distribution kicked aside and discarded in 1854
That gentleman was now forced to the resort Of
simply alleging certain objections to the Democra-
cy. The alpha and omega of his creed was "oppo-
stion." Even the cardinal dogmas Of know moth
ingism were now rcpudiated; as instanced IN the
late ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of John Minor Bolts and in
the similar marvellous inconsistency Of the X. N
candidate for Governor of Tennessee. In lieu OF
definite and substantive principles OF his own, Mr.
Smith could only bring forward charges against the
Democratic party. The cry Of proilgacy and cor
famed as an infidel. Grave imputatons were cast
upon Gen. Jackson. The cry of extravaganza
was raised in 1910. But, with most swift forgctiui-
ness no sooner had the Harrison party got into
power than they appropriated $4,000 to refurnlsh
the very White House, about the gorgeous appoint
ments Of which they had been making such terrible
ado There was Kenneth Rayners vile SANDER, IN
1866, in his averment of a corrupt bargain between
the Democratic party and the Pope Of Rome for the
election of Pierce. Mr.. Shaw then very mnutely
and at considerable length examined some Of the
mendacious charges against the administration,
showing their entire falsty frivoty and absurdlty.
The allegations of corruption against the Secretary
of the Navy were met and thoroughly rebutted.-
The Coal Agent charge was discussed; and it was
shown that Fillmore paid to his Coal Agents,
Howard & Aspnwal upwards OF $4,000; while
IL ,v,fnr
got about $1,000.
Dr.. Shaw next alluded to the matter Of State
taxation; in reference to which Mr.. Smith was
estopped by the action of Rayner and other men,
bers of his party who had run the State deeply in
debt for works of internal improvement. The
whole subject was closely and searchingy reviewed.
and the responsibility conclusivcly fixed upon the
Wing party Passing next to the favorite opposi-
ton topic of federal expenditures Dr. Shaw showed
that the S4th Congress (Opp) voted ELEVEN
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS more than President
that Congress exceeded those OF the previous one
(Dem) BY S31SOO0. P. NJ Gen. Holt, had already
effected reduction of 81 400 900 in the annual OK
penses of the P. o. Department. Other illustrations
of the comparative economy of the two parties were
given-al, showing the Democracy to be the real
party of retrenchment while the opposition uni
formy plunges into the widest and most reckless
wastefulness of the public treasure. DIR. Shaw
challenged reference to the record of his votes.
DR.. Shaw then referred to the significant fact that
there is no friend to the South IN the North outside
Of the Democratic party. There was NOT ONE in
the last Congress. Bolts had said that, in 1860,
there would be ONLY TWO PARTIES; Seacard and
Greely said the same. Mr.. Smith, while saying he
would unite with no party that was unsound, re-
fused to reply to the plain question whether he
would consider the black Republican party 'sun-
sound" with John NJ. Bolts, Crittenden John Bell
or Edward Bates as its candidate for President
Mr.. Smith, in reply, did not wish to be diverted
from the legitimate issues. There would be time
enough to ask his opinion about the Presidency
merit gear. The question was not pertinent now
The only practical question was rhlch Of the taean
should go TO Congress. He then came upon the old
song Of corruption, spending considerable of his
time on the Coal Agent item. lie referred to the
minority report of the two black Republicans on
the investigating committee as no embarrassing re-
port and seemed to prefer it greatly to the majority
report of Messrs Groesbeck, Bocock and Ready,
two Democrats and one South American, acquitting
the Secretary of the Navy of all blame in the mat
ter. Hon. j. Clancy Jones then came in for hand
some dose of denunciation But Mr. Smith was
most savagey and ferociously down upon the "cor-
rupt and robber doctrine originated by the Albany
Regency ITO the victors belong the spoils."
Mr.. Smith called upon good men of all parties to
Hclp ONcItiION liic anu W
us" He called upon the people to send an "inde-
pendent man" to Congress, who has no entangng
party obligations; and thereupon incontinently
proceeded to berate Dr. Shaw for differing with the
President on some points and not agreeing exactly
with Judge Douglas. As to Southern rights, they
had sufficient safeguard in the U. S. Supreme
Court. Is not Mr.. Smith aware that the black Re.
publicans announce distinctly that they design to
"reorganize" that bench by putting other abo
re Ito MI | ho &c ~,
abolition party in the North were originally Demo
Gratis said Mr.. Smith, but he said nothing about
W. II. Seward, Horace Greedy, whose "lneagc,
we think is Wing Mr.. Smith denied the nation.
atty of the Democracy, because, forsooth, there
are only a few scattering" Northern Democrats in
Congress. He then leapt to the matter of State
taxation, and, again, with all tile agility of 1ea
hoped off and aighted upon federal expenses
Mr.. Smiths time being out Dr. Shaw resumed
In allusion to the "robber doctrine" he said that
in 1910, Mr.. Smith sustained man for President
one of Whose Cabinet officers P. NJ. Gen. Granger
beheaded fifteen thousand Democrats in fire aceeks
IN one Department. Reference was made to the
oaths and penalties of know nothingism, and its
vindictive prescription of foreigners and Catholics
Mr.. Smith refused to answer his question about the
Presidency. In this he showed himself an apt pu
p'l OF Horace Greedy, who commends to the opposi
ton the unspeakable wisdom of silence; vet Mr.
Smith did not hesitate to ask how he (Dr 81 would
vote for President. The tender regard to Mr. Smith
Tor MIR. Rayner was commented upon Messrs
Eustice and Ready, K. N. members Of the last Con
gress but now Democrats were alluded to, ant
their example was recommended to the imitation o
Mr.. Smith.
= In Mr.. Smiths replication he spoke, among 9th
er things, of Henry Clay, now dead for some year.
we believe, and waxing scriptural in his rhetoric
denounced the melancholy doom Of Belshazzar upol
DR.. Shaw's devoted head
Our noble candidate is looking finely and is il
the best spirits; while Mr.. Smith is evidently awar
that his own success, notwithstanding the exagger
ated representations of his adherents is one of thos
doubtful things" which the poet and Wh
one at that-informs us
--"are mighty unsarn"
MurtreesbOro Citizen
FouHTH OF July IN HILLsBoRoUGH-Th fourt
colnIra - a ;tl